Kent Hughes reportedly tried to pull off a surprising three-team trade
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According to Elliotte Friedman, Kent Hughes attempted a three-team trade involving Pittsburgh to bring Kirill Marchenko to Montreal, with Rickard Rakell involved.
This shows just how far Hughes and the Canadiens have gone in their efforts to pull off an impact trade, particularly up front, this summer and over the past several months.
Columbus wasn’t just looking for draft picks and prospects.
General manager Don Waddell wanted an established NHL player who could contribute immediately and carried a reasonable salary.
That’s where Rakell came into the picture. The 33-year-old Swedish forward, who carries a $5 million cap hit, could have been acquired from Pittsburgh in exchange for prospects and picks before being redirected to Columbus.
Why the Canadiens lost out on Kirill Marchenko and why Rickard Rakell remains a trade option
Toronto ultimately acquired Kirill Marchenko in a trade involving six players and a draft pick. The Maple Leafs offered Matthew Knies, a power forward Columbus considered valuable enough to part ways with Marchenko.
The Canadiens weren’t willing to give up an established player of the caliber Columbus was demanding.
Even with Rakell included, the offer wasn’t enough to convince Waddell. Simply because Rakell isn’t on the same level as Matthew Knies.
Things ultimately went in a different direction. David Pagnotta even confirmed that Kent Hughes tried to acquire Marchenko and Knies, as well as Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues.Hughes remains in the market for an impact player, with Dylan Larkin and Mark Scheifele among the names most frequently linked to Montreal in recent weeks.
Pittsburgh has indicated that it’s willing to trade a veteran in exchange for draft picks. That means Rakell remains a potential target, this time for Montreal itself.
Hughes’ creative approach shows that he isn’t giving up. The coming weeks will reveal whether his efforts and ingenuity ultimately pay off.
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Kent Hughes reportedly tried to pull off a surprising three-team trade
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