Last summer, a golden opportunity presented itself to Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens.
Pierre-Luc Dubois was on the market, and his no-trade clause had not yet taken effect. Although the player was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings, the real misfortune for the CH lies in the fact that they failed to seize this chance.
Dubois, now a centerpiece of the Washington Capitals, could have become the number 2 center so sought after by the Canadian.
But, above all, the fact that the transaction involved Darcy Kuemper, a goalkeeper who was no longer part of the plans in Washington, would have allowed CH to sacrifice a player in a similar position, Samuel Montembeault.
When Kent Hughes missed the opportunity to acquire Dubois last summer, he missed a strategic masterstroke.
Montembeault’s value was much higher than Kuemper’s at that point, a fact that would have allowed the Canadian to offer a much more favorable deal, without sacrificing too much of his future assets.
By trading Montembeault to Los Angeles, who needed a quality goaltender, Hughes could have obtained a player on the rise like Pierre-Luc Dubois.
In hindsight, this almost seems like a miscalculation. While Dubois is flourishing with the Capitals, on track to achieve the most productive season of his career with 33 points in 41 games, his acquisition would have allowed the Canadian to equip himself with a formidable center duo, alongside Nick Suzuki.
Such a duo would have been an essential piece for the future of the CH, a foundation on which to build lasting success, especially at the center.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Canadiens’ failure to get Dubois is how the latter is on fire in Washington.
After a more timid start to the season, the Quebec striker has found his bearings and his game. It seems that the Washington environment suits him perfectly.
The 26-year-old spoke enthusiastically about the way the Capitals organization communicates with him, which makes his job on the ice much easier. He is now more comfortable, feeling “a little more in his chair”, a state which seems to have made all the difference in his game.
With 33 points at mid-season, Dubois is on track to surpass his career high. He had a rough start, but the last few months have proven that he has the talent and perseverance to make it big in the league.
His exceptional performance in Washington is therefore not a surprise, but a confirmation of his potential.
The fact that this player, capable of reaching 66 points in a season, was acquired at a reasonable price of $8 million, shows the opportunity missed by Hughes.
In the current context, where the Canadian is desperately looking for a center capable of playing with Nick Suzuki, Dubois represented an ideal response to this problem.
The CH often faces difficulties in finding a player capable of supporting Suzuki in a number 2 center position.
By possessing Dubois, the Canadiens could have solidified their offense and had some much-needed depth.
-Suzuki, a talented player but still in full development, would have benefited from the presence of Dubois to free up space and diversify the Canadian’s playing patterns.
The Suzuki-Dubois duo would have allowed CH to get closer to the best teams in the league, to better face the powerful teams in the Eastern Conference and, above all, to have an additional asset to navigate the playoffs.
But Kent Hughes’ failure to make this trade happen could also have long-term implications for the club.
By sending Samuel Montembeault to Los Angeles, the Canadian would not only have met the Kings’ demand for a solid goaltender, but would also have allowed the transaction to be more balanced.
Montembeault, after notable performances in recent seasons, has become a valuable goaltender.
However, he is not considered a must-have in the CH’s future plans, especially with Jakub Dobes who is on fire and Jacob Fowler who will soon arrive in Montreal.
But unlike Darcy Kuemper, Montembeault represented a much higher market value this summer, making him a strategic piece for Hughes in negotiating the trade.
By sacrificing Montembeault, Kent Hughes would therefore have had the opportunity to recover a key player like Dubois, while balancing his team’s goaltending needs.
This lack of vision on this issue could be seen as an error in judgment in the long term, especially if Dubois continues to shine and help Washington fight for first place in the Eastern Conference.
One of the consequences of this missed opportunity by Kent Hughes is the persistence of a lack of depth at center for the Canadian.
As the club continues to explore options to fill this void, the lack of a higher caliber center like Dubois could be felt even more acutely in the months to come.
The CH must now turn to other solutions, while having to manage its finances prudently. Because Kirby Dach does not seem to be the 2nd center wanted by the CEO of CH.
Transaction opportunities are dwindling, and low-cost options for quality centers become increasingly rare as the season progresses.
The fact that Pierre-Luc Dubois is now under contract for a relatively modest $8 million makes the situation even more frustrating.
The player, in an environment that suits him perfectly, proves every day that he is an essential force both offensively and in game management.
As Dubois flourishes with the Capitals and the Canadiens continue to look for solutions to his center situation, one wonders what might have been if this player had worn the blue-white-red .
The Canadian will now have to take up the challenge of filling this void, but this missed opportunity in the summer of 2023 could, ultimately, prove to be one of the great regrets of the current management.
