The chance to acquire a 20-30-goal scorer for a depth defenseman is the kind of deal a good GM is going to make seven days a week. And it's exactly the trade Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-logan-mailloux-traded-to-st-louis] GM Kent Hughes made on Canada Day when he acquired winger and Trois-Rivieres native Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues] for defenseman Logan Mailloux. Ken Campbell discusses the Montreal Canadiens' free-agency day trade in his video column. It's not that it was a bad trade for St. Louis – Mailloux [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-logan-mailloux-named-to-the-ahl-top-prospects-team] has all the markings of a solid NHL defenseman – as it was a great trade for the Canadiens, acquiring a potential top-six forward for a guy who didn't really fit into their long-term plans because of the logjam on the Habs' blueline. And, if anyone recalls the circumstances under which Mailloux was taken 31st in 2021, you'll also know this closes a rather sordid chapter for them. Juraj Slafkovsky and Zack Bolduc (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/41086c97-8b4c-46c9-8267-5b86f3621690.jpeg] Juraj Slafkovsky and Zack Bolduc (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images) It's another sign that the rebuilding phase is over in Montreal and that this team has – and should have – designs on making noise in the Eastern Conference. Now that they've made the playoffs and meekly bowed out in the first round, next on the docket is being competitive in Round 1 and possibly even winning it. Then you continue the process until you're a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, meaning you're a threat to advance to the conference final every year. So far, the Canadiens have made moves that suggest they're on that path. Watch today's video column for more. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
