Does Kent Hughes have a hidden card in his hand for the trade deadline?

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MarcO
February 17, 2023 (2:23 PM)

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With two weeks to go before the trade deadline, there are several options that could present themselves to the Montreal Canadiens in the coming days.

Among the names likely to move, there are obviously those of Jonathan Drouin, Evgenii Dadonov, as well as Mike Hoffman.

There are also those of Joel Edmundson and Sean Monahan, but given their respective injuries, nothing seems clear in their case, if they can change address anyway or not.

We also hear the one of Josh Anderson, but since Kent Hughes declared that it would take an impossible offer to refuse to move him now, there is more chance that he will stay in Montreal than be traded.

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However, one name that is not circulating as much with the Habs, but that could become a real wild card for Kent Hughes, is defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic.

The latter, who was acquired at the beginning of the season, proved to be a solid catch for the organization.

He is the opposite of an exciting player to watch, but he is clearly one of the most effective. His defensive contribution is very solid, posting a +3 differential after 50 games. That's a very impressive result, considering the fact that the Habs are scoring far more goals than they are being scored this season.

In fact, the popular Marc-Olivier Beaudoin wondered if Kovacevic could be a solid pickup at the trade deadline.

With two more seasons under $800,000 on his contract, he could definitely be of interest to a contending team that is tight on payroll, like the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He adds that it could look like a Julien BriseBois-like move, which tends to add pieces with a great return versus the cost on the payroll, much like a Kovacevic.

Since Hughes got the 25-year-old defenseman on the waivers earlier this year, this could become another damn good buy low sell high move on his part.

Previously on HockeyLatest

Unexpected turnaround involving Evgenii Dadonov for the Canadiens?

Calgary's player agent takes on the Flames and their head coach

Statement from Darren Dreger: A major trade between the CH and the Flames is very plausible for Josh Anderson

POLL
17 FEVRIER \| 56 ANSWERS Does Kent Hughes have a hidden card in his hand for the trade deadline? Being the GM of the Habs, if a team offers a 2nd round pick for Johnathan Kovacevic, what do you say?
Yes	34	60.7 %
No	22	39.3 %
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