Just when we were ready to write it off as an unkept promise, Hughes the Hockey Magician pulled another rabbit out of his wizard hat. The potential the former 2nd overall pick brings with him is reminiscent of what Kovalev brought with him when the Habs acquired him in 2004. Different types of players to be sure, both both able to break a game open (sorry felt the term "gamebreaker" was one used way too often). Josef Balej was the cost then, Jordan Harris the price to pay to get Laine. And I doubt there will be any more regrets on losing the latter.
But what now? The Canadiens can handily get under the cap and there are likely to be injuries in training camp, but what are we to make of the fact there is now massive congestion at the forward position (albeit this trade did decongest the blueline..somewhat). The first two lines are likely to be different iterations of the following players: Suzy, Cole, Slaf, Dach, Newhook, and obviously, the Giant Finn. But what then? Who gets pushed to the fourth line? Gallagher? Do we want a team assistant to be grumpy all season? Anderson? At close to 6M per and also one of the team's leaders? Has Joshua Roy not shown he can be a talented, contributing player on at minimum, the team's third line? And then you need someone to center that line. Dvorak is still here, Evans. Joel Armia finished the season on a very strong note, what a downer it would be to be relegated to the fourth.
And so I believe we should expect Hugo to do whatever they can to move a forward or to by the trade deadline. If i were a betting line, my money would be on Armia, likely the most tradeable contract of the veterans mentioned above.
Stay tuned, the (late) Summer of Kent doesn't appear to be over just yet. And that's without the possibility of another rabbit popping out of his hat before now and the start of the season (Askarov is in play).
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