Kent Hughes about to acquire a 100-point player? That's what's being suggested with the possible arrival of Elias Pettersson
The Canadiens' reconstruction will inevitably require a major acquisition in the next two years. Kent Hughes has done well, but there's still a bit of a punch missing in the attack to truly believe that the Habs can go far in the playoffs in the not-so-distant future.
Many teams that have undergone rebuilding have struggled. Look at the Sabres, who have failed to move to the next level for over 10 years. Ottawa is starting to look like that as well.
In Montreal, that won't fly, and the management knows it very well. It requires a bold move, and I firmly believe that the organization has the right people in place for that, namely Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes.
With only three players to sign, including one who should be released (Jesse Ylonen), Kent Hughes will have over $17 million on his salary cap this summer, not counting the cap increase. Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron need to be signed, and then the path is set for a significant acquisition.
The player targeted here is Elias Pettersson. The Swede will be a restricted free agent, and the Canucks might be forced to trade him, similar to the Jets with Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Rumors have circulated for several seasons that the young forward wants to leave Vancouver. The exact reasons are not known, but if the Canucks' impressive season doesn't convince him to stay and sign long-term, the organization will have no choice but to trade him.
His acquisition would be a giant step for the Canadiens, making them a much better team and potentially aiming for the playoffs as early as next year.
| POLL | ||
Would you like Kent Hughes to acquire Elias Pettersson? | ||
| Yes | 441 | 65.4 % |
| No | 233 | 34.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
