Canadiens: Grading Kent Hughes’ Work At The Trade Deadline

The Canadiens have completed their first trade deadline under the new management group and it was a great success, let us break down why.

The trade deadlines led by former Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin were more often than not disappointing. The 2017 and 2020 deadlines stand out as the worst, one as a buyer, one as a seller. There were, however, some great deadline acquisitions such as Thomas Vanek in 2014 and Jeff Petry in 2015. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes have gotten off to a fantastic start in this regard. They made four deadline trades (we’re including the Chiarot deal) and three netted impressive returns. Without further ado, let us break down this trade deadline in which the Habs were sellers.

The Ben Chiarot trade had been greatly anticipated throughout the season, from the moment it began clear the Canadiens would contend for the playoffs, and it certainly did not disappoint! I should probably preface this breakdown by saying that I’ve never been a huge fan of Chiarot, especially in the last two years, due to his tendency to chase hits, ice pucks, and lack composure under any pressure with the puck in the defensive zone. This view of the player will impact my opinion of the trade, but I believe that even those who adore his rough style of play can agree that this return is excellent for a pending UFA.

The fourth-round pick is a nice little throw-in and simply adds to the Habs’ huge amount of mid-round selections (which we will break down in the conclusion). For context, the Habs drafted Joshua Roy in the 5th round just last year and he now leads the QMJHL in points. While I don’t see Roy as an A-level prospect, his progression has been huge and he is certainly outplaying his draft slot.

Ty Smilanic is an interesting B-prospect, just as Emil Heineman was in the Toffoli trade, and fits the mould Hughes and Gorton are striving for: speed, mobility, and intelligence. Smilanic was a Florida 3rd round pick in 2020 and is defined by his high motor, quickness, and shooting skill. While his NCAA production has yet to take off, the centreman has scored 13 goals and 22 points in 39 games for Quinnipiac, he has interesting tools that could bring him to the NHL, as Scott Cowan wrote.

It is, however, the unprotected first-round draft pick that is the jewel of the return. No matter where it falls, it will produce the most valuable piece in the return, but there is potential for something incredible. First off, this is a 2023 selection, a draft class that blows 2022 out of the water (there are at least three players in Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, and Adam Fantilli that would be locks for #1 this year), the Habs could very well add an A-prospect to the fold with that selection.

Second, there is no guarantee of Florida’s success next year. They are, of course, an extremely well-built team that has looked downright dominant this year, but teams fall off cliffs from season to season on a yearly basis. Look at two of the four 2021 Conference Finalists, the Habs and Islanders are out of playoff contention this season and the Vegas Golden Knights are currently clinging on to the final wild-card spot in the West. There is a possibility that the Habs added a lottery pick in a stacked draft class by trading Chiarot, and there is the slimmest of chances that the Habs added a franchise player in the form of Connor Bedard or Matvei Michkov. Unlikely as that may be, this is a home run of a trade for the Canadiens.

Grade: A+

I will say that I am a bigger fan of Kulak’s game than I am of Chiarot’s, he is after all among the league’s elite transition defenders, just take a look at his entry defence analytics, he does not allow entries with possession on his side of the ice.

Despite this, I believe the time was right to move on from the player acquired for two AHL bodies from the Calgary Flames in 2018. The Canadiens will have an influx of young left defencemen that will push for NHL spots next season, with Jordan Harris and Kaiden Guhle. Add those two to Alexander Romanov, Joel Edmundson, and Corey Schueneman (who has been terrific as of late) and you already have yourself a bit of a logjam. Kulak simply didn’t fit the team’s direction and getting a significant haul for him as a pending UFA was the wise decision.

While I would have much preferred the 2nd round pick to be in 2023, it will in all likelihood be in 2022, as the Oilers would need to reach the Cup Finals with Duncan Keith playing top-4 minutes for the pick to be pushed back a year, as the 2022 2nd would then be sent to Chicago as a condition of the Keith trade. Nonetheless, 2nd round picks are the most undervalued assets in the league from my perspective, as first-round talents always fall and astute scouting departments can snap them up, just look at Anaheim, LA, Dallas and the Islanders last year, who managed to draft Olen Zellweger, Francesco Pinelli, Logan Stankoven, and Aatu Raty with 2nd round picks.

