Karine Hains: In Hainsight: Hughes’ Three Best Moves Kent Hughes has been at the helm of the Canadiens for a year and a half now and now is as good a time as any to look back on his work so far.

canada, good morning.

What is Hughes worst move in your opinion?

By the way I agree with your top 3, I would put Dach 1st, Matheson 2nd and Cole's contract in 3rd simple because of the difficulty level of each

Who will the Habs draft with the 5th overall (prediction)?

So far...

Waterboy: Smith
fido: Smith
Xiford: Smith
AGalchenyuk27: Smith
Snots33_77: Smith
Scabeh: Michkov
Braidan: Michkov
Fredo: Michkov
Frozendisc: Michkov
Adam Russia: ASP (Pellikka)
Deadpoulet: Reinbacher
Symba007: Leonard
Kicksave: Leonard

What is Hughes worst move in your opinion?

By the way I agree with your top 3, I would put Dach 1st, Matheson 2nd and Cole's contract in 3rd simple because of the difficulty level of each
- Fredo

Add the Kulak trade (not top 3 yet)...he got a 2nd round pick and they drafted Lane Hutson with that pick

What is Hughes worst move in your opinion?

By the way I agree with your top 3, I would put Dach 1st, Matheson 2nd and Cole's contract in 3rd simple because of the difficulty level of each
- Fredo

Not too sure why there is this crazy love for PLD. He is a decent 2C, but comes with a clear amount of baggage, the type best kept far away from the Habs' young players. Habs won't be in contention for a Cup for a few more years, so if PLD wants to be a Hab, he can try as a FA.

its a bit too soon to make those kind of calls, top trades and all, barely a year in

its a rebuild and most moves are made in that light


we will see in 3 or 4 years

but I like that he is acting with the right frame of mind

Not too sure why there is this crazy love for PLD. He is a decent 2C, but comes with a clear amount of baggage, the type best kept far away from the Habs' young players. Habs won't be in contention for a Cup for a few more years, so if PLD wants to be a Hab, he can try as a FA.
- Frozendisc

Because people in the Toronto Media pretended he was better than Auston Matthews one season in the past.

best move, Petry for Matheson.
worst one, not providing MSL with a vet bench coach, someone like MT.

It is always about the money and Dubois' agent will leverage his situation into the best after tax dollar result he is able to negotiate. Watch to see an announcement that Dubois has offered up a list of teams where he is ready to negotiate. This actually works pretty good for both player and team. Players gets effective UFA status one year sooner. Team gets to auction prime asset in a narrow but lucrative market.

Dubois will get $9m. x 8 and is worth every penny.

Folks who will be the most unhappy will be the UFAs coming to market only to discover that the real money is in the bidding market for players like Dubois, DeBrincat et. al. who are going to force the envelope similar to the Tkachuk negotiations of last summer. Huge leverage given to top players (eg., Auston Matthews) to dictate outcomes. On the other hand, if you are an older guy who has just gained UFA status you will be really unhappy watching these younger guys steal your money.

What is Hughes worst move in your opinion?

By the way I agree with your top 3, I would put Dach 1st, Matheson 2nd and Cole's contract in 3rd simple because of the difficulty level of each
- Fredo

I like the idea behind the Monahan trade, but mtl has yet to make that pick...

Lehkonen could be a win win, but its too soon to really make a call on that one. Barron still has to learn. Lehkonen is older and in his prime.

but pretty sure Colorado like that trade for them whatever happens next, they got their cup

I'm curious as a Hawks fan, was Dach playing center most of this year? I was under the impression that his success really took off when MTL moved him to wing. I only caught about 8-10 MTL games this season and it appeared he was mostly playing wing.

It's not a bad thing at all. He was dumped on here because he wasn't immediately Toews-like and the Hawks brass needed someone to at least look the part of a 1C with #19 ailing as much as he was. I honestly don't think that he would have had the same success in CHI regardless of where they played him.

Hopefully he reaches his potential there. I always liked him, but I think he just got buried under the expectations in CHI. Good luck next season. MTL and NYR are the teams I root for in the east (simply because I have friends in each place).

best move, Petry for Matheson.
worst one, not providing MSL with a vet bench coach, someone like MT.
- fidopro

not getting a new team doctor

holy

I'm curious as a Hawks fan, was Dach playing center most of this year? I was under the impression that his success really took off when MTL moved him to wing. I only caught about 8-10 MTL games this season and it appeared he was mostly playing wing.

