Jayden Struble had a chance to leave Montreal last year and chose not to take it.
That detail, revealed by Elliotte Friedman, adds another layer to the Canadiens’ decision-making around the defenseman and the way Kent Hughes has handled player movement. According to Friedman, Montreal offered Struble the opportunity to be traded, but he turned it down because he wanted to stay and battle for a roster spot.
He did exactly that. Struble stayed in the mix and tried to earn his place on the blue line before eventually being moved early this season to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Vegas’ 2027 second-round pick.
The timing matters here. Montreal didn’t push out a player who wanted nothing to do with the organization. Instead, the Canadiens let him compete, then made the move once the path in front of him started to close, with Adam Engstrom taking up one of the available spots.
That’s part of why this story reflects well on Hughes and the Canadiens. The message around the league is that Montreal treats its players with respect, and that kind of reputation doesn’t stay quiet for long.
Players talk. Agents talk.
And for a team hoping to be in the mix for bigger names later, that matters.
Struble, 25, carries a $1.4125 million cap hit. In 10 games with Nashville, he has two goals and a -8 rating.
The broader point is pretty clear for Montreal: when an organization handles situations like this the right way, it helps build the kind of culture Hughes says he wants. Even when a player ends up getting traded, the process can still leave a mark.
As Friedman said on 32 Thoughts:
"Regarding Jayden Struble trade/Canadiens: Eric Engels had a note saying that they offered him to be traded last year, and Struble said no, he wanted to stay...fight for a job."
- Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts
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For Montreal, the intrigue is obvious. A player of Kucherovs caliber would instantly reshape the conversation around the Canadiens, and other reports have already connected them as a possible destination if the Lightning ever seriously opened the door. Nothing is imminent, and the whole idea still lives in the realm of summer rumor, but it is the kind of star-driven possibility that will keep Montreal on the edge of the discussion if Tampa Bay decides to make a dramatic move. [Read more 🡒]