On a chilly evening in Salt Lake City, the clash between the Utah Hockey Club and the Montreal Canadiens brought more than just spectacular plays—it reignited one of the most debated “what ifs” in recent NHL history.

As Logan Cooley fired a shot at Sam Montembeault, fans couldn’t help but wonder: what would life be like if Cooley wore the bleu, blanc, et rouge instead of Juraj Slafkovsky?

Éric Bélanger’s bold remarks have stirred up a storm, challenging Kent Hughes’ high-profile draft decision and fueling a wave of speculation across the hockey world.

Would the Canadiens’ offensive lines look dramatically different with Cooley at center? Could Montreal’s future hinge on this one pivotal choice?

This isn’t about rewriting history or proposing impossible trades—it’s about imagining how one alternate decision might have shifted the entire trajectory of a storied franchise.

From lineup possibilities to the impact of future acquisitions, the debate is far from settled. What does this mean for Martin St-Louis’ squad, and how might the team’s fortunes change with just one name swapped on draft night?

The answers are surprising, and the possibilities are endless. Read on to uncover the full story behind the controversy.

Photo credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

Earlier today, we told you about Éric Bélanger’s statement regarding the Montreal Canadiens’ acquisition of Juraj Slafkovsky.

Bélanger mentioned that Kent Hughes made a mistake with the selection of Slafkovsky and added that he would have personally chosen young Logan Cooley instead.

That gave me the idea to take a look at what Martin St-Louis’ lineup would look like today if Kent Hughes had selected Logan Cooley instead of Juraj Slafkovsky.

This isn’t really a trade proposal, because we all know very well that a swap involving Juraj Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley is nearly impossible.

See it more as a lineup proposal.

What would the Montreal Canadiens look like with Logan Cooley instead of Juraj Slafkovsky?

Let’s forget about the defensive corps, for obvious reasons.

So, would you prefer these offensive lines?

Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Laine – Dach – Demidov
Bolduc – Newhook – Kapanen
Gallagher – Evans – Anderson

Or would you prefer these offensive lines?

Caufield – Suzuki – Demidov
Laine – Cooley – Dach
Bolduc – Newhook – Kapanen
Gallagher – Evans – Anderson

We could also slide Zachary Bolduc onto the second line here..

Personally, I think this is quite a tough dilemma, because it really depends on Kent Hughes’ next acquisition and on how Michael Hage develops.

If Kent Hughes manages to acquire Mason McTavish, the lineup with Juraj Slafkovsky clearly becomes more interesting.

On the other hand, if Kent Hughes instead acquires Jordan Kyrou (a winger), then it’s the lineup with Logan Cooley that becomes more intriguing.

And you-what’s your opinion on all this?

For this season, I imagine it would be better to have a center like Logan Cooley, but if Michael Hage turns into a solid second-line center, that changes everything for the coming years.