GDT: Kent Hughes Mid-Season Presser (11:30AM ET)

[montreal]

About Barron and Primeau. I think it was a fair question. And easily to respond as well but Hughes just didn't want to.

I didn't listen as most of these are a waste of time because the media ask stupid softball questions. I would want to know if they felt they learned anything about development, as I know Ramage has said that due to injuries they were kind of forced to rush some prospects to the NHL but in the case of Baron, I'd like to know who watched him in the AHL with his terrible decision making/defensive play and thought we'll he can't do it in the AHL but let's see if he can in the NHL.

The development of Primeau (not Hughes's fault) was terrible from the start imo, and I hated how they handled Baron, I would never have called up Mailloux or Roy for that matter until they fixed their issues in the AHL or at least stopped repeating the same shit. I also was against bringing Kapanen over, not a fan of burning a year off his ELC but at least his dad is the GM so unlike Collberg and Norlinder, he didn't lose his spot when he went back.

 

[26Mats]

I really disliked that question.

I bet that reporter post here and whine about Kovacevic all the time.

That reporter is always asking questions like that. I don't know his name, but I know his voice.

I actually like that he asks tough questions, even if they are loaded and sometimes off base
I like a press that keeps authority on their toes, as long as they don't try to manipulate the public against the leaders and rather just stick to asking questions even if they sting.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

They had to make room to give kids playing time in bigger roles to evaluate them, because they don't hold their rights forever. They are in a position to take these risks because of where they are at in the rebuild. They got a better idea of what they had and moved on. How is this hard at all to comprehend.

 

[Theodore450]

Of course there was. At some point you have to decide that a player is not going to be what you hoped for. They presumably decided he was never going to have the confidence or hockey sense to be worth keeping.

Exactly, and that should have been done in the summer. That way your starting with the guys you believe in. It’s fine he recovered with Carrier. But a mistake is a mistake .

Getting upset and dodging the question is unprofessional

 

[Ozmodiar]

Was looking forward to it but fell asleep during the Engels question. Hope I didn’t miss much.

Also, best of luck to Reinbacher and his new career in hockey operations.

 

[Sorinth]

I like Kent Hughes, but dude will squirm his away from admiting to any mistakes.

The Barron signing and letting go of kova was a flop. You recognized he’s was no good and made a move. Let’s be real here.
Primeau was a mistake as well. The question being asked and he would refuse to acknowledge that he had to make a change.

And the staunch defense of Dach is clear favouritism.


He can still admit he f***ed up.

My assumption is that it's less about not wanting to admit to a mistake and more about not wanting to throw players under the bus. Saying they made a mistake and thought Barron would be better but turns out he sucks balls so we traded him before the rest of the league realized isn't something that the GM should say to the press. Just like they won't and shouldn't say yeah Kovacevik is having a good year, but he's going to fall back to being a bottom pairing guy because he just isn't a real top-4 guy. Which is arguably what Hughes hinted at with his non-answers

Now having said that I think the better answer is to point out the story isn't over for either player. They both have paths forward to have successful NHL careers but the moves were made because those paths and the needs of team were diverging.

 

[Theodore450]

They had to make room to give kids playing time in bigger roles to evaluate them, because they don't hold their rights forever. They are in a position to take these risks because of where they are at in the rebuild. They got a better idea of what they had and moved on. How is this hard at all to comprehend.

Wouldn’t be really easy if he just said that. He did not

My assumption is that it's less about not wanting to admit to a mistake and more about not wanting to throw players under the bus. Saying they made a mistake and thought Barron would be better but turns out he sucks balls so we traded him before the rest of the league realized isn't something that the GM should say to the press. Just like they won't and shouldn't say yeah Kovacevik is having a good year, but he's going to fall back to being a bottom pairing guy because he just isn't a real top-4 guy. Which is arguably what Hughes hinted at with his non-answers

Now having said that I think the better answer is to point out the story isn't over for either player. They both have paths forward to have successful NHL careers but the moves were made because those paths and the needs of team were diverging.

That’s extremely fair. I agree he was covering for his players. At the end of the day, if that works for the players it’s probably better for the team.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

Wouldn’t be really easy if he just said that. He did not


That’s extremely fair. I agree he was covering for his players. At the end of the day, if that works for the players it’s probably better for the team.

The guy that asked the question is clearly an idiot and doesn't deserve any real response.

 

[Kennerback]

Does anyone really think he replaced Kovacevic to put Barron there? I think he had in mind if RB and Mailloux fail, we always have Barron.

 

[Natey]

And then when they decided to move on from Barrob, they got Carrier, who so far looks better than Kovacevic.

