Canadiens Daily: Kent Hughes; NHL Draft; NHL Trade Rumours

We’re just two days away from the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre and Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes continues to play a game of poker with his GM counterparts, the media and fans.

That, more Montreal Canadiens news, NHL trade rumours and NHL Draft news in the MHN Canadiens Daily:

Montreal Canadiens

In a pre-daft press conference on Monday, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes left the door open just the slightest bit when asked if he could trade the first overall pick at the 2022 NHL Draft Thursday in Montreal.

The Ryan McDonagh trade on Sunday only increased the likelihood that Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry will be dealt on the NHL trade market soon.

They did at the NHL trade deadline but do the Montreal Canadiens still have interest in Ottawa Senators forward Colin White?

TSN NHL Draft Insider Craig Button still has Shane Wright going to the Montreal Canadiens at first overall at the NHL Draft.

ICYMI: Button joined Marco D’Amico and me on the most recent Montreal Hockey Now Podcast.

National Hockey Now

NYI: The New York Islanders have hired Jim Paliafito as an amateur scout. Paliafito worked for Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He will be on the NHL Draft floor at the Bell Centre with the Islanders.

PGH: After ending up with the Florida Panthers back in Sept. 2020 via the NHL trade market, could former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist end up back with the Penguins this offseason?

PHI: The Ivan Fedotov mystery continues in Russia as the Philadelphia Flyers goalie remains in Russian detainment. By the way, Alexander Ovechkin was asked about this and wouldn’t respond; yet the NHL media continues to praise this Putin puppet.

FLA: Joe Thornton turned 43 on Saturday; will he be back with the Florida Panthers next season? Will he even be in the NHL?

DET: Is new Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde similar to his predecessor, Jeff Blashill?

COL: Will Comcast and Altitude finally fix the mess that is the Colorado Avalanche television situation?

SJS: Congrats to my high school classmate at St. Sebastian’s (Needham, MA), Mike Grier, being named the new general manager of the San Jose Sharks and the first-ever black NHL general manager.

VGK: How the Vegas Golden Knights done in their first five NHL Drafts?

Canada Hockey Now

VAN: Can Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser average 30 or more goals in each of the next three seasons?

NHL