Flyers' Dvorak extension makes Kent Hughes' latest acquisition look like a masterstroke
Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
In the past few hours, with a signing confirmed by the Philadelphia Flyers, another strong move by Kent Hughes and the Canadiens has also been made official.
Christian Dvorak's contract extension in Philadelphia is indeed generating a lot of discussion in Montreal. The Philadelphia Flyers have just given him five years, with an average annual value of 5.15M.
That represents $25.75M total, and it is a commitment that speaks volumes.
When a player signs that type of contract extension in the middle of a season, it means the organization has made a clear decision.
When a player signs that type of contract extension in the middle of a season, it means the organization has made a clear decision.
Kent Hughes' acquisition of Phillip Danault for the Montreal Canadiens looks even better!
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens can look at this and tell themselves they may have avoided a long-term gamble.
Kent Hughes acquired Phillip Danault from the Los Angeles Kings in December, in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. The Kings did not retain any salary in the transaction. Danault comes with a $5.5M cap hit, but there is only this season and one more left on his deal.
In other words, roughly a year and a half of contract, not five. And that's where the contrast really stands out. Dvorak is now locked in long term, while Danault comes in as a short-term solution.
For a general manager, that changes everything, because you are not tying up your books for half a decade. The numbers also add context.
Before the trade, Danault had five assists in 30 games this season. Last year, he still put up 43 points in 80 games, with 8 goals, and won 52.2% of his faceoffs. That's exactly why Dvorak's signing "proves" something in the eyes of many.
The center market is expensive, especially once you go over $5M per season. In that environment, paying a second-round pick for a shorter contract becomes much easier to justify. In the end, Hughes keeps his options open.
If it works, great (and it's been going very well so far), and if it doesn't, the Canadiens aren't stuck for five years. And that, in Montreal, is often the real win.
"In the end, Phillip Danault for a year and a half - not so bad after all?
- Anthony Marcotte
- Anthony Marcotte
It confirms that this is a very good acquisition for the Canadiens.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 7 | 1078 ANSWERS Flyers' Dvorak extension makes Kent Hughes' latest acquisition look like a masterstroke Danault for 18 Months: A Better Long-Term Move Than Dvorak? | ||
| Yes | 952 | 88.3 % |
| No | 126 | 11.7 % |
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