Well-Known Journalist Tests Kent Hughes' Patience During Live Press Conference

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Elias Adaime
January 8, 2025 (2:03 PM)

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We witnessed a vibrant moment toward the end of the day's press conference with General Manager Kent Hughes.

In an exchange with the journalist he addresses as "Simon," the Canadiens' GM seemed to lose patience regarding potential misjudgments of his organization.

An interesting exchange between Kent Hughes and a journalist this morning

Here is the exchange in question between the journalist and the Habs executive.

"You traded veterans to make room for Justin Barron and Cayden Primeau.. Barron is now in Nashville, and Primeau is in Laval..

Do you think you misjudged these players, or is it that they really performed below your expectations?" - Journalist

Kent Hughes' response:

"Who performed below our expectations?"

The journalist's reply:

"Barron and Primeau."

Hughes continues, with a reaction that says a lot:

"Hmm..

First of all, there are waivers, so when you trade players (defensemen), it's because you can't keep 10 in the NHL.

First, we are limited to a 23-player roster, and second, there's the waiver process.

So.. I don't know if you think there are ways to keep 10 defensemen, but we had no choice but to make trades..

So if you're talking about Barron, if we could have traded Barron instead of others?..."

The journalist's rebuttal:

"No, that's not what I want to know.

What I mean is, you traded Kovacevic to make room for Barron, and you traded Jake Allen to keep Cayden Primeau.. My question is: was your evaluation..

Did these guys fail to meet your expectations?

Do you feel like you misjudged them? Or was it more about them not meeting the expectations?"

Kent Hughes' response:

"No, I think what we wanted with Alexandre Carrier was to fill a role we didn't have internally."

As another journalist is given the floor, the same reporter interjects one last time, asking if Cayden Primeau will be seen in Montreal again this year.

Kent Hughes responds:

"Hmm.. Cayden didn't have the start he wanted, but [...] I believe that to regain his confidence, it was better for Cayden to be in the American Hockey League."

This turned out to be one of the more entertaining moments of the Montreal Canadiens' press conference.

You can watch the exchange in question around the 25th minute of the following video:

And you, what are your takeaways from this press conference and Kent Hughes' mid-season assessment?

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