Major trade by Kent Hughes: The GM confirms he had to cancel at the last minute
Kent Hughes made only one major transaction this summer with the acquisition of Patrik Laine, but he has been very busy.
Indeed, it is well-known that he was heavily involved in discussions regarding Martin Necas and Trevor Zegras, but without success. He was also present at the Hlinka/Gretzky Tournament, where he signed four players, including two key prospects in Juraj Slafkovsky and Kaiden Guhle.
Moreover, it has recently come to light that he actually turned down a last-minute trade during the draft, in the first round. This could have significantly altered the team's roster.
Kent Hughes had traded his 26th overall pick for the 21st, and he had a specific player in mind. That player was Michael Hage, but according to Nick Bobrov, the chances of Hage slipping to the 21st pick were low, estimated at 20%.
The GM indeed had a trade lined up if Michael Hage was not available, which is clearly shown in the draft coverage.
This is an excerpt from a communication between him and another general manager. Two options are possible based on what we've learned. First, Rutger McGroarty was strongly linked to the Canadiens at that time, and it's possible that Kent Hughes was talking to his counterpart from Winnipeg.
The second option is none other than forward Trevor Zegras. A major rumor from Habsolument Fan suggests that Logan Mailloux and the 21st pick were on their way to Anaheim in exchange for Trevor Zegras.
If we recall correctly, during the wait for the 21st selection, Kent Hughes was on the phone and there was even speculation that a trade might be announced.
He was calling one of his counterparts (from Winnipeg or Anaheim) to cancel the trade in place because Michael Hage was still available.
This is a report that is definitely worth watching more than once.
Source: Marqueur.com
Le Canadien confirme qu'un échange majeur a passé bien près de se conclure et nous avons les détails
| POLL | ||
Do you think Kent Hughes made the right decision by selecting Michael Hage instead of acquiring Rutger McGroarty or Trevor Zegras? | ||
| Yes | 220 | 93.2 % |
| No | 16 | 6.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
