Canadiens’ GM Hughes discusses mystery deadline deal, ups and downs of young team amidst playoff push
Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes sent ripples through the National Hockey League at the March 6 trade deadline – not for the moves he made, but for the one he almost did.
In his post–deadline press conference, Hughes revealed that he was working on what he called a “significant deal” that fell through just before the 3 p.m. deadline. Despite walking away from the deadline empty-handed, Hughes told reporters that the deal could be revisited in the off-season.
Speaking with TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in a story for The Athletic, Hughes said he shared the breadcrumbs of the would-be deal to ensure the Habs fanbase knew he wasn’t sitting on his hands as the team continues to fight for a playoff spot in a tight Eastern Conference.
“It was to communicate to our fan base: ‘Don’t misinterpret the lack of results as a lack of interest in doing anything and just being completely focused on the future and not the present.’ It’s on me for not being able to get something done,” Hughes said.
“At the end of the day, it’s a results-oriented business. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying.”
With the Canadiens emerging from a five-year rebuild and still searching for sustained success, Hughes did hint that his big-fish deal was one that would help his team beyond this season.
“We were willing to look at other opportunities, too, that were more short term in nature to help the team. But the larger focus was definitely on continuing to move us towards the end goal,” Hughes said.
“One particular trade probably took up more of our time. But we were calling around about a number of different things right up to the end.”
LeBrun confirms that several of the Canadiens’ rumoured targets at the deadline – Matthew Knies, Nazem Kadri, and Rasmus Ristolainen – were not Hughes’ mystery target, and that the major trade the Canadiens were working on has not yet been identified.
The Habs are coming off what could be their biggest win of the season, a 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. The victory kept them in third place in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Bruins and Detroit Red Wings, who they play on Thursday, with one game in hand on each.
With the inside track to make the playoffs for a second straight season, Hughes said he is happy with the progress the club has made despite the ups and downs that come with icing the second-youngest team in the NHL.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t strung that consistency together yet. Having said that, if you look at the results of the games from a standings standpoint, we haven’t had the wide swings that we’ve had in years past,” Hughes of his young team. “But I prefer that to the alternative of where we were a few years ago, when we were playing meaningless games at this time of year. Happy to be there now. Happy to live those experiences.
“I’d rather there be more highs and fewer lows, but it’s great.”
