Heading into the NHL Trade Deadline, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was clear. He would only trade some of his players on expiring contracts if people met his price.
He wanted a first-round pick for Ben Chiarot. He wanted a first-round pick for Artturi Lehkonen. He wanted a second-round pick for Brett Kulak.
As the final trades trickle in from the NHL, we can clearly state that this was mission accomplished.
The full trade season for Hughes started on February 14 when he traded Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames for a 2022 first-round pick, Emil Heineman, a 2023 fifth-round pick, and Tyler Pitlick.