The Habs trade deadline was smart, if not sexy

March 9, 2024

The seventh window of change has come and gone for the Montreal Canadiens under the management duo of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton (HuGo). By 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Friday, the 2024 trade deadline had passed, and HuGo and the Habs had made three trades. None of these moves were sexy enough for Bob McKenzie to be calling at the buzzer, but they were all smart deals that contribute to the rebuild.

Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a 1st round pick

Hughes got ahead of the rush when his price was met. On February 2nd, he dealt centreman Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a first round pick in 2024 and a conditional third round pick in 2027. The condition holds a a high threshold – the Habs get the pick if the Jets win the Stanley Cup.

The condition represents a conundrum for fans. The earlier the Jets are eliminated, the better that first rounder will be. At the same time, cheering for Monahan’s success comes easy, and it comes even easier after the Jets added Tyler “Teapot” Toffoli on Friday. If nothing else, you have to be happy for TSN’s John Lu and Dan Robertson.

This was a masterclass in asset management, with Hughes getting a first rounder to take Monahan from the Calgary Flames, re-signing him so he could trade him when healthy, and then getting another first in the trade with Winnipeg. The timing was also brilliant, with the market favouring buyers in the last couple of days before the deadline.

If Hughes had done nothing else, this deal made the trade deadline a success. But he didn’t stop there.

Jan Mysak to the Anaheim Ducks for Jacob Perreault

This deal was the opposite of sexy, but it was smart. Mysak had a good floor, but his ceiling didn’t allow for tall occupants. The Habs have a gaggle of prospects that they can reasonably expect to have a floor to match Jan Mysak. He wasn’t in their future plans, so it was time to take a flyer on another prospect that had lost his team’s favour.

Jacob Perreault is a highly skilled goal scorer who lacks consistency and the sturdy floor that Mysak provided. But the 27th overall pick in 2020 possesses a higher skill level that the Habs are curious to observe within their own developmental program. It’s a very low risk venture for them, that comes with the bonus of offering a Montreal-born player to the Laval Rocket as they fight for a playoff berth.

A minor league trade that is classic HuGo.

Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils for a conditional third round pick in 2025

This deal was always coming down to the wire – they had waited all season with three goalies in the fold. If there were an obvious committed suitor earlier it would have already been done. The asking price was reportedly a second round pick, and Hughes came close. The condition on that third is that it becomes a second if Allen plays 40 games next year and whatever team he’s on makes the playoffs.

Allen had served the Habs well, being a leader on and off the ice for a team that he knew would not be competitive during his tenure. There is an old proverb, the origins of which are unclear – “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” Martin St. Louis once used that reference to describe Jake Allen, and what he was doing for the Montreal Canadiens.

But Samuel Montembeault became the starter no one was expecting. Then Cayden Primeau showed signs of NHL potential that needed to be genuinely explored. Allen became the odd man out, and it was necessary to find him a new home. On Friday that happened, with Hughes getting, more or less, the asking price while giving Allen some say in where he landed. That’s a fine bit of business.

What about what didn’t get done?

I know most of us are satisfied with the trade deadline work. The contracts Marc Bergevin left for Hughes to manage are not fixed at the trade deadline. The necessary addition by subtraction is harder work that will take time. But if you’re feeling like Hughes hasn’t done enough, this photo will help.

And then, there were 6… pic.twitter.com/nAVjVyUPl1

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 9, 2024

Contracts like Brendan Gallagher’s and Josh Anderson’s were never being addressed at the deadline. Hughes will want to eke out as much term as possible before trying to get the best outcome from moving those players. The one remaining year on Joel Armia’s contract is not prohibitive and will come to and end, one way or another, by the end of next season. A ton of work has already been done and there is more to come.

Habs fans can look forward to the next window of change, the period between now and the end of the NHL entry draft, because of what was accomplished at this trade deadline. It’s all coming together, and it’s a good time to be a Habs fan.