Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Kent Hughes is watching the wave of offer sheets from a distance.
And the trade completed with the Vegas Golden Knights at the draft explains why the Montreal Canadiens cannot really take part in the action.
The Utah Mammoth matched the Devils’ offer sheet to keep Barrett Hayton in Salt Lake City, and you’re already familiar with the Leo Carlsson situation.
But for the Canadiens, it was pretty much settled before the offer sheets even began.
Because of that trade, the Canadiens can now offer less than $1,575,970, between $2,387,833 and $4,775,666, or more than $11,939,166.
Between those ranges, nothing is possible. (between $1,575,970 and $2,387,832, or between $4,775,667 and $11,939,166)
Why? Because the Habs traded away their own 2027 draft pick to Vegas, which is a mandatory requirement for certain offer sheet compensation tiers.
Kent Hughes faces major offer sheet limits after the Canadiens’ draft-day trade
Stu Cowan was quite clear about the Canadiens entering the offer sheet frenzy this summer.
“I don’t see the Canadiens submitting an offer sheet,” he said on The Sick Podcast.
According to him, if the plan had been to submit an offer sheet, it would have already happened.
Kent Hughes’ silence speaks volumes.
The club currently has approximately $14.23 million in salary cap space.
That is far too little for the new price ranges established by Leo Carlsson and Daniel Brière.
Hughes will have to find another way to improve his team.
Which player, at what price, and what will he have to give up in return?
That’s where the real work begins.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Canadiens trade with Golden Knights creates major offer sheet impact
Was the trade with Vegas a mistake if it prevents the Canadiens from submitting an offer sheet?