The Montreal Canadiens stayed surprisingly quiet during the NHL trade deadline, but that silence might not last long.
Multiple league sources suggest General Manager Kent Hughes is gearing up for a busy summer, with one executive saying he’d be "stunned" if the Canadiens don’t make a major move.
The timing just wasn’t right this March. Trade prices were through the roof, with too many buyers and not enough sellers in the market.
"The trade deadline is not the time to build your team. It’s an arms race," a Canadiens source told RG.org’s Marco D’Amico.
The team’s biggest priority? Finding a top-line center.
It’s a critical piece they’ll need, especially with young Russian star Ivan Demidov expected to join the team next season. The Canadiens want to make sure they’ve got the right pieces in place to help their newest prospect succeed.
"I’d be shocked if the Canadiens didn’t trade for an age-appropriate center this summer," one pro scout told D’Amico. "From what I’m hearing, the Canadiens feel like that’s the missing piece to get them to the playoffs."
The team’s current center situation isn’t ideal. Kirby Dach hasn’t quite found his groove in the middle, and Alex Newhook hasn’t shown he can handle top-six responsibilities.
The competition for centers was fierce at the deadline. "Almost every potential NHL playoff team was looking for help at center," an NHL source explained. "Did you see the prices paid for Nelson, Laughton, and the other centers? Those were very high prices because desperation is greater at this time of year."
But summer could be different. With more teams willing to deal and less pressure to make immediate improvements, Hughes will have more options – and he’s got plenty of draft picks and prospects to make something happen.
The good news for Habs fans? Hughes has already started those summer trade conversations.