That's a bit of a statement considering what Kovacevic is doing right now.

Guy is playing pure shutdown hockey @ almost 64% defensive zone starts and leading one of the better PK's in the league in ice-time.

Carrier looks great for us, but Kovacevic is having a great year too.

I still don't know how Nashville gambled on Barron. He's never looked great over an extended period to me. Looks like he lacks hockey sense, which is a killer for a defenseman.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I was just hoping for more honesty. It’s a small criticism that doesn’t need to magnified but we can be aware of it. We all know he made a mistake. Shit happens.
Idk why your making it personal acting like it’s about making me feel better, when it’s his job to know that fans aren’t idiots. Not cool man.


Also Dach he has to defend. But I think he’ll be gone by summer

I think he knows what you are talking about. But the layer you might overlook is what he tried behind the scenes that no fan has knowledge about.

I think most of us were OK with Barron extension and Kova being traded. Looking back, we have questions now.

I think most were happy with Primeau's progression last year and him being our back-up this year. I guess you are saying they took too long to call up Dobes?

I also think they really do still like Dach. Right or wrong... we will find out in the coming years. I for one still like Dach a lot but also open to Dach+ if there is an improvement trade out there. Not because I don't like Dach... but because I think he needs another year or two to show us who he really is. If we can get the improvement now, we will. If not, we will continue to support his growth and rightfully so.

Does anyone really think he replaced Kovacevic to put Barron there? I think he had in mind if RB and Mailloux fail, we always have Barron.

Probably was 23 roster and waivers challenge they seen coming. Remember, they wanted to start the season with Price on the roster and not on LTIR. That strategy of Price on LTIR (after the season) means our cap space accrued as the season moves along. It's a big deal

We had to take a shot on Barron and trade Kova IMO. We put trust that Barron would improve and be able to handle a bottom pairing role and improve as the season moved along. It didn't happen and then you adjust and we did.

 

[overlords]

Do you know if he would be eligible to play in this playoffs (assuming we make it) without burning a year off his ELC?

I believe playoff games count in the 10 game minimum thing, which I believe still applies to Demi as he isn't 20 years old yet like Lane was when he came over. If we could get him over for a few games without it burning a year, that'd be awesome, but doesn't seem like it's in the cards.

 

[Theodore450]

I think he knows what you are talking about. But the layer you might overlook is what he tried behind the scenes that no fan has knowledge about.

I think most of us were OK with Barron extension and Kova being traded. Looking back, we have questions now.

I think most were happy with Primeau's progression last year and him being our back-up this year. I guess you are saying they took too long to call up Dobes?

I also think they really do still like Dach. Right or wrong... we will find out in the coming years. I for one still like Dach a lot but also open to Dach+ if there is an improvement trade out there. Not because I don't like Dach... but because I think he needs another year or two to show us who he really is. If we can get the improvement now, we will. If not, we will continue to support his growth and rightfully so.

At the end of the day. Your not wrong.
If players like playing for him and he values high end talent at a decent contract that play for the crest and not the name. We can’t complain.

I do truly think Dach is gonna peak as a low end 2c. I just don’t think a serious team has him ever in their top 6 if they want a cup .

If the team streaks to end the season and he’s still the most negative forward in the league. They need to be serious about finding another center.
Lowkey, and this is pure hindsight. Letting Mony go was also a mistake

 

[WeThreeKings]

Can't wait for another multi goal weekend for Dach this weekend. Haters sweating but still trying to bash him whenever they can. Sad, really.

 

[Habs Icing]

There's something nasty going around, been fighting it the for a week now and still don't feel great.

You're telling me. I only recently shook off something that had me out for a month.

 

[Habs Halifax]

At the end of the day. Your not wrong.
If players like playing for him and he values high end talent at a decent contract that play for the crest and not the name. We can’t complain.

I do truly think Dach is gonna peak as a low end 2c. I just don’t think a serious team has him ever in their top 6 if they want a cup .

If the team streaks to end the season and he’s still the most negative forward in the league. They need to be serious about finding another center.
Lowkey, and this is pure hindsight. Letting Mony go was also a mistake

I'm not a fan of press conferences. It basically is something for the fans/media to chew on but they never can tell us what we really want to know. Bad for business. I think Hughes sees your point if you were to have a 1/1 conversation behind the scenes.

I think there is still untapped potential with Dach. I still think he can reach 60+ pts but what I don't know is how long it takes him. Is it next year or age 25+. That's our challenge. We need faster growth now but he is coming off another long term injury. Time is ticking yes but the potential we though he had when we traded for him is still there IMO.

Will it become another Galchenyuk or Drouin hope or will Dach reach that potential? We just don't know but we also have to be careful with giving up on him too. If we trade him, he has to be traded from a good place and with value.

