This is possibly Kent Hughes’ best move since joining the Montreal Canadiens organization.

When Hughes agreed to help the Calgary Flames in August 2022 by taking on Sean Monahan’s contract in exchange for a first-round pick, no one thought it would turn out to be such a great deal.

Today, we can say that the Canadiens completely won this trade.

The Flames wanted to make room to sign Nazem Kadri, and they absolutely had to get rid of Monahan’s contract (or Muncy, as he was nicknamed), as he was coming off several tough seasons due to injuries.

For Montreal, it was the perfect opportunity to acquire a first-round pick with minimal risk.

Against all odds, Monahan arrived in great shape and had an excellent start to the season with the Habs.

He even had a positive impact on the team’s young players before an injury derailed his season.

Hughes then pulled off another masterstroke by re-signing him to a low-cost one-year deal before ultimately trading him to the Winnipeg Jets for another first-round pick.

The Trade for Sean Monahan with the Calgary Flames: Kent Hughes’ Best Move, According to Mathias Brunet

Result: The Canadiens indeed drafted Michael Hage with the pick acquired from the Jets, and they still hold the Flames’ pick, which could land around the 16th spot this summer.

Essentially, the Habs turned a simple favor to the Flames into two first-round picks and a solid season from Monahan.

This kind of maneuver shows that Kent Hughes knows how to seize opportunities to build the future of the Canadiens.

In my opinion, it’s pure and simple theft.