Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes appears to be at a crossroads as his team exceeds expectations and finds itself in the midst of a playoff race.
But be careful. Despite the relative success and resurrection of Kirby Dach, Hughes has made it clear that he is still looking for a true second-line center, one who can solidify the offensive core while allowing Kirby Dach to find his niche. best position, potentially on the wing.
With Christian Dvorak likely leaving this summer, Hughes is evaluating his options to fill this looming void at center.
If a top-6 caliber player were to join the team this season, Dach could be repositioned on the wing even before the end of the campaign, thus offering Martin St-Louis significant tactical flexibility.
Among the names circulating, that of Ryan O’Reilly, currently with the Nashville Predators, is particularly attracting attention.
According to Elliotte Friedman, Nashville is open to discussions regarding the veteran center, provided an attractive offer arises.
With a reasonable contract of $4.5 million per season until 2027, O’Reilly would represent a strategic acquisition for the Canadiens.
The 33-year-old is known for his all-round playing style, leadership and ability to excel in crucial moments.
In 39 games this season, O’Reilly has 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists), respectable stats for an experienced center on a struggling team like Nashville.
His presence would provide instant stability at center while serving as a mentor to young Habs players, including Dach and Nick Suzuki.
Kirby Dach, although impressive at times at center, has not yet demonstrated sufficient consistency to fully assume the role of second pivot.
Hughes, in planning for the future, seems to envision Dach as a more versatile player, capable of shining on the wing in a context where a veteran like O’Reilly would take over at center.
This strategy would also allow the Canadian to maximize Dach’s skills without asking too much of him in the center.
True to his philosophy, Kent Hughes reiterated that he will not sacrifice the future of the team for a rental player.
The CH is not in a position to give up high picks or promising prospects for a temporary acquisition.
Hughes has been clear that the Canadiens will not look to acquire short-term rental players. He stated:
“Buyer, we would not be a buyer in the National League. So if our fans want to think about a buyer who is going to go rent a player and pay high prices for the future of our organization, that’s not the case. »
“If we make a trade, it will be more along the lines of an Alex Carrier. It’s not necessarily based on the deadline, but on the possibility of improving the team. »
Hughes stressed that there is still a lot to learn from the team this season and that they are constantly evaluating opportunities.
“We still have a lot to learn and see. We remain attentive to all opportunities that could align with our vision. »
However, a player like Ryan O’Reilly, under contract for several seasons, fits perfectly with this approach.
A trade involving O’Reilly would provide not only immediate help, but lasting value for the club, whether targeting the playoffs this year or preparing for a future window of competition.
Hughes has already demonstrated that he prefers to target players capable of making an impact in the medium to long term instead of a rental player.
He even took the example of the Alex Carrier transaction.
In short, he is already used to dealing with Nahsville. And we bet O’Reilly would dream of playing for Martin St-Louis.
This could represent a major trade for the Habs, strengthening both the offense and defense, as O’Reilly is one of the best two-way forwards in the entire NHL.
And above all…a player built for the playoffs…
For the Predators, such a trade would also make sense. In the midst of a rebuild, Nashville could take advantage of O’Reilly’s market value to accumulate draft picks or interesting prospects.
We wonder if Nashville was interested in Joshua Roy when the time came to negotiate with Montreal. While the CH has less and less confidence in the Quebecer, Hughes could try to build a transaction around Joshua Roy in order to create an interesting “package deal”.
The Canadiens, for their part, must weigh the costs of such an acquisition, particularly in terms of future capital, but the opportunity to get their hands on a player of O’Reilly’s caliber could be too good to pass up .
As the Canadiens continue to surprise this season, Kent Hughes finds himself faced with a crucial decision.
Ryan O’Reilly represents a rare opportunity to immediately improve the team while respecting the GM’s long-term building principles.
With Christian Dvorak departing and Kirby Dach still in transition, the acquisition of a center of O’Reilly’s caliber could be the coup that solidifies the Canadian’s ambitions, not only for this year, but for the seasons to come.
This decision must be made with caution. The Canadian is in full transformation, and every movement counts.
Regardless, the issue of a second center remains a priority for Hughes, and the next few weeks could be decisive for the future of the team.
Ryan O’Reilly in Montreal…sounds good…
