Trade between the Canadiens and the Oilers: Kent Hughes would acquire the 8th overall pick in 2019 to take on Jack Campbell's contract

While rumors come and go, those involving the Oilers and the Canadiens seem to persist and even intensify. Insiders are reporting ongoing talks between the two teams.

Does this guarantee a trade will happen? Absolutely not, but it seems that the interest is mutual.

We know the Oilers are trying to trade Jack Campbell to free up salary cap space. The Canadiens are one of the few teams capable of taking on his contract, but it will cost the Oilers. Campbell still has three more seasons at $5 million on his contract, and he is playing in the AHL.

According to Darren Dreger, Ken Holland would be willing to include Philip Broberg in the deal for the team willing to take on Campbell's contract.

Broberg, the 8th overall pick in 2019, is a promising defenseman who continues to develop. He is the kind of player that Kent Hughes values. Moreover, Hughes already has several top picks from that draft year, including Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach, Akex Newhook, and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard.

However, it's highly doubtful that a deal involving Campbell and Broberg for future considerations would interest Kent Hughes. There is already a surplus of goaltenders in Montreal and Laval. Additionally, the Canadiens have an excellent pipeline of left-handed defensemen.

Even if Jake Allen were traded for the two Oilers players, it wouldn't make sense. Therefore, if the Canadiens are involved in such a transaction, it would likely be in a three-team deal, with Kent Hughes playing a role in retaining salary.