Canadiens No Plans For “Scorched Earth Rebuild”, Won’t Trade Everyone

The Montreal Canadiens will be making trades this season. That said, they won’t be trading everyone and it doesn’t sound like the new management overseeing the team through a massive changeover is going to dump all of their players and go “scorched earth” in an effort to better the team long term.

Related: Jeff Petry Informed Canadiens are Trying to Trade Him

According to Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic, the Montreal Canadiens aren’t tearing everything down in an effort to rebuild. It wasn’t something Jeff Gorton did while he was with the New York Rangers and things worked out fairly well for New York. He isn’t expected to start from scratch with the Canadiens either. Obvious names like Ben Chiarot are going to be moved. Players like Brett Kulak, Chris Wideman, and Mathieu Perreault might not be far behind. But, players like Brendan Gallagher, Jeff Petry, Tyler Toffoli or Josh Anderson won’t be moved just to be moved. In fact, those players might not be traded at all.

New general manager Kent Hughes was asked about his approach and said, “We’re going to have conversations.” He added, “We’re not going to trade every long-term contract, every player that’s got term on his deal that is going take him into his thirties. That’s unrealistic right now.”

Hughes explained: 

“We can’t promise… every veteran player who looks at this and, ‘well, we’re not going to be good for a few years, I’d love to be out of here.’ Well, not every single player is going to be out of here. We’ve got to field a hockey team next year, we’re not going to go the route of the Arizona Coyotes and trade every player away for a draft pick.”

What Are the Canadiens Looking For?

Hughes did say that if the right trade it out there, he’ll make it. He’s also looking at players who are closer to being NHL ready than those who need more time. Saying that if all things being equal he can choose between a prospect that was drafted last season or three seasons ago, he’ll take the older prospect because they’re closer. This will not only help the team turn things around more quickly, but it could put some of the players who won’t be moved but aren’t excited about the prospect of regularly losing at ease a little.

Hughes’ priority is to make being a Montreal Canadien fun again. There are a lot of unhappy players in the organization. Some will be moved, some won’t. For the ones who stay, Hughes wants to ensure they’re excited to be sticking around.

Next: Kyle Dubas Details Maple Leafs Trade Deadline Plans