Every August, as the NHL world settles into its off-season lull, Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has made it his personal tradition to send shockwaves through the league with a headline-grabbing move.

This summer is no exception. Rumors have been swirling, and fans are still buzzing from the aftershocks of the Canadiens’ “quiet” trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins—a deal that, at first glance, seemed to fly under the radar. But now, with all the pieces finally falling into place two years later, the true scope of this transaction is only just coming to light.

What started as a seemingly straightforward exchange of veteran players and draft picks has quietly transformed into something much bigger—something that’s left hockey insiders and fans alike scrambling to piece together how Kent Hughes managed to pull off such a masterstroke. How did a trade involving names like Jeff Petry, Rem Pitlick, and Mike Hoffman evolve into one of the most talked-about asset flips in recent Canadiens history?

And why are so many analysts now calling it an “under-the-radar heist” for Montreal? The details behind this trade tree are more surprising—and potentially franchise-changing—than anyone could have imagined. Read on to discover the full story.

Photo of Montreal Canadiens Logo (left) and Penguins Logo (right)

Photo credit: Habs Fanatics

We mentioned it to you recently, but Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens have gotten us used to big trades right in the middle of August.

There was the trade for Sean Monahan, the trade for Patrik Laine, and of course the rather unexpected trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, involving a certain Jeff Petry.

Kent Hughes is known for announcing a surprise trade every August.

The trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins dating back to 2023 is finally complete

And now, two years later, all elements of the Penguins-Montreal trade are finally known!

Let’s go.

First of all, in August 2023, the Canadiens acquired:

– Jeff Petry

– Nathan Légaré

– Casey DeSmith

– 2025 second-round pick

In exchange for:

– Rem Pitlick and Mike Hoffman

Afterward, the Canadiens traded Jeff Petry for Gustav Lindstrom and a 2025 4th-round pick.

The Canadiens also traded goaltender Casey DeSmith for Tanner Pearson and a 2025 3rd-round pick.

So all of the 2025 picks are now accounted for, and thus, here is the verdict.

The Habs turned Rem Pitlick and Mike Hoffman into two excellent 2025 prospects

Kent Hughes used the 2025 2nd-round pick to move up in the draft and select young forward Alexander Zharovsky.

Kent Hughes used the 2025 4th-round pick to move up in the draft and select young forward Hayden Paupanekis.

Kent Hughes used the 2025 3rd-round pick to move up in the draft and select young forward Hayden Paupanekis.

So, if you followed correctly, Montreal indeed traded the 4th-round pick (acquired via Jeff Petry) and the 3rd-round pick (acquired via Casey DeSmith) to go and get Paupanekis.

Two years later, Kent Hughes has thus turned that trade made with the Pittsburgh Penguins (with a few additions) into..

Alexander Zharovsky and Hayden Paupanekis!

Wow! We can agree that Hughes would never have gotten Zharovsky without that trade.

All of this, simply by giving up (initially) Rem Pitlick and Mike Hoffman.

That wraps up the big tree of this trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins, dating back to 2023.