Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes just flipped the NHL’s power grid upside down—without lifting a finger.

While the hockey world obsesses over Patrik Laine’s shattered knee and the grim silence from Calgary’s locker room, Montreal’s brain trust has been quietly engineering a financial ARMAGEDDON that no rival saw coming.

Whispers from the Bell Centre’s war room leak like smoke: a cap-space BOMB ticking toward March, primed to detonate the trade deadline into oblivion.

Nazem Kadri’s name echoes in encrypted texts. Superstar centers from sinking ships circle like sharks sensing blood. And Kent Hughes? He’s not just shopping—he’s about to rewrite the Habs’ destiny with a war chest that could swallow ENTIRE payrolls whole.

But here’s the twist no one’s daring to say aloud: this isn’t about one blockbuster. It’s about unleashing a MULTI-HEADED MONSTER that turns Montreal from playoff hopefuls into Cup predators overnight.

The $18 million cushion? That’s just the appetizer.

What happens when Hughes weaponizes it against desperate GMs clutching their last lifelines?

Buckle up—the ice is about to crack wide open, and the Canadiens are holding the hammer.

Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes

Photo credit: NHL

Since Patrik Laine’s long-term injury, many fans have been wondering if the Montreal Canadiens would take advantage of the situation to free up some cap space.

And more importantly, whether Kent Hughes could use that opportunity to go out and acquire a true impact center before the trade deadline.

According to Raphaël Simard of DansLesCoulisses, the answer is very clear: the Canadiens will have the necessary flexibility to make moves.

And not just a little!

The Montreal Canadiens Will Have Over $18 Million in Cap Space by the Trade Deadline

By not placing Patrik Laine on long-term injured reserve, Kent Hughes is allowing his team to accumulate daily cap space.

The result is that, by the trade deadline, the Canadiens will have approximately $18,338,000 in cap room, according to data from PuckPedia.

“The Canadiens could not only absorb Nazem Kadri’s seven-million-dollar contract, but also target several other available centers across the league.”

– explained Simard.

That’s huge for a team that usually has to juggle every dollar.

If the Habs remain in a playoff position after the Olympics, this flexibility could really change everything!

In his article on The Athletic (NY Times), Pierre LeBrun also mentioned that Nazem Kadri does not want to leave Calgary, but the situation could evolve if the Flames remain near the bottom of the standings.

And if Calgary decided to sell, Kent Hughes would be in a dream position to make a move.

In my opinion, it’s the first time in a long while that Montreal can seriously think about “buying” instead of just unloading contracts.

With nearly $18 million available, the Canadiens will finally have the means to match their ambitions.

Now we’ll just have to see which player could truly make a difference in Montreal.

Exciting times ahead!