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Kent Hughes' Genius Highlighted: Sean Monahan's Trade Will Have Unforeseen Effects


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Aaron Itovitch
February 27, 2024  (8:17 PM)
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Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes
Photo credit: A Winning Habit

Although the playoffs were out of reach for the Canadiens when Kent Hughes traded Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal's first-round pick was projected between the 8th and 10th spot for the upcoming draft.

However, since the departure of the 29-year-old center, a notably interesting shift has occurred, which could greatly benefit the organization in the long term. Indeed, the Habs have only managed to secure two victories in their last nine games, subsequently falling in the overall standings.
While some fans might prefer to see the team win regularly, the difficult streak (five consecutive losses) that Martin St-Louis' men are currently experiencing could have very positive repercussions moving forward.
The concept of "tanking" might not be favored by everyone, but in a season where the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge has nothing left to gain, the losses accumulated by the Canadiens significantly aid the management team in view of the next draft.
Personally, I would prefer if the CH continues to lose matches to possibly have the chance to draft an elite forward like Macklin Celebrini, Cayden Lindstrom, Ivan Demidov, or even Cole Eiserman. After all, at this point in the season, victories don't hold much value, especially since the team is guaranteed not to qualify for the playoffs.
Moreover, despite recent setbacks, young forwards Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky are finding success, proving they will be the pillars of the organization in the coming seasons.
As Marc-Olivier Beaudoin pointed out, if the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge continues on this path, Kent Hughes might have the privilege of selecting a player in the top-5 in June, or even in the top-4.
«Updated 'reverse standings' following wins by the Jackets/Sabres and the point gained by the Coyotes. The CH is now 1 point away from the top 5, and we're starting to see the top 4 as a possibility, finally!» - Marc-Olivier Beaudoin

Certainly, this will be a situation to monitor until the end of the season, but it seems likely that the highly sought-after top-6 forward could be available in the next draft.
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Kent Hughes' Genius Highlighted: Sean Monahan's Trade Will Have Unforeseen Effects

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