January 8, 2025 | 12:16pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANADIENS WON’T RUSH INTO TRADES, GM SAYS

Canadiens GM Kent Hughes

The Montreal Canadiens find themselves within striking distance of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference after a strong December that has carried into the New Year.

Given their recent surge, with the trade deadline now just under two months away, it is possible the Habs approach the deadline with a different mindset, as opposed to exclusively looking to sell some of their players on expiring contracts.

Speaking with the media on Wednesday, however, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes admitted that with 22 games before deadline day, it is still too early to pinpoint the exact direction the team plans on taking before March 7.

“I don't think we will deviate from (our) plan,” Hughes acknowledged. “That’s not to say in the next few games, before the trade deadline, we could change things.

“We’ll see where we’re at over the next few weeks leading up to the deadline.”

Defenceman David Savard and forwards Jake Evans, Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak are among the team’s pending unrestricted free agents and most are believed to be available on the trade block, even if the Habs remain in playoff contention.

While Hughes would not address any contract negotiation with any of his players, the Habs are believed to have started contract discussions with Evans, who is having a career year.

Savard, Armia and Dvorak are likely to remain trade candidates, as two of them, along with Evans, currently rank among the players on TFP’s Trade Watch List.

In terms of whom or what the Canadiens could ask in return for any of their pending UFAs, Hughes suggested the team could look to acquire draft picks in future years, not necessarily in this summer’s NHL Draft, and potentially use those assets to flip for current NHL players or near-ready prospects down the road.

“I think that’s probably the more likely scenario,” Hughes admitted.

The Canadiens like the balance of their roster, a mix of youth and veterans, and moving out next older players this season or in the summer would create space for some of the team’s prospects to gain regular experience at the NHL level.

“I think we are on the right path with the players we have and the players we have coming,” Hughes said.

One player the Canadiens are high on is last summer’s fifth-overall select, Ivan Demidov, who is playing in the KHL this season and has registered 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 40 games with SKA St. Petersburg, thus far.

Hughes and some of the Canadiens’ management brass visited Demidov last month in Russia to both evaluate his game and speak with the rising star.

Hughes indicated Demidov will not be joining the Canadiens later this season, but suggested there is a possibility the 19-year-old makes his way to Montreal sooner rather than later.

“The objective, first and foremost, was to see him play in person,” Hughes said. “(Beforehand) only one person was able to see him in person. I wanted to see him play, where his game was and talk to him face-to-face. It was very important for us, as an organization. When you draft someone, he becomes part of your family.”