Canadiens Rumors: GM Says They'll Be Deadline BUYERS

 

The Montréal Canadiens, undoubtedly, have some prime trade candidates on their roster as we head towards the deadline in early March. Notably, Goaltender Jake Allen and centre Sean Monahan are among the prime assets they’re expected to be selling.

But according to general manager Kent Hughes, the Canadiens will also be buyers at this year‘s deadline. He met the media on Monday for his mid-season press conference and said his team will be looking to upgrade its offence, in particular, on the trade market. 

We’re looking for players that can help us. Are we looking to add offence to this group? No question about it. 

We were talking about our D-group and having a lot of depth. If we’re able to re-balance the ledger either using young players at a position where there is a logjam or draft picks (we'll do it).

It certainly is a logjam on defence: In addition to those already established at the NHL level, young prospects include Arber Xhekaj (who's already shown his mettle in the NHL) and Logan Mailloux with the AHL's Laval Rocket, with teenagers Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher also on the horizon.

At the same time, Hughes added that he doesn't feel there's "any urgency" to deal off from his loaded young defence corps. But he admits it'll have a lot to do with who they feel is progressing and who isn't, either in Montreal or at Laval.

"If we see that our players are progressing it provides a longer runway to figure out who stays and who goes...Do I feel like we have a gun to our head? No... Timing-wiseat this point we don't feel any urgency to do it. If the deal is there we’ll do it and if it’s not, we won’t.”

As for Monahan, he almost certainly will be dealt. Turns out the Habs made a promise. 

Habs GM Kent Hughes says an understanding in a “general” sense with Sean Monahan was made when he signed about moving him to a contender. No guarantee, depends on how things play out… That said, many (myself included) expect Monahan to be moved by the deadline.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) January 15, 2024

Hughes says an understanding in a “general” sense was made with Monahan when he re-signed last summer that they would endeavour to move him to a contender if at all possible. 

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