The big question for the Montreal Canadiens as the trade deadline approaches is what Kent Hughes will do with Joel Armia and Jake Evans.

With the team’s recent success, especially since the return of the Four Nations Faceoff, Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes could be inclined to keep both forwards as a way to reward the players.

They might even add pieces to the roster to give them more tools.

In recent days, Arpon Basu from The Athletic shared new information that contradicts this idea.

He mentioned that the Canadiens’ GM had already surveyed the league to see if he could receive a first-round pick by packaging Jake Evans and Joel Armia in the same trade.

Jake Evans and Joel Armia on Bill Guerin’s Radar?

On Thursday night, the Minnesota Wild faced Utah in Salt Lake City. The visitors completely collapsed, losing 6-1.

In the loss, two of Utah’s four goals came on the power play.

The Wild’s poor penalty-killing performance led hockey insider Michael Russo to suggest that the team should acquire Joel Armia and Jake Evans.

The duo could provide significant help on Minnesota’s special teams.

 

After seeing his colleague’s post on platform X, TVA Sports insider Renaud Lavoie did not hesitate to comment.

He simply wished Russo good luck with that wish.

 

Should we take this as a sign that this trade will never happen?

Pierre LeBrun Confirms the Wild Are in the Race

In a recent segment of Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun confirmed that Bill Guerin of the Wild had indeed called Kent Hughes about both forwards. However, it is understood that the offer will have to be strong for Montreal to part ways with both players.

«LeBrun on Insider Trading says that the teams that have reached out to Montreal for Evans or Armia are Winnipeg, Toronto, Edmonton, New Jersey, and Minnesota.

LeBrun adds that the Canadiens have told teams they are not obligated to trade these players, as they have plenty of draft picks, so they should come with serious offers.»

 

It will be interesting to see what Kent Hughes does with his pending free agents.

There is no doubt that speculation will be at an all-time high leading up to March 7!