On a crisp September afternoon at the Montreal Canadiens’ annual golf tournament, all eyes were on general manager Kent Hughes as he stepped up to the microphone.

Amid the usual banter and updates, Hughes dropped a statement that sent shockwaves through the NHL community—one that could have massive implications for the team’s future.

With the season just around the corner, Hughes openly admitted that he’s now willing to “overpay” for the right player, a rare and bold declaration in today’s hockey world.

But what exactly does “overpay” mean? And, perhaps more importantly, who is the mystery player that could be worth breaking the bank for?

Speculation is already running wild, with fans and insiders alike connecting the dots to a handful of young, game-changing talents rumored to be available.

Could this be the move that finally solidifies Montreal’s lineup and sets them on a path to contention? Or is it simply a high-stakes bluff in the ever-competitive NHL trade market?

The answer may surprise you—and the ripple effects could be felt across the league. Dive in as we unravel the intrigue behind Hughes’ headline-making comments and explore who might be at the center of hockey’s next big blockbuster.

Photo of Kent Hughes

Photo credit: X/Filosa

On the sidelines of the Montreal Canadiens’ annual golf tournament, general manager Kent Hughes was present at a press conference.

He answered many questions, and one of his responses was particularly interesting.

When asked about the next step for the Canadiens on the NHL trade market, he revealed that he has reached a stage where he is ready to overpay to acquire the right player.. Wow!

We’re talking here about a 25-year-old forward, or at least someone in their prime-established, and capable of helping the team long-term!

It’s hard not to think of a player like Mason McTavish when hearing all this.

Kent Hughes announces he is ready to overpay for the right trade

It’s an interesting message he’s sending to the other NHL general managers.

“Overpay?
The answer is yes, if the player we overpay for is going to help us for many years.”

– Kent Hughes

Ultimately we don’t feel like we’re done building our hockey team, but we’re in that phase where we’re constructing the hockey team. If we have to overpay to get a specific player that we think will be important to the future of our team, then we’ll do it.

– Hughes

That could make things very interesting on the trade market, especially for the Montreal Canadiens.

For the full press conference, it’s right here:

As you can see in the video above, Kent Hughes mentions it TWICE, in just a few minutes, that he is ready to overpay to acquire the right player.

Mason McTavish is a 6-foot-1, 219-pound center, 22 years old, drafted third overall in 2021, and still without a contract for the season starting in just over two weeks!

Last season, McTavish recorded 52 points in 76 games, playing on a third line and the second power-play unit.

If the Canadiens want to “overpay” to acquire a player, he could certainly be the right one to overpay for in a trade. That would solve the Habs’ center line for a very long time.