In the unpredictable world of NHL trades, rumors swirl and speculation runs wild—especially when a team like the Montreal Canadiens makes a move for an elite defenseman.

But while fans and analysts scramble to piece together the details, some truths remain hidden behind closed doors.

Recent revelations from respected insider Marco D’Amico have shed new light on the intense negotiations that took place between Canadiens GM Kent Hughes and rival teams.

What really happened during the talks for New York Islanders star Noah Dobson? Which young Canadiens prospects were considered untouchable, and why?

As whispers of blockbuster deals and top-six forwards filled the air, one thing became clear: Kent Hughes was playing a high-stakes game, and not every card was on the table.

Did Montreal nearly lose two of its brightest rising stars in pursuit of a proven NHL talent? Or was there a deeper strategy at play—one that could define the franchise’s future for years to come?

The answers aren’t as simple as they seem. Dive into the insider story that’s turning heads across the league, and discover why some names are simply too valuable to risk, no matter the cost.

Photo of Kent Hughes

Photo credit: SportsNet

The excellent Marco D’Amico revealed interesting information on BPM Sports regarding discussions Kent Hughes had about a trade.

Immediately when we learned that the Canadiens had acquired elite defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, I immediately thought Michael Hage or David Reinbacher would be involved in the trade..

Well, today we learn that this was absolutely never a possibility.

Kent Hughes refused multiple trade offers for his two young right-shot players Michael Hage and David Reinbacher

Hughes refused to include Hage or Reinbacher in the trade for Noah Dobson, and he also refused to include those two players in discussions for a trade involving a top-six forward a few weeks ago.

We can assume that this “top-six forward” in question was a player like Mason McTavish or Jordan Kyrou.

Here are Marco D’Amico’s exact revelations on the subject:

“These are not players that the Canadiens would be willing to trade (Hage and Reinbacher).

They said it during the discussions for Noah Dobson, during the discussions for a top-six forward in early July.

You always need to have these young players entering the lineup, even if right now there’s a hole in the Canadiens’ top six.”

Marco D’Amico

So we can clearly forget about that.

Michael Hage and David Reinbacher will not be traded by the Montreal Canadiens.. Or at least, absolutely not in the short term!

Hage, 19 years old, is a right-shot center standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds.

He was the Canadiens’ 21st overall pick in 2024 and collected 34 points in 33 games last season in the NCAA.

Reinbacher, 20 years old, is a right-shot defenseman standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 207 pounds.

He was the Canadiens’ 5th overall pick in 2023 and registered 5 points in 10 games last season with the Laval Rocket.