Kent Hughes Reportedly Removes Three Players from Trade Market, Source Confirms Details
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
It started with the Mikko Rantanen trade, but we can expect a lot of action on the NHL trade market soon. The trade deadline is fast approaching, and it will be really interesting to see what the Montreal Canadiens' management does, especially with the team in the middle of a playoff race.
Jeff Gorton recently stated that Canadiens management might be active ahead of the trade deadline, looking to bring in reinforcements that won't compromise the organization's future.
So, we can expect an impactful acquisition, but most importantly, we can expect the plan to change for some players already on the team.
Kent Hughes is forced to change his plans with players like David Savard and Jake Evans
These players, who would almost certainly have been traded if the Canadiens were at the bottom of the standings, due to their status as pending unrestricted free agents and their expiring contracts, may end up staying in Montreal!
Jake Evans, David Savard, Joel Armia, and Christian Dvorak, all in the final year of their contracts and set to become unrestricted free agents starting July 1st (unless they sign extensions), could all stay in Montreal to help the team make the playoffs.
Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton can't afford to liquidate everything right now and trade these players in the middle of a playoff race.
It would send a strange message to the locker room.
Jake Evans, David Savard, and Joel Armia removed from the trade market?
Given all this, sources close to Pierre LeBrun confirmed that it would indeed be very surprising to see Evans traded right now.
In any case, he is much less openly available on the market.
The same goes for David Savard and Joel Armia.
However, according to journalist Eric Engels, the situation is different for center Christian Dvorak.
In his case, his days in Montreal would still be numbered, regardless of the club's situation at the trade deadline.
«I would be shocked if Christian Dvorak were re-signed.
I still think it's very likely, but not guaranteed, that he will be traded by the deadline, regardless of where the Canadiens stand in the standings when they reach that point in the season.»
- Eric Engels
I still think it's very likely, but not guaranteed, that he will be traded by the deadline, regardless of where the Canadiens stand in the standings when they reach that point in the season.»
- Eric Engels
Interesting!
«I wouldn't say the same about David Savard and Joel Armia, whose contracts also expire.
If the Canadiens remain in the playoff picture, or if they are well-positioned at the deadline, I could see them keeping both players.
If that's the case, I could also see the Canadiens exploring the possibility of signing one-year contracts with both players.»
- Eric Engels
If the Canadiens remain in the playoff picture, or if they are well-positioned at the deadline, I could see them keeping both players.
If that's the case, I could also see the Canadiens exploring the possibility of signing one-year contracts with both players.»
- Eric Engels
In summary, it seems that the names of David Savard, Joel Armia, and Jake Evans have been removed from the NHL trade market, or at least partially, while Christian Dvorak's name is still absolutely available on the market.
And if it were your decision, what would you do with these four players?
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 27 | 2385 ANSWERS Kent Hughes Reportedly Removes Three Players from Trade Market, Source Confirms Details If you could only keep one of these four players in Montreal, which one would it be? | ||
| Christian Dvorak | 85 | 3.6 % |
| Joel Armia | 212 | 8.9 % |
| Jake Evans | 1883 | 79 % |
| David Savard | 205 | 8.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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