Kent Hughes is still working the phones, and the Canadiens’ summer has not turned into a quiet one by choice.
Even in mid-July, Montreal’s general manager is staying active in the trade market, with reports that he has been pushing for a meaningful deal. The difference now is the kind of move the Canadiens are chasing. According to Marco D’Amico, the club’s approach has shifted in recent weeks, with the focus narrowing on trades that would actually upgrade the roster rather than simply rearrange it.
That matters because it changes the entire pace of the process. Deals built around real improvement usually take longer to line up, but they also carry a much bigger payoff. Montreal’s relative silence this summer makes more sense through that lens: the Canadiens are not interested in making a move just to say they made one.
The market hasn’t exactly helped. D’Amico reported that steep asking prices and hefty contracts have made plenty of general managers hesitate, which has only added to the difficulty of getting something done. Still, Montreal remains in the hunt for a move that would clearly strengthen the team.
The goal is straightforward. Hughes is aiming higher, with the Canadiens looking for a true difference-maker rather than a minor adjustment. For months, the search has centered on offense, and a second-line center or a quality winger remains near the top of the wish list.
Montreal also has the pieces to chase that kind of addition. Prospects, draft picks and ample salary-cap space give the Canadiens plenty of room to work with if the right opportunity surfaces.
That cautious, deliberate style has become part of Hughes’ identity. He has built his reputation on measured decisions instead of impulsive ones, and that approach does not appear to be changing now. It can be frustrating in the short term, especially for a fan base that does not like waiting around, but it is also the kind of discipline that can matter most when the market gets expensive.
For now, the Canadiens are still in the game. The wait may drag on, but as the season gets closer, the picture should sharpen. And if Hughes lands the kind of upgrade he’s targeting, the patience could end up looking justified.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face A Real Xhekaj Decision In New Trade Proposal
Arber Xhekaj keeps lingering in the center of Montreals offseason conversation, and the latest trade idea only adds another layer to it. Calgarys interest in the young Canadiens defenseman has been floating around for months, and the discussion has resurfaced again as Montreal continues sorting out its blue line and weighing what kind of move would actually make sense for the roster it wants to build.
The appeal from the Canadiens side is straightforward enough: they have been looking for a right-handed defenseman who can handle meaningful minutes, and the proposal being kicked around would address that need while forcing Montreal to decide how much value it is willing to attach to Xhekaj. Depending on how the deal is structured, the price could climb beyond a simple one-for-one swap, which is exactly why this has become one of those talks worth watching rather than dismissing. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Real Shot At The Young Center They Need
The Canadiens have spent plenty of time looking for another young center to grow with their core, and Adam Fantilli is suddenly part of that conversation because of what is happening in Columbus. The Blue Jackets are believed to be getting close to the salary cap faster than expected, which has put a little more intrigue around a player who already looks like one of the leagues brighter young pivots.
Fantilli, 21, turned in a strong season with 59 points in 82 games, enough to make him the kind of center any team would at least have to think about. Montreal has not been confirmed as a club preparing an offer sheet, but the possibility alone is enough to keep the idea alive, especially if Columbus finds itself in a spot where matching becomes difficult. [Read more 🡒]
NHL Expansion Buzz Just Put The Nordiques Dream In Jeopardy
The NHL expansion conversation has started to sharpen, and for Canadiens fans with one eye on the old Nordiques rivalry, the latest chatter is not exactly encouraging. Doug McLean and other hockey voices have been pointing toward Houston as the next city in line for an expansion franchise, with Austin also being mentioned in the mix before quickly fading from view.
For Montreal followers, the significance goes beyond another market on the league map. If Houston is indeed the destination, it would make the long-discussed idea of the Nordiques coming back look even more remote, even if the NHL has not made anything official yet. For now, it is still just buzz, but it is the kind of buzz that can change how people talk about hockey in Quebec. [Read more 🡒]