The names of four players who could potentially interest Kent Hughes have just been revealed
Knowing that the rebuild will continue over the next year, Kent Hughes could take advantage of the trade market to acquire a player at an affordable price this summer. It would also be possible for the Habs' general manager to make another Sean Monahan-style trade by absorbing a contract in order to add a young prospect or a draft pick to the organization.
In a recent column on Montreal Hockey Now, Marco D'Amico mentioned four players in particular who could be potential targets for the Tricolore during the offseason. According to him, Kaapo Kakko, Viktor Arvidsson, Tyson Barrie and Alex Newhook are players whose prices are currently falling, and Kent Hughes could benefit from this situation to make a trade.
Kaapo Kakko
The New York Rangers only have 11 million dollars under the payroll for next season and they will have to offer contract extensions to Alexis Lafrenière and K'Andre Miller. Moreover, Vladimir Tarasenko has notably reiterated his interest in returning to the team in 2023-2024, as he will become a free agent on July 1st. Although the second overall pick in 2019 had his best season with a harvest of 18 goals and 22 assists this year, he still hasn't managed to reach his full potential. The 22-year-old right winger (6'2 / 206 pounds) could surely benefit from a change of scenery to reboot his career.
Viktor Arvidsson
The Los Angeles Kings will also face salary constraints this summer. Indeed, Robert Blake has stated that he wishes to keep defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov in the organization, but the general manager will also have to extend several RFAs such as Gabe Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari and Jaret Anderson-Dolan. It would not be surprising for the Kings to consider trading one of their forwards to free up space under the salary cap. According to several experts, Viktor Arvidsson's name is often mentioned in trade talks. The forward scored 59 points in 77 games this season and could represent an interesting option to boost the Canadiens' offense.
Tyson Barrie
With only one year left on his $4.5 million contract, Tyson Barrie is a perfect target for a Sean Monahan-style trade. Especially since the Nashville Predators will want to make room for their young right-handed defensemen next season. A power play specialist, Barrie could seriously help the Tricolore's power play. Moreover, Kent Hughes could potentially trade him at the trade deadline to acquire the services of a quality prospect or draft picks.
Alex Newhook
Despite Alex Newhook's undeniable talent, the 22-year-old forward has been unable to secure a regular spot on the Avalanche's top two lines since joining the team. Like Kaapo Kakko, a fresh start could be greatly beneficial to him. Moreover, general manager Chris MacFarland is likely to be aggressive in the free agent market this summer in order to make up for the loss of Gabriel Landeskog, who will likely miss the entire 2023-2024 season. The Avalanche could try to trade the center to use that money to sign new players.
For more details, here is the full column:
Credit: Montreal Hockey Now
| POLL | ||
Which player would you like to see in the Montreal Canadiens' uniform next year? | ||
| Kaapo Kakko | 92 | 48.9 % |
| Viktor Arvidsson | 15 | 8 % |
| Tyson Barrie | 21 | 11.2 % |
| Alex Newhook | 60 | 31.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
