Kent Hughes is about to lose an important privilege

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Jeff Drouin
October 29, 2022 (11:51)

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As we've been telling you for the past few weeks, Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens have an interesting privilege over their competitors, as they have the first right to claim players from waivers, by virtue of their 32nd overall position last season.

An interesting advantage

Basically, the CH currently has the "first overall pick" in the waiver wire, and every day. On the other hand, it's almost over.

As Marco D'Amico of Montreal Hockey Now notably reminds us, the Montreal Canadiens will soon lose their famous first pick in waivers.

Since April 2022, Kent Hughes has effectively had the first pick to select a player from waivers, but as of November 1, this season's ranking will apply.

Currently, the Anaheim Ducks (32nd overall) would be the new number one priority to claim players. The Tricolore would have the 12th pick.

Remember that Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have taken advantage of this advantage by acquiring defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic from the Winnipeg Jets.

In the event that more than one club claims such a player, the player: (i) will be transferred to the requesting club with the lowest possible percentage of points in the League standings at the time of the waiver request, or (ii) if waivers are requested outside of the Regular Season, or if the successful waiver request is made (i.e., the date the player would transfer to a successful requesting club under this section), prior to November 1, then priority shall be determined by the final ranking in the League's Regular Season schedule in the previous Regular Season

That basically sums up what we were saying. CH has first say in the waivers until November 1, and then the current season's standings apply.

Notable names that have been ignored by the Tricolore include prospects Juuso Valimaki and Kiefer Bellows (claimed by Arizona and Philadelphia respectively)

Credit: Montreal Hockey Now