In the organization of the Montreal Canadiens, the most successful club in the NHL (24 Stanley Cups), Connor Hughes will have to dislodge one of the first two goalies during training camp if he hopes to join the premier team. At the Bell Centre, according to the current situation, he will be in competition with Quebecer Samuel Montembeault (27 years old) who acquired the position of No. 1 during the 2023-2024 season. And with the American Cayden Primeau (24 years old) who made a 91% save rate in the 23 matches played last year.
If he were to wear the Habs jersey one day, Connor Hughes would be the third goalkeeper holding a Swiss passport to experience this moment after Cristobal Huet (the Frenchman had acquired Swiss nationality by marriage), who had been adored by the supporters during his visit between 2006 and 2008. And the Friborg David Aebischer who had been his replacement between February 2006 and 2007.
As he has concluded a two-way agreement (editor’s note: his salary will depend on the League in which he plays), Connor Hughes will probably start the 2024-2025 season with the Laval Rocket, the Canadian’s school club in the American Hockey League. If necessary, its home will be Place Bell, a magnificent ice rink with 10,000 seats located 17 metro stations from the Bell Centre.
At the Laval Rocket, his competitor should be the Czech Jakub Dobes (23 years old), drafted in 2020 by the Canadian and author of a very good first season in the uniform of the team coached by Jean-François Houle (90, 6% of stops). He could – we say could – find the former Austrian defender of Kloten David Reinbacher, drafted in 5th universal position in 2023 and to whom the Montreal Canadiens seem to want to give time to develop in the American Hockey League.
If he were to end up in Laval, Connor Hughes would be the first Swiss to wear the (nice) jersey of the Rocket, a team that was founded in August 2016. In 2017, Bernese defender Mark Streit, who was cut by the Habs, could have figured it out. But he chose instead to end his career.
Since then, no Swiss have skated with the Habs. Will Hughes be next?
