Why Canadiens Kent Hughes Didn’t Chase Free Agents
One of the hardest things for NHL teams to do is nothing. Fans want action. They want the big signing, the player announcement, the feeling that the team got better overnight. But rebuilding a team is a little like fixing up an old house. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is stop buying furniture and make sure the foundation is solid.
That seems to be where the Montreal Canadiens are right now.
Kent Hughes did not make a huge splash in free agency this summer, and naturally, some fans wondered if the Canadiens missed an opportunity. But when you look closer, the quieter approach actually makes a lot of sense. Montreal is not trying to build a team in one summer. They are trying to build one that can compete for years.
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Kirby Dach Could Be the Biggest Addition.
The most important free-agent decision Hughes made might have been the one that didn't get much attention: bringing back Kirby Dach. Dach has had his share of injuries and inconsistency since arriving in Montreal. Nobody is pretending otherwise. But a one-year deal gives both sides something important. The Canadiens get a motivated player looking to prove himself, and Dach gets a chance to rebuild his value before entering the next stage of his career.
Sometimes those are the contracts that work out best. Dach knows what is at stake. If he can stay healthy and find his confidence again, Montreal could have a very useful middle-six forward. If not, the Canadiens have avoided committing long-term money to a player with unanswered questions. That’s good asset management.
The Canadiens Didn’t Need to Sign Anthony Mantha.
There was plenty of discussion about Montreal needing more scoring help, especially when Anthony Mantha had not signed. But this is where roster construction matters. The Canadiens resisted the Mantha temptation.
Would Mantha have been a good player for the Canadiens? Maybe. He had an excellent season and brings size and scoring ability. But where exactly would he fit? Montreal already has young players needing opportunities, and adding another expensive winger may not have solved the team's biggest need.
The Canadiens’ bigger question is probably at centre and continuing to develop their young players. They need players like Ivan Demidov, Alex Newhook, and others to keep taking steps forward. The temptation in free agency is always to do something. But sometimes the smartest move is avoiding the wrong move.
Final Thoughts about the Canadiens.
The Canadiens are in a pretty good position. They have young talent, improving prospects, and a management group that seems willing to be patient. Hughes didn't win the offseason headlines, but he may have avoided the kind of contract that becomes a problem later.
The Canadiens are not finished building their team. But they are getting closer, and sometimes the best sign of progress is knowing when not to force the next step.