Kent Hughes spoke with Josh Anderson before the season to tell him the Canadiens were focused on trades, according to Darren Dreger.
"And I also know that general manager Kent Hughes spoke with Anderson before the start of the season to say, look, we're focused on trade," Dreger said on Early Trading.
"We're trying to bring in pieces to help this team. So don't take this the wrong way," he continued.
Good on Hughes for saying it to his face. Veterans hate finding out about trade talk from their phones.
It's like your boss telling you the company is exploring a merger, then asking you to keep showing up early.
Anderson has answered with 4 goals, tied with Nick Suzuki for the team lead.
He scored twice in Wednesday's loss in Washington and carries a $5,500,000 cap hit. He's also at +4 on a team that has given up plenty.
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David Pagnotta says Montreal wants to land a really big fish
Pagnotta said on DFO Insider that people around the league have indicated Hughes and his staff want to go after a really big fish.
He has also reported Montreal has an offer ready for Dylan Larkin that it believes could get it to the finish line or over it.
David Pagnotta: Re Canadiens: I've talked to a lot of people around the league...and they've all indicated that Kent Hughes and his staff want to go after a really big fish - DFO Insider (10/14)
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Simon Edvinsson's name has come up too, with Marco D'Amico saying he'd cost more than Noah Dobson did.
Kirby Dach, already the subject of trade interest, has one point and a -4 rating.
Arber Xhekaj, linked to Philadelphia earlier this month, has yet to record a point.
The Canadiens are 3-3-1 and have allowed 27 goals.
Big fish require big bait, and Montreal can't land one without moving real NHL pieces.
Is a 32-year-old with 4 goals worth more to the Canadiens on the ice or in a package?
Montreal hosts Buffalo on Saturday and San Jose on Tuesday, so the clock on any big move keeps ticking.
Hughes told Anderson not to take it the wrong way. Every goal he scores makes that conversation a little more complicated.
Should the Canadiens include Josh Anderson in a big-fish trade?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Multiple teams linked to Matvei Michkov in trade pitch involving many draft picks
