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'The Habs are gonna jump at it': Kent Hughes leaves the door open to another trade despite Danault's return
Phillip Danault is back, but Kent Hughes clearly hasn't hung up the phone.
For the past few days, it feels like the Montreal Canadiens have been moving forward with a simple idea.
Stabilize the lineup now, then keep a wide-open door for the file that always comes back.
Danault re-enters the picture, and it puts the word "center" back at the heart of the conversation.
He knows Montreal, he knows the Bell Centre, and he knows what it means to play here.
Kent Hughes keeps the second-center option open
For months, the question of the next second-line center has kept coming up around the Canadiens. Even with Danault back in the mix, several signals continue to point in the same direction.
The message is that Hughes doesn't want to close any doors.
"I always think that where there's a will there's a way. So if something pops up, we'll figure it out." - Kent Hughes
If a center capable of playing in a top-six role becomes available, the Canadiens will be in the mix-and that's exactly what's fueling the noise.
"Canadiens/Danault trade: This is moreso to address the defensive responsibilities that they've lacked; if there's still an opportunity to bring in a 2C down the road, the Habs are gonna jump at it; that's still what they want."
- David Pagnotta via Sportsnet Today
- David Pagnotta via Sportsnet Today
In this context, the key word is "opportunity". Hughes has already proven that he likes working multiple options at the same time, and he doesn't hesitate to act when a window opens.
Personally, I also think Oliver Kapanen remains a name to watch in all of this.
Not because of production, but because his next few weeks could influence the pace of decisions.