Canadiens: Don't Expect Hughes To Be A Seller

The Montreal Canadiens are doing well these days, so well in fact that they are now in the mix for a playoff spot, which for the organization was the plan all along. So to say Hughes' won't stick to the plan by not being a seller at the deadline is not entirely accurate.

During his mid-season review, Hughes mentioned a flood of young players in the lineup shouldn't be expected, because the direct result of that, would be a regression. Unless of course we're talking about an exceptional young player like Lane Hutson.

Then, he also said that trading assets for obtaining futures wasn't were the team was at anymore. He mentioned he has a lot of draft capital and if he was to obtain future assets, he would near to defer them. For the 2025 draft, the Canadiens already have 12 picks including a pair in the first round and the second round and three in the third round. Then, for 2026, they have nine so far including a pair in the second round and in the fourth round.

The decision to send Cayden Primeau to the Laval Rocket and Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators for the more experienced Alexandre Carrier showed a real shift in mentality. While the Habs are not done developing, they are now after results as well.

Montreal has five players on expiring deals who will be unrestricted free agents this offseason: Joel Armia, Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta and David Savard.

While the first three would have been considered trade bait when the Canadiens were struggling and at the bottom of the standings, but now, it's hard to consider as such. Those are three of the four forwards who play on the Habs penalty kill. This season, Montreal has a 86.6% success rate on the PK, the 10th best team in the league on that front. Last season they were 24th in that respect with a 77% efficiency.

Furthermore, a player like Armia was once considered like surplus to requirement, he was even waived last season, but now, with four lines that are clicking, it's not the case anymore.

Come trade deadline day, I wouldn't be shocked to see Savard moved, acquiring Carrier sort of set the table for that. Pezzetta could move as well although it's hard to imagine a team giving much for a 13th forward who can barely get in the line-up and sees less than five minutes of ice time when he does.

Don't expect Hughes to hold a fire sale though, those days are now behind the Canadiens and he won't make his team worst when it has worked so hard to be competitive.

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