In the ever-evolving world of NHL trades and front office maneuvering, few stories have sparked as much debate and intrigue as the recent assessments of Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes.

As the hockey community continues to dissect every decision, ranking, and transaction, one particular trade has emerged at the center of heated controversy—a move with the Chicago Blackhawks that experts and fans alike can’t seem to stop talking about.

But what exactly happened behind the scenes? How did Hughes’s deal with Chicago come to define his tenure, and why do analysts consider it his most questionable move to date?

In this deep dive, we’ll explore the twists and turns that led to this moment, examine the ripple effects throughout the league, and reveal the hidden details that have left Canadiens supporters both frustrated and fascinated.

Along the way, we’ll also uncover which trades have cemented Hughes’s reputation as a shrewd negotiator—and which have left lingering doubts about his long-term vision for Montreal.

Whether you’re a die-hard Habs fan or simply love a good hockey story, this is one saga you won’t want to miss. The full story awaits—are you ready to find out what really happened?

Photo of Canadiens and Chicago

Photo credit: HabsFanatics/NHL

As we mentioned earlier, the excellent page “PuckEmpire” has, for the past few weeks, been ranking NHL general managers.

Recently, we finally got to Kent Hughes’ position, and he ultimately landed in 7th place. According to them, Hughes is therefore the 7th best general manager in the entire National Hockey League.

That said, in addition to revealing Hughes’ position in this ranking, they also took the opportunity to highlight some good moves and some less successful moves by the Habs’ GM.

His best move, according to them, is the trade made with the Calgary Flames for center Sean Monahan.

His worst move, according to them, is indeed the trade made with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Trade with Chicago involving Kirby Dach: Kent Hughes’ Worst, According to Puck Empire

Let’s recall that on July 7, 2022, the Montreal Canadiens (after trading Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders) traded a 1st-round pick and a 3rd-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Kirby Dach.

The National Hockey League officially treated these two trades as two separate and distinct transactions.

The guys at Puck Empire are therefore judging only the part of this deal with Chicago.

To Montreal:

Kirby Dach

To Chicago:

2022 1st-round pick (Frank Nazar)
+
2023 3rd-round pick (Gavin Hayes)

The fact that the 2022 1st-round pick became Frank Nazar is clearly what stings the Habs here.

Nazar, 21 years old, is a right-handed center drafted 13th overall in 2022 who has 27 points in 56 NHL games, including 13 goals.

He also recorded 24 points in 21 AHL games and truly seems on the verge of breaking out as a dominant NHL center.

And you – do you also believe this is the worst trade made by Kent Hughes so far?

The trade involving Artturi Lehkonen and Justin Barron is another one that doesn’t look very good today, but Kent Hughes brilliantly redeemed himself by turning Barron into Alexandre Carrier.

 

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