Joined: Feb. 2022
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 2,274
There is simply no way I see the Habs trading one of their own 1st round picks in the next 3 years. This will be a long rebuild, think 3-5 years, in the toughest division in hockey which seems to be getting stronger as every team is over .500 (except the Sabres might never win a game, again, it seems.)
That protection wont carry over to the 2025 draft and they'd be exposed to giving up a better player than PLD.
A player in PLD, they simply dont need, with Suzuki-Dach, and whomever they draft at center this year between 1-8OA
Then Mailloux who is a legit prospect that is improving all the time and is a massive need on the right side in the Montreal.
It will be either the Florida pick in 2023 or the Flames pick in 2025 which also could be a lottery pick by the way as there is no protection only conditions. The pick can be as high as 2OA.
Hughes has no reason to pay a prime asset for PLD unless he's given a bargain.