MAJOR: Insider Reveals Kent Hughes May Be Planning a Trade That Fans Won't Like
Eric Engels, a seasoned journalist with Sportsnet who has covered the Montreal Canadiens for many years, has sparked a debate among fans with his latest revelation.
He reported that there's a real possibility that Kent Hughes, the Canadiens' General Manager, might trade their first-round pick in the upcoming draft, expected to be within the top-8.
According to Engels, the Canadiens are seriously considering this option based on developments just hours before the draft. This has caught many off guard!
Engels commented on the matter, saying:
"Don't be surprised if the Canadiens acquire a forward/best player available by trading a pick between five and nine. It's not a necessity, but even though the top 10 of the 2024 class is heavy on defense, there are still several forwards attractive enough for the Canadiens to pick if they land in that range. However, if they feel there's a better option available through a trade, I don't think they'll hesitate too long to make their move." - Eric Engels
Thus, Engels suggests the Canadiens are entirely open to trading their high future pick for immediate assistance.
Personally, I'm not fond of this idea for several reasons, including that the incoming player alone is unlikely to make a significant difference for the Canadiens. The team's dire need for offensive talent can't be addressed with just one acquisition; they need to add two or three key pieces to finally have depth and a future in their offensive lineup.
It's evident that a pick between 5th and 9th position could be very valuable in the trade market, but unless it brings in a young, impactful player who fits perfectly with the team's young core, aged 25 or under, it's hard to see the benefit of not opting for a young forward from the 2024 cohort.
With quality defensemen and forwards like Ivan Demidov, Cole Eiserman, Cayden Lindstrom, or Berkly Catton potentially available, the Canadiens have a chance to draft elite talent.
Given the Canadiens are likely to acquire another first-round pick in 2024 through a potential Sean Monahan trade, I would prefer Hughes to use this pick, along with a valuable defenseman, to acquire a top-6 offensive potential forward.
By making such a trade, in addition to selecting a forward in the top-10 of the upcoming draft, the Canadiens would add two more talents to address their lack of offensive firepower.
| POLL |
4 FEVRIER | 291 ANSWERS MAJOR: Insider Reveals Kent Hughes May Be Planning a Trade That Fans Won't Like Would you trade a top-10 pick for a more established player? |
| Yes | 188 | 64.6 % |
| No | 103 | 35.4 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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