A major trade just announced was supposed to involve Hughes and the Canadiens

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MarcO
February 22, 2023 (12:01)

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After major trades involving Vladimir Tarasenko (to the Rangers) and Bo Horvat (to the Islanders), things continued to shake out on the NHL trade market.

A few days ago, another major trade was announced, and we just learned that Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens were supposed to be involved in this one.

We're talking about the three-team trade involving Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari between the Toronto Maple Leafs, the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild.

Toronto received:

Ryan O'Reilly & Noel Acciari.

St. Louis received:

Mikhail Abramov, Adam Gaudette, 2023 1st round pick, 2023 3rd round pick, 2024 2nd round pick.

Minnesota received:

4th round pick 2025 (and they retain 25% of O'Reilly's salary).

According to information from Arpon Basu, who was on TSN last night, the Montreal Canadiens were indeed going to be involved in this three-way trade.

Kent Hughes would have stepped in for the Minnesota Wild, to help facilitate the trade and to receive a draft pick for "free" or close to it (withholding $1.8 million from O'Reilly's salary).

On the other hand, with all the injuries currently on the CH, players who are injured are counting against the salary cap, as are the players who are coming to Montreal (from Laval) to replace them.

"Arpon Basu on TSN says the Canadiens were involved in the O'Reilly trade, they wanted to help facilitate like the Wild did, but they couldn't because with all the injuries, players who are injured count against the payroll, as do the players who came in to replace them, they lost the flexibility they needed."

- NHL Watcher

If things settle down on the injury front, you should definitely expect Kent Hughes to take another shot. These are valuable draft picks.

Previously on HabsFanatics

REPORT: Erik Karlsson Willing to Waive No-Move Clause For One Canadian Team

The CH Group is about to make a major announcement and it's causing a lot of excitement

Is a Shea Weber-style trade on the way for Hughes and the Canadiens? Two names involved

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22 FEVRIER \| 413 ANSWERS A major trade just announced was supposed to involve Hughes and the Canadiens Would you have helped the Leafs like Hughes wanted to do?
For picks yes	197	47.7 %
NO WAY	216	52.3 %
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