Kent Hughes didn’t try to hide the reality. Carey Price will not play this season.
With the Canadian we use the conditional to avoid compromise, but the day’s events confirm that the goalkeeper’s health will not allow him to reconnect to active competition.
If he played his last career game, that’s very plausible.
And if it is said that Kent Hughes has quickly earned the respect of his peers in his new role as chief executive, then he proved yesterday that he is a decision-maker with many resources, that he is smart and that a stroke of luck presents itself, he will seize the opportunity to manifest.
Hughes turns to Treliving
Brad Treliving needed a business partner to complete an important transaction for the Calgary Flames. Nazem Kadri had just said yes to an offer of $49 million for seven years.
Treliving lacked the technical and financial support recommended by the salary cap. One of his colleagues had to reach him.
Kent Hughes, knowing he would benefit from a $10 million cushion following the outcome of the Price affair, quickly began negotiations. Why not take advantage of a situation where the risks aren’t great but the chances of windfall profits are on his desk?
A good hit
The Habs maker insisted on getting a first-round pick against…nothing under a few conditions. He doesn’t have to give up a regular squad player, he doesn’t have to give up a draft pick, he doesn’t have to send a promising player to Calgary.
Nothing at all.
He made a disguised loan with guarantees demanded, of course, by Treliving, specifically to forgive a $6.315 million one-year debt represented by Sean Monahan.
Why not ?
By the trade deadline, Hughes has an opportunity to trade the ex-Flames player while also trying to rid his payroll of contracts that don’t reflect the reality of the market at all.
A pawned player
In the case of Monahan, we must not get carried away.
First, he is no longer a 34-goal scorer, a feat that allowed him to earn a seven-year, $6.375 million-per-season contract from the Calgary Flames.
If he had been the same player, this creative skater, or if he had shown over the last two seasons that he found all his qualities, the Flames would not have had to sign Kadri.
Monahan’s story is as follows: Two hip surgeries, from regular to reserve, that’s the tally for the last two seasons.
Can he become that talented player who was drafted sixth in the amateur draft again? We’ll see, but that’s the least of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes’ worries.
The most important thing is to respect the business model, which includes a chapter on managing payroll, among other things.
So far, however, strict rules have applied. Left Jeff Petry, Tyler Toffoli, Ben Chiarot, Artturi Lehkonen, Alexander Romanov, Shea Weber…
Now price is added to the list. Perhaps not on the same terms as those who left, with the exception of Shea Weber, and who knows if Price won’t go through the same process as the defender next summer, but the fact remains, barring a major milestone in the business model will come about .
Hughes now has more leeway to address the files of players receiving salaries beyond logic.
Because the roster picture for next season is becoming clearer with the news that Price will or will miss next season. We are entering a special year and we will not rush programs to achieve a hasty restart of the company. Why not take advantage of the opportunities that arise throughout the calendar to improve his selection next summer?
The Canadiens won’t make the playoffs unless a miracle happens.
Therefore, solid salary management, a development program that allows the organization’s promising young players to gain more experience, gives the veterans more responsibility and ensures that the culture of the organization is manifested through the leadership of the best people, these are the Goals to be achieved.
So far, political decision-makers have been transparent.
Treliving worked hard
We can’t blame Brad Treliving for being unemployed after being caught off guard by Johnny Gaudreau’s decision. Who would have expected the American winger to join a formation like the Columbus Blue Jackets for a lower salary than what the Flames are offering him?
Treliving responded quickly to criticism.
First forging a deal with the Florida Panthers, who seemed uninterested in offering Jonathan Huberdeau a big contract, lured the brilliant passer to Calgary and left Matthew Tkachuk no longer interested in staying in Alberta.
Then, yesterday, he finally won the Nazem-Kadri derby, beating the New York Islanders at the finish line.
Gaudreau and Tkachuk are gone and Huberdeau, Kadri and Mackenzie Weeger will don the Flames uniform.
On the other hand, does he have better training than last year? We don’t know, but he has a team capable of competing at the same level as the best teams in the National League.
