The Montreal Canadiens’ front office has been busy this summer, navigating the unpredictable waters of NHL trade negotiations.

While fans have celebrated the acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson, another potential blockbuster deal has quietly simmered beneath the surface—one that could have dramatically altered the team’s future.

According to whispers from well-connected insiders, Kent Hughes and the Canadiens were deep in talks to bring St. Louis Blues star Jordan Kyrou to Montreal. The negotiations, reportedly intense and complex, nearly led to a high-profile exchange that would have sent shockwaves through the league.

But what really happened behind closed doors? Why did the deal fall through, and who was the key player the Blues demanded in return for their dynamic forward?

The answer, still shrouded in rumor and speculation, has left fans and analysts buzzing. Was Kent Hughes right to walk away, or did Montreal miss out on a rare opportunity?

As details slowly emerge, the story reveals a fascinating glimpse into the high-stakes world of NHL trades, where just one decision can shape a franchise for years to come. The full truth behind this near-trade is even more intriguing than you might expect—read on to uncover all the drama.

Mar 2, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou (25) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

As part of the most recent episode of the Poolcast, the excellent Marco Normandin revealed some interesting information about a trade Kent Hughes negotiated.

According to rumors, at the very beginning of the summer, Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens were seriously negotiating two trades.

They negotiated to acquire Noah Dobson (successfully) and also reportedly tried to acquire forward Jordan Kyrou (unsuccessfully) via trade.

Here’s what the St. Louis Blues are said to have asked the Montreal Canadiens for in exchange for Jordan Kyrou

It’s important to stress that this remains conditional and should be treated as a rumor, not an official confirmation, but it’s still extremely interesting.

“Also, this summer, with the Canadiens, we almost went and got Jordan Kyrou.. I don’t know how close we were to actually acquiring him?” – Pascal Cameron

“We talked.” – Maxime Truman

To that, Normandin added:

“From what I had heard, there really were discussions (for a trade between the Habs and the Blues involving Jordan Kyrou)..

At first, it was a bigger transaction.

Mailloux and Bolduc were included and all that, but they couldn’t come to an agreement on the Kyrou part, so they just completed the part involving Bolduc and Mailloux. But from what I’m told, from a fairly well-informed source, it would have cost Guhle if they wanted Kyrou.” – Marco Normandin

Wow! Kent Hughes clearly made the right call by not going down that road and avoiding such a massive trade.

We also highly recommend checking out the full episode, during which the cases of Sidney Crosby and Mason McTavish are also discussed.

And you – would you have agreed to include Kaiden Guhle in a trade for forward Jordan Kyrou?

Jordan Kyrou, 27 years old, is a 6’1″, 196-pound winger who was a 2nd-round pick (35th overall) by the St. Louis Blues in 2016.

He has 332 points in 416 career NHL games, including 150 goals, and last season he recorded 70 points in 82 games with the Blues.

Kyrou earns $8.125 million per year through 2031, so he’s on a solid contract.