Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes has never been one to shy away from bold decisions, and this offseason has been no exception.

With a reputation for pulling off headline-grabbing trades and reshaping the team’s identity, Hughes has quietly set the stage for what could be his most intriguing move yet.

As the Canadiens continue their relentless search for a second-line center, whispers around the league are growing louder: one of Montreal’s own forwards has suddenly become a hot commodity, drawing the attention of rival GMs and setting the rumor mill ablaze.

But who is this player, and why has his value skyrocketed at just the right moment? Behind closed doors, negotiations are intensifying, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for a franchise determined to accelerate its rebuild.

Could Hughes be preparing to part ways with a fan favorite in exchange for the missing piece of the puzzle? Or is this all a clever ploy to strengthen his bargaining position?

The answer remains tantalizingly out of reach, but one thing is certain—something big could be brewing in Montreal, and the outcome may surprise even the most seasoned hockey insiders.

Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes

Photo credit: Sportsnet

Kent Hughes has been very active since the start of summer and continues to actively search for a second-line center for the Montreal Canadiens.

In recent months, the GM has seen one of his forwards increase in trade value, and he could decide to include him in a deal.

Since taking the helm of the Canadiens, Kent Hughes has completed several moves,including the departures of Tyler Toffoli, Ben Chiarot, Artturi Lehkonen, Brett Kulak, Sean Monahan, Alexander Romanov, Joel Edmundson, Mike Hoffman, Jake Allen, Johnathan Kovacevic, Jeff Petry, Justin Barron, and even Shea Weber’s contract.

Last June, he made a major move by acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for Emil Heineman and two first-round picks. He also sent Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Zachary Bolduc.

When he took on this new challenge in January 2022, Hughes was a relatively unknown name for many hockey fans. However, he quickly climbed the ranks and is now considered one of the NHL’s top GMs.

Recently, Puck Empire ranked him 7th, and ahead of him, you’ll find almost exclusively general managers who have won the Stanley Cup in recent years.

 

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Josh Anderson Has Increased in Value and Becomes a Definitely Interesting Option on the Trade Market

In 2023-24, Josh Anderson had a particularly difficult season with a team still in the midst of rebuilding. The right winger recorded just 9 goals in 78 games.

However, number 17 bounced back strongly last season, scoring 15 goals and 27 points in 81 games.

In addition to boosting his stats, the 6’3″, 226 lb forward caught the attention of the entire NHL during the playoffs due to his memorable confrontation with Tom Wilson, even escalating to physical altercations on the players’ bench.

Every GM in the league remembers that moment. If you hope to win the Stanley Cup, you know Josh Anderson is a playoff-ready player.

Moreover, he only has two seasons left on his contract, which expires in the summer of 2027. With the salary cap increasing, his $5,500,000 cap hit becomes even more attractive, as teams will have more flexibility.

He was also recently linked as a potential trade option in a bold proposal. There is no doubt that Josh Anderson is an interesting forward for teams aiming for the ultimate prize.

If you want to go deep in the playoffs, you want Josh Anderson. But even with his rising value, keeping him in Montreal would certainly not be a disappointment.