It has been a busy week, if not necessarily a busy summer, for Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes.
And if Montreal hockey fans are disappointed that Hughes was neither active in the free-agent market, nor pulled the trigger on a trade, they shouldn’t be surprised.
“We won’t do something that will provide a short-term gain at the expense of our long-term plan,” Hughes said on July 1 after the Habs did not sign anyone notable when free agency opened. “We weren’t going into this off-season saying: Wow, we could get a player here and win the Stanley Cup.”
On Wednesday, the Canadiens announced a six-year, US$33.3-million contract extension for promising defenceman Kaiden Guhle, a former first-round (16th overall) draft choice in 2020. That move came 24 hours after Hughes signed defencemen Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron to two-year bridge contracts. Xhekaj will receive US$2.6 million, while Barron’s deal is for US$2.3 million.
On July 1, the Canadiens signed forward Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year, US$60.8-million contract. Both Slafkovsky’s and Guhle’s deals only begin during the 2025-26 season, and the team has now effectively locked up four young core players for years to come; Slafkovsky and Guhle joining Cole Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki.
Hughes has been transparent about his rebuilding plan and clearly is sending a message to his players that he believes in them. That philosophy hasn’t been lost on them, Guhle said.
“I think management has done a great job,” Guhle said during Wednesday’s video conference call with Montreal media. “I believe in this group, the guys in the room. Obviously management does, too. We’ve all been together. It’s exciting to get to see what we can do. We’re obviously not anywhere close to where we want to be. We believe, and I think some other people believe, that we’re getting there, getting close. It’s cool to see that management believes in us, giving us a chance to show them we believe in ourselves, too. Prove to them that we have a great group and have a chance to do it.
“We’ve basically had the same group for two years now. From this off-season it looks like there weren’t too many big changes and we’ll have a lot of the same coming (back). Three years in a row with basically the same guys. I believe in this group so much. I think we’ll be able to make a big splash in the next year or two and really start to make a push. I’m really excited to take the next step with these guys.”
Hughes arguably has taken a risk with his signing of Guhle, who has missed considerable time over his two-year pro career with leg and ankle injuries. Last season he also suffered a concussion. After producing 18 points as a rookie in 44 games, Guhle only marginally improved those totals last season, with six goals and 22 points in 70 games. But the 22-year-old also logged 20:51 of ice time and Guhle, a left-handed shot, often had to play on the right side due to the organization’s lack of depth there.
At 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, he is a key blue-line component the Canadiens will build around. Also, had he completed the final year of his entry-level contract and produced next season, his asking price would have significantly increased.
Canadiens supporters might have expected more — and there’s still another six weeks before training camp begins — considering what Hughes accomplished the last two summers, acquiring Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, two former first-round draft choices, in trades from Chicago and Colorado, respectively.
Hughes did make a trade this summer, moving from 26th to 21st overall at the draft to select University of Michigan centre Michael Hage, 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds. Hage performed well at the Canadiens’ recent development camp. Hughes also drafted Russian winger Ivan Demidov fifth overall. And Hughes got tongues wagging when he selected former Canadiens captain Saku Koivu’s son, Aatos, in the third round.
Hughes made only one minor free-agent signing, Alex Barré-Boulet, who produced nine points in 36 games last season with Tampa Bay. The Montmagny, Que., native is probably destined to play with AHL Laval next season.
Hughes pursued Quebec native Jonathan Marchessault, but the 33-year-old right-winger signed a five-year, $27.5-million deal with Nashville. Hughes might have contemplated trades for Martin Necas, Trevor Zegras, Rutger McGroarty or Patrik Laine, but nothing came to fruition. And why should Hughes press the issue until the Canadiens are serious contenders?
Hughes has a plan, focusing on the future instead of seeking immediate dividends. We’re close to learning how prescient he is.