 

[Theodore450]

I'm not a fan of press conferences. It basically is something for the fans/media to chew on but they never can tell us what we really want to know. Bad for business.

I think Hughes sees your point if you were to have a 1/1 conversation behind the scenes.

Yeah I really do like him as a gm. But I just thought he was gonna be a more honest about stuff like this. As a gm it’s what he’s given off so far.
These pres conferences only seem to happen when we are up. So at least it’s not that often haha

 

[RationalExpectations]

I still don't know how Nashville gambled on Barron. He's never looked great over an extended period to me. Looks like he lacks hockey sense, which is a killer for a defenseman.

They are having a really Bad year especially considering their initial ambitions. This year is Lost and they had the opportunity to get younger and clear cap Space with this move. Carrier was nothing great for NSH this year even though he earned his contract last year. Barron still has potential if he stops being afraid (great skating and puck moving Dman with size) and NSH scouts have been quite good at finding Dmen over the years...

 

[Natey]

They are having a really Bad year especially considering their initial ambitions. This year is Lost and they had the opportunity to get younger and clear cap Space with this move. Carrier was nothing great for NSH this year even though he earned his contract last year. Barron still has potential if he stops being afraid (great skating and puck moving Dman with size) and NSH scouts have been quite good at finding Dmen over the years...

To each their own. It's not Barron's fear that's holding him back - it's processing the game at the NHL level.

 

[Sorinth]

That's a bit of a statement considering what Kovacevic is doing right now.

Guy is playing pure shutdown hockey @ almost 64% defensive zone starts and leading one of the better PK's in the league in ice-time.

Carrier looks great for us, but Kovacevic is having a great year too.

I still don't know how Nashville gambled on Barron. He's never looked great over an extended period to me. Looks like he lacks hockey sense, which is a killer for a defenseman.

Kovacevik is doing great, but there's a real case for arguing that he wouldn't be doing that with us. NJ has a fairly vet heavy D group. Only L Hughes has less experience then him, and as we've seen with our own D groups, getting to play with a veteran helps a lot.

But Hughes can't really give that answer in a press conference.

 

[Habs Halifax]

About Barron and Primeau. I think it was a fair question. And easily to respond as well but Hughes just didn't want to.

I bet if you were our GM and made moves like that that lead to questions, you would behave the same. It's too easy for us to critic.

The real pressure and expectations for Hughes is when this core age is ready to compete. What does he do to fill the holes and does his rebuild end up a contender. We need to chill with the daily pressure and apply it when it matters the most.

Barron and Primeau management could have had a shorter hope leash yes. I think he would admit it if you were to have a 1/1 conversation with him but I would never expect him to dwell on mistakes in a live press conference. You do know the vultures thrive on fear in Montreal right?

 

[RationalExpectations]

Can't wait for another multi goal weekend for Dach this weekend. Haters sweating but still trying to bash him whenever they can. Sad, really.

I don't see many Dach haters. Personnally, I was high on him when he was drafted, understood the Gamble of trading Romanov for him, yet there is no point denying he sucked for many games and while he has been improving, he is not playing great at this stage.

 

[dinodebino]

That reporter is always asking questions like that. I don't know his name, but I know his voice.

I actually like that he asks tough questions, even if they are loaded and sometimes off base
I like a press that keeps authority on their toes, as long as they don't try to manipulate the public against the leaders and rather just stick to asking questions even if they sting.

L’Orange

 

[Habs Halifax]

Kovacevik is doing great, but there's a real case for arguing that he wouldn't be doing that with us. NJ has a fairly vet heavy D group. Only L Hughes has less experience then him, and as we've seen with our own D groups, getting to play with a veteran helps a lot.

But Hughes can't really give that answer in a press conference.

Agreed.

Imagine it this way.... Lets say Beck and Kapanen are pegged to be our bottom 2C's next year and we trade Evans away at the TDL for good futures. Lets say both Beck and Kapanen struggle in full time roles and we are forced to scramble by moving Newhook to center (who also can't do that role well either). What are we going to say next year... we should have kept Evans and trusting Beck/Kapanen was a mistake? Beck and Kapanen should have been traded instead? We have rebuilt and making a mistake at trusting growth from young players? Come on now

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't see many Dach haters. Personnally, I was high on him when he was drafted, understood the Gamble of trading Romanov for him, yet there is no point denying he sucked for many games and while he has been improving, he is not playing great at this stage.

There's plenty of Dach haters and if we aren't acknowledging how well he's turned his game around, after incremental progress since the beginning of the year, then it's just not wanting to move off of some bad takes early in the year.