Retaining unrestricted free agents who won’t be in town when the team starts winning
As mentioned earlier, there won’t be many players leaving Quebec as unrestricted free agents should Kent Hughes keep the team largely intact. There are others who shouldn’t return next season that aren’t pending UFAs, but if Hughes keeps everyone on board who isn’t slated to walk in free agency, it won’t spell disaster.
Players like David Savard and Joel Armia would still be helpful in this team’s quest to keep rising in the NHL ranks, so they would have value even if it makes more sense to move them.
However, it would make no sense to bring back a pair of pending unrestricted free agents like Colin White and Tanner Pearson. Doing so would result in the same thing as signing a free agent to a rather lucrative deal - if Hughes would find room for it. Upcoming prospects simply cannot be blocked, especially with players who proved to be more ineffective this past season.
It’s understandable if Hughes isn’t able to find a suitor for players with another year or two left on their respective deals this summer, since there is an entire NHL season to play along with next year’s trade deadline. Hughes doesn’t need to rush anything, but if he can make room for a few more youngsters to earn a spot on the big club, it’s a route he must take.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)