The Real Reason Behind Jeff Petry's Return Makes Kent Hughes Look Like A Genius
The Montreal Canadiens made a big splash in the trade market yesterday, engaging in a massive three-team transaction with the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Upon initial announcement, many fans were surprised to see Jeff Petry's return to Montreal. However, upon deeper analysis of the trade, this masterstroke by Kent Hughes makes him look like a genius.
1. A Promising Addition: First and foremost, the organization has added a second-round pick, along with an intriguing Quebec prospect in Nathan Légaré. He's sure to play in Laval, and this change of scenery could help elevate his game at the professional level. It's worth noting that the young player is only 22.
2. Clearing Contracts: Among all this personnel movement, Hughes managed to trade the undesirable contracts of Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick, who were no longer part of the team's plans. This frees up two spots in the 12 available positions with the big club.
3. Goalie Shift: Additionally, the arrival of goalie Casey DeSmith gives the Canadiens the possibility to move Jake Allen's contract, which stands at $3.85 million for two more seasons, compared to DeSmith's $1.8 million impact for this year only. Keep an eye on the Buffalo Sabres for a possible trade involving Allen. They lack an experienced goalie to back up rookie Devon Levi.
4. Petry's Return � The Highlight: Finally, the real showstopper is certainly Petry's return, which provides a new business opportunity to acquire other assets, thanks to the significant 25% salary retention by the Penguins on the remaining contract of the veteran. With a $4.6 million impact over two seasons, he becomes far more attractive to teams looking to add depth on defense.
Considering that Hughes might retain another 50% of the remaining salary, Petry at $2.3 million becomes a great bargain on the market. Don't forget that the 35-year-old defenseman played 23 minutes per game last season and finished with 31 points in 61 matches. With such a salary, he would certainly be in demand across the NHL.
According to information reported by Eric Engels, if the Canadiens' GM is already in action to move Petry with a salary retention on his contract, Hughes might obtain a very interesting return, including a high draft pick and a quality prospect.
If this scenario comes to fruition, the Canadiens would end up with two draft picks in the first two rounds, Nathan Légaré, possibly another prospect, and goalie Casey DeSmith, in exchange for Mike Hoffman, Rem Pitlick, and Jeff Petry. It would literally be another masterstroke by Kent Hughes.
Credit: HabsolumentFan
| POLL | ||
Would you trade Jeff Petry with 50% of the salary retained, for a second-round pick and a quality prospect? | ||
| Yes | 224 | 83.6 % |
| No | 44 | 16.4 % |
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