Kent Hughes Planning Master Acquisition of an Elite Forward? Eric Engels Thinks the GM Will be Very Busy
While the Montreal Canadiens have several quality young players and many talented prospects, some fans are calling for the acquisition of a top-tier forward to bolster Martin St-Louis' top 6.
The name of William Nylander, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, has been mentioned a few times before the regular season. Although the chances of him signing with the Canadiens are slim, his addition would undoubtedly be a game changer for the team.
Nylander, a 27-year-old Swedish forward, has been outstanding this season, currently ranking fourth in the NHL with 11 goals and 14 assists (25 points) in 16 games. He's the only NHL player to have scored at least a point in every game this year.
Sportsnet's Canadiens correspondent Eric Engels made a bold statement about the possibility of Nylander joining the Canadiens in 2024-2025. He suggested it's unlikely the Canadiens' GM will make a splash in free agency, echoing statements repeatedly made by Kent Hughes.
The issue with free agents is their often exorbitant salary demands, which don't align with the Canadiens' salary structure. Moreover, they are usually 27 years or older, less ideal for a team not expected to contend for at least two more seasons.
However, Engels believes GM Kent Hughes will be proactive, using his assets to make a significant trade to address two key weaknesses: lack of offensive firepower and the absence of a true number one goaltender.
"He'll need to save money for Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron, and Juraj Slafkovsky, but the salary cap should increase exponentially year-on-year - at least for the next few years - and he'll be in an excellent position to do exactly what the Canadiens need to improve.
Acquiring an elite forward and a goaltender will surely be priorities, and we shouldn't wait too long before these issues are addressed by the Canadiens." - Eric Engels
The idea of the Canadiens acquiring a top forward through a trade is exciting. With Kirby Dach's return next year, Montreal's offense could be very dangerous. Additionally, if Kent Hughes can secure a true number one goalie, the Canadiens could surprise many and make a playoff run.
It will be interesting to see how the management handles its assets in the coming months!
| POLL |
18 NOVEMBRE | 508 ANSWERS Kent Hughes Planning Master Acquisition of an Elite Forward? Eric Engels Thinks the GM Will be Very Busy Would you like to see Nylander on the Habs? |
| Yes | 301 | 59.3 % |
| No | 207 | 40.7 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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