Montreal Canadiens Kent Hughes is all about improving his team across the board, be it up front or in front of the net.
As soon as news broke out that Yaroslav Askarov had requested a trade from the Nashville Predators, it only seemed logical that Kent Hughes would want to get in on the action. While some GMs like saying that trades are hard, the current Canadiens' GM always seems to be wheeling and dealing.
While some were quick to dismiss the Askarov avenue because they felt like Jacob Fowler had the Canadiens covered, it's important to remember a goaltender can look great at one level and then not pan out in the NHL. If a promising young goaltender wants a move, there's no harm in exploring the idea.
That's just what Hughes did according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The reputed insider doesn't venture any further by adding names who might have been part of the talks though.
According to another "insider" on X (I use the speech marks because his X account states he's an anonymous insider, so make of that what you will), Owen Beck would have been the main piece of a trade between Montreal and Nashville. Still according to that account, it was a deal break which made Kent Hughes say "thanks but no thanks".
Cue legions of Habs fans criticizing the idea of Kent Hughes preferring keeping Beck over acquiring Askarov. Granted Beck's ceiling is a third-line center, but good teams, winning teams have good centers all the way down to the fourth line. A player who's ceiling is on the third line will be happy to play there and perform well. While a pivot who believes he's being short changed as a member of the third line may pout and underperform.
You do not win a hockey game with firepower. You also need foot soldiers who will battle hard at both ends of the ice. Players who will enjoy killing penalties and take pride doing it. That is exactly what Beck will give you. He's a character guy who will do whatever is asked of him to ensure his team wins.
On top of that tough, he can also contribute offensively, this is the reigning most valuable player of the Memorial Cup Tournament. There lies the importance of having an Owen Beck on your team. A Swiss Army knife type of guy who will do everything that's required of him to get the win.
I don't know if it's true that Beck was the Preds' ask and that's why Hughes walked away. If it was though, I can follow the GM's train of thought there. Improving one position by weakening another is not exactly a great course of action. If the ask had been one of the surplus to requirement defensemen, Askarov might have signed a contract with the Canadiens, but it wasn't and that's just fine too.
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