It's not a bad thing at all. He was dumped on here because he wasn't immediately Toews-like and the Hawks brass needed someone to at least look the part of a 1C with #19 ailing as much as he was. I honestly don't think that he would have had the same success in CHI regardless of where they played him.

Hopefully he reaches his potential there. I always liked him, but I think he just got buried under the expectations in CHI. Good luck next season. MTL and NYR are the teams I root for in the east (simply because I have friends in each place).
- Chunk

Started at 2nd line center, was moved to the wing with Suzuki and CC to help drive offence. Also got quite a bit of PP time.

Second half of the season he was back at 2nd line center, mostly because of injuries, but he looked pretty good there. Way better than earlier in the season, huge improvements in his game.

I am looking forward to what he can do this year.

I'm curious as a Hawks fan, was Dach playing center most of this year? I was under the impression that his success really took off when MTL moved him to wing. I only caught about 8-10 MTL games this season and it appeared he was mostly playing wing.

It's not a bad thing at all. He was dumped on here because he wasn't immediately Toews-like and the Hawks brass needed someone to at least look the part of a 1C with #19 ailing as much as he was. I honestly don't think that he would have had the same success in CHI regardless of where they played him.

Hopefully he reaches his potential there. I always liked him, but I think he just got buried under the expectations in CHI. Good luck next season. MTL and NYR are the teams I root for in the east (simply because I have friends in each place).
- Chunk

Dach played wing with Suzuki and Caufield for the first part of the season when the Habs were fairly healthy up front, he had success with that line. When the Habs started getting injuries up front, Dach moved to the 2nd line as center, took him a few games to get going but he was really good until he got injured.

Started at 2nd line center, was moved to the wing with Suzuki and CC to help drive offence. Also got quite a bit of PP time.

Second half of the season he was back at 2nd line center, mostly because of injuries, but he looked pretty good there. Way better than earlier in the season, huge improvements in his game.

I am looking forward to what he can do this year.
- Mashadar

Sweet. Thanks. Any plans on him playing with Slafkovsky

Sweet. Thanks. Any plans on him playing with Slafkovsky
- Chunk

Likely, at some point.

Too many changes coming to the roster over the summer to get a feel for how the lines may shake out at this point, IMO.

Sweet. Thanks. Any plans on him playing with Slafkovsky
- Chunk

I think a lot of fans would do that, but we have to see what Saint-louis will do and what the line up will be

its not clear who will play with Suzuki and Caufield on the first line either

Michkov.....Habs buy his way out of KHL right after they draft him.

Caufield, Suzuki, Michkov......small but scary offence skill.

Michkov.....Habs buy his way out of KHL right after they draft him.

Caufield, Suzuki, Michkov......small but scary offence skill.
- Frozendisc

As I said previously, with current sanction that is unlikely to happen.

Even if his KHL team was interested in doing so.

For PLD with what has supposedly been put out there WPG cannot ask for a whole lot and something is better than nothing.
They might be willing to take on warm bodies for their roster rather than just watch him leave. I HOPE HuGo can talk them into taking Dvorak, Armia and maybe a B prospect and a pick. Don't see why MTL would have to pay a huge price when other teams know where PLD wants to go, unless they can sign him LT prior to a trade WPG will not be getting market price for PLD

For PLD with what has supposedly been put out there WPG cannot ask for a whole lot and something is better than nothing.
They might be willing to take on warm bodies for their roster rather than just watch him leave. I HOPE HuGo can talk them into taking Dvorak, Armia and maybe a B prospect and a pick. Don't see why MTL would have to pay a huge price when other teams know where PLD wants to go, unless they can sign him LT prior to a trade WPG will not be getting market price for PLD
- braidan

Dvorak, Struble and conditional 1st if Dubois signs with MTL (Florida's pick)

For PLD with what has supposedly been put out there WPG cannot ask for a whole lot and something is better than nothing.
They might be willing to take on warm bodies for their roster rather than just watch him leave. I HOPE HuGo can talk them into taking Dvorak, Armia and maybe a B prospect and a pick. Don't see why MTL would have to pay a huge price when other teams know where PLD wants to go, unless they can sign him LT prior to a trade WPG will not be getting market price for PLD
- braidan

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- Pat1993