We just learned that Kent Hughes really hurt the New Jersey Devils

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Jeff Drouin
July 9, 2022 (4:12 PM)

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Prior to the draft, there were many rumors that the New Jersey Devils wanted Slafkovsky badly, not Shane Wright or Logan Cooley, because of their already loaded center line. (with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, among others)

Pierre LeBrun on TSN1050: "A Devils source told me last night that their guy was really Slafkovsky and once the Canadiens took him, New Jersey really tried to trade the pick, but obviously in that very short amount of time, they didn't have time to do that, so they took their next guy on their roster.

- NHL Watcher

We also just learned that Kent Hughes and the Devils' GM did have discussions to flip the #1 and #2 picks, via trade, but they were unable to find common ground.

If Montreal drafted Shane Wright (and the Devils thought they would), New Jersey executives would have immediately jumped at the opportunity to draft the young Slovak, Juraj Slafkovsky.

That's probably why the trade didn't happen (reversing the #1 and #2 picks). The Devils didn't want to pay, because they really believed that Kent Hughes would select Shane Wright (and let them have Juraj).

Previously on HabsFanatics

Tyson Barrie's name linked to Montreal Canadiens via trade

Important statement from Kent Hughes regarding the Josh Anderson case

Jake Allen may be on his way out of Montreal very soon

POLL
9 JUILLET \| 292 ANSWERS We just learned that Kent Hughes really hurt the New Jersey Devils Would you have liked Kent Hughes to trade his #1 pick to the Devils for the #2 pick and bonuses?
Yess	88	30.1 %
No	204	69.9 %
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