TRADE TALK: Is a Top-4 defenseman's available for Kent Hughes?

During the end-of-season press conference, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton didn't mince words about their true intentions: to be active during the offseason to make a push for the playoffs in 2024-2025. An opportunity seems to be presenting itself for the Canadiens' leadership duo.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jakob Chychrun sent a message during his team's press conference. The defenseman hinted that he might welcome a change of scenery.

A Major Name on the Trade Market, a Potential Opening for Kent Hughes and the Habs with Jakob Chychrun?

While the Habs seem to have a quality pool of prospects on the blue line, a veteran defenseman with a booming shot and skills to handle the second wave of the power play never hurts an organization.


This opportunity for Hughes and Gorton could pique their interest, but it's a safe bet that Kent Hughes might have a preference for a forward before banking on a defenseman.

When he wanted to leave Arizona, Jakob Chychrun's name was linked to the Habs in rumors.

The 26-year-old defenseman was selected 16th overall in the first round of the 2016 draft.

In 2023-2024, he amassed 41 points, including 14 goals, in 82 games on the blue line for the Ottawa Senators. In 2020-2021, he scored 18 goals in just 56 games. Most of these goals came from his booming shot on the power play.

With an annual salary of $4.6 million, Chychrun has one more year left on his contract before testing unrestricted free agency. The value is reasonable and would allow the Habs to support their young defensemen in need of experience.

His response at the press conference with Ottawa journalists sparked many rumors. The fact that he didn't commit to his future with the organization speaks volumes.


Reading between the lines, he'll test the free-agent market in 2025. His agent has probably already prepared his client for this idea, aiming to secure the best possible contract.

It's hard to say if he'll be traded this summer. If not, it wouldn't be surprising if the Senators sell his services to the highest bidder by the next trade deadline. This scenario would only occur if the Ottawa team is out of playoff contention.