The Montreal Canadiens’ ongoing rebuild has been the subject of intense speculation and fascination among hockey fans and insiders alike. With each new episode of the documentary series released on Crave, viewers are treated to unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, revealing the high-stakes decisions and candid conversations shaping the future of one of hockey’s most storied franchises.

In the most recent episode, a particularly intriguing scene unfolds—General Manager Kent Hughes calls up young defenseman Kaiden Guhle for a private meeting. The topic? A potential blockbuster trade involving a forward who could dramatically alter the team’s trajectory. But Hughes isn’t just looking at stats or scouting reports; he wants Guhle’s personal insight, hinting at a level of trust and collaboration rarely seen in the NHL.

What makes this moment even more compelling is the secrecy surrounding the targeted player. The clues dropped in the episode—an “untiring monster,” offensively skilled, strong as a horse, and a former teammate of Guhle—have set off a frenzy of speculation.

Who is this mystery forward? Why was Guhle’s opinion so crucial? The answers are tantalizingly close, yet just out of reach. Dive into the full story to uncover the names, the rumors, and the surprising twists behind this captivating episode.

Jan 21, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) plays the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

In the past few hours, a new episode of the documentary series on the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild was released on Crave.

We see several very interesting moments, including one in which General Manager Kent Hughes calls up his defenseman Kaiden Guhle for a meeting regarding a forward he was trying to acquire via trade.

Essentially, Hughes spoke with Guhle to learn more about this forward he was attempting to acquire through a trade.

Naturally, we are very curious to know who the targeted forward was, especially since there are several clues.

Five forwards considered for this famous trade discussed between Kent Hughes and Kaiden Guhle

In most cases, when a GM consults a player for information about another NHL player, it’s usually because the player in question was a former teammate.

In other words, there’s a very high chance that the player here was a former teammate of Kaiden Guhle.

As also reported by Marco Normandin, here are the “clues” mentioned in this excerpt.

The discussion revolves around a very good, complete player described as an “untiring monster,” strong as a horse, offensively skilled, intelligent, and around 5-foot-11 according to Kaiden Guhle’s description to Kent Hughes.

Looking at all of Guhle’s former teammates, including those from Team Canada Junior, there are about five players who fit this description.

These are Jake Neighbours (St. Louis Blues), Jack Quinn (Buffalo Sabres), Peyton Krebs (Buffalo Sabres), Philip Tomasino (Pittsburgh Penguins), and Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils).

Everything indicates that Kent Hughes attempted to acquire one of these five players over the past few months!

Moreover, all five have been mentioned frequently in recent trade rumors.

It’s certainly intriguing!