Add a seventh and a competent sixth defenceman in William Lagesson to the return and the Habs made out very well in the trade, despite trading away an underrated player who will significantly improve a struggling Oilers defensive corps.

Grade: A-

I’ll try to keep this one brief, as its significance pales in comparison to the other three deals, but I wanted to make mention of a few things. First off, the return! Nate Schnarr is a 23-year-old centreman who was a teammate of Nick Suzuki’s in Guelph’s fantastic run to an OHL championship; he put up 34 goals and 102 points in 65 games that year. Since then, he has been a part of the return for Taylor Hall in his trade to Arizona, and he has established himself as a solid middle-six option in the AHL, putting up 13 goals and 26 points in 43 games this year. There is likely little to no NHL upside with Schnarr, but his addition should help the Rocket on their playoff run this year.

Andrew Hammond started 3 games as a Hab, winning all of them and sported a .920 save percentage; very impressive for a goalie that had been out of the NHL for four years. Despite these strong results, the return from injury of Jake Allen, the youth and potential of Samuel Montembeault, and the potential return of Carey Price made him the odd man out and the opportunity of NHL action limited in Montreal. As a result, he was moved to New Jersey so that he would get a shot at playing NHL minutes.

Kent Hughes made this trade out of respect for Hammond. That says something about a team, and players will certainly take note that the Habs are an organization that truly values the wellbeing of its players. While the Habs technically turned Brandon Baddock into Nate Schnarr, which is a clear upgrade, only one team acquired an NHL player in this deal, so the grade will reflect that, but I have a lot of respect for this deal.

Grade: C+

This trade is likely the most bittersweet on of the deadline for most Habs fans. Artturi Lehkonen was a fan-favourite; he was among the team’s hardest workers, provided offensive and defensive value, had great analytics, and played his best hockey when the stakes were high. His goal to send the Habs to the Cup Finals on St. Jean Baptiste is the greatest goal scored by the Tricolore since 1993 and is something I know I will never forget. Sure, Lehkonen had a sole shortcoming (his ability to finish) but this paled in comparison to the value he brought this team.

On the other hand, he was having a career year as a pending RFA and was likely going to demand a salary between $3.5 and $4.5 million, something the Habs simply couldn’t afford on yet another bottom-six forward. His value reached its peak and keeping him beyond this season wasn’t the most viable option, so a trade was a wise choice, as much as it hurt.

And the return for Lehkonen is substantial. As mentioned in the Kulak trade analysis, 2nd round picks are undervalued commodities, and adding a 2024 pick opens the possibility of getting a higher selection, as the Avalanche could drop off a bit between now and then. But unlike the other large trades Hughes and Gorton have pulled off thus far (Toffoli included), the draft pick is not the jewel of the return in this one.

Justin Barron was the 25th overall pick in 2020 and is the most valuable prospect the Habs have added this year. While I am not as high on Barron as some others may be, Barron has tangible top-4 upside; he is not guaranteed of reaching it, but it is not negligible. The 6’2″, 194 lbs right shot(!!!) defenceman is a tremendous skater with a good shot and good defensive acumen. While he still needs to work on his breakout passing and decision-making, he has made significant strides since his draft year, when I was far more skeptical on his upside than I am now (he played much of that season injured).

His transition to pro hockey in the AHL this year has been smooth and he has been a valuable 2nd pair player. His metrics have matched the improved eye test this year, as well.

According to Kent Hughes, Barron will play NHL games for evaluation before management decides on where he should play for the remainder of the season: the NHL or the AHL. That could come as soon as this weekend against the Maple Leafs and/or the Devils. Habs fans will get to see their new exciting prospect play very soon. He may not stick in the NHL in this or even next season, but the Habs added a very interesting prospect to their cupboard, and he mainly fits the identity this team is building with his quickness and mobility, if his decision-making can further progress, he will certainly be a great addition and could become a solid second-pairing defenceman.

Grade: A