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

[WeThreeKings]

Someone fix the thread title.

 

[BLONG7]

Allen wasn’t a mistake

We need a roster spot at one point to evaluate our goalies. Yes Primeau shit in the bed , but now we are discovering Dobes because of the roster spot.

Same thing with Kovacevic, we needed to evaluate Struble and Barron , even if Kovacevic would help atm

Too many guys, sometimes miss the bigger picture........Allen was ok here, but was getting too old, it was a given that's who would be shipped out.....got a pick for him.
Kovacevic was so amazing when he was here, he along with 20 others helped us to 32nd place one season............
As others have said, no GM hits 1.000 it's just impossible.
Carrier has helped the team and Guhlie, this doesn't happen if Kova is stil here...........it's a circle jerk of events that moves round and round.......

HuGo as a tandem have done a very good job of steering the ship through a rebuild........we are literally 2.5 years into the rebuild and things are starting to take an upturn......but everyone knows, we are not there yet.

The drafting done by Hughes group has been fantastic.........I wanted Michkov, but we got a big defender instead.......give it 3 years to see what really happened there....but overall they have hit some home runs with their draft picks.

Demidov, Hutaon, Beck are most likely Reinbacher, are a nice haul in a short span of time.

 

[MasterD]

It was a veiled shot at Kent's capabilities as a GM and Kent knew it
It was a piece of shit sleaze ball way of saying 'so they not working out was your fault to begin with?'

He's doing a fine job,
Nobody hits at 1.000%.

We can't complain the medias asks stupid softball questions all the time, and in the same breath complain when they ask KH 1 hard question.

I thought the question was a good one. Pretty easy to answer, too. "Yeah, we thought Barron was going to take the next step, but that didn't happen. Primeau had a bad start of the season; we hope he can bounce back, and we know he has the talent to do it. In both cases, waiver eligibility played a role in our decisions. Insight is 20/20."

 

[Pure Laine]

Out of curiosity what did asking a "hard" question actually accomplish? Did you as a fan learn anything new because of this non-softball question?

That's because it wasn't answered, not because the question was asked.

Should we cuddle the org just because? Fans, myself included, pay money to watch them. We can always vote with our money and stop following. But there's other means.

Now, KH is doing a great job so it's no big deal. But in the past years and at the end of the MB era, despite shitty results (aside from the SC run), the org was still getting softball questions.

 

[Habnot]

We can't complain the medias asks stupid softball questions all the time, and in the same breath complain when they ask KH 1 hard question.

I thought the question was a good one. Pretty easy to answer, too. "Yeah, we thought Barron was going to take the next step, but that didn't happen. Primeau had a bad start of the season; we hope he can bounce back, and we know he has the talent to do it. In both cases, waiver eligibility played a role in our decisions. Insight is 20/20."

Example:

So you keep asking contract / negotiation questions when you know that KH will never answer and is on record that he does not discuss contracts...but you either think your the smartest guy in the room or you want to make the GM look bad.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I guess it's semantics but in my mind 6-7 seasons and 350 games does make you a vet. He's basically double the games/seasons of Kovacevic. And that's doubly so because Carrier is at 254 games and is considered by everyone to be a vet.

Depends on the player IMO. Some show it earlier vs others. I have seen some good comments from the Preds about Carrier and his leadership in the room.

That's because it wasn't answered, not because the question was asked.

Should we cuddle the org just because? Fans, myself included, pay money to watch them. We can always vote with our money and stop following. But there's other means.

Now, KH is doing a great job so it's no big deal. But in the past years and at the end of the MB era, despite shitty results (aside from the SC run), the org was still getting softball questions.

In the end, our questions answered or unanswered does not matter one bit.

What was a good question to ask where you felt our GM could answer it without releasing info that hurts our team?

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Carrier was a cap dump. He was very bad for the Preds and overused in a role too big for him. They rated Barron's profile and did the swap. May it work out for everyone.

Today it's 100% true. Maybe in the future he won't suck, I wish him well. Today he sucks. His big body is useless if he's afraid of contact.

Assigning GM decisions on fan comments is wild, to me. It's 2025, there's not one GM who thinks the noise online is worth anything.

Carrier was good until this year. The whole team was shit this year. Not much point basing anything on this years performance.

 

[Archijerej]

Obviously the stakes are not the same . But he’ll be getting that question for Dach eventually. Wonder if he gets the same energy

Because he failed to predict that a player would bust his knee?

 

[BLONG7]

We can't complain the medias asks stupid softball questions all the time, and in the same breath complain when they ask KH 1 hard question.

I thought the question was a good one. Pretty easy to answer, too. "Yeah, we thought Barron was going to take the next step, but that didn't happen. Primeau had a bad start of the season; we hope he can bounce back, and we know he has the talent to do it. In both cases, waiver eligibility played a role in our decisions. Insight is 20/20."

Not knowing the possible background between certain media people and the team and organization, sometimes it seems some so called journalists rub the GM or coach the wrong way, and maybe that causes the issues when it comes to whether or not, the guy feels like explaining himself to said persons.......

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

I don't know how anyone could have that opinion, he was 100% rushed. There was Zero reason to have him in the NHL as a 1st year pro.

Some players don't need much seasoning. Some do. He played a full season in the minors. They thought he was ready.

 

[montreal]

Some players don't need much seasoning. Some do. He played a full season in the minors. They thought he was ready.

And it was clearly a huge mistake. Anyone that watched him in the AHL, should have clearly seen he was struggling badly with his decision making. Defensemen are known to take longer to develop, so why would you put him in the NHL in his first pro year if he can't handle defense in the AHL?

The point of everything is to learn from your mistakes, Hughes came into this job talking up the importance of development so to me it would be a good question to know, do they feel like they learned something from this. Every GM makes mistakes, the best learn from them or others and don't repeat them.

Barron to me looked like someone that would spend 2 full years in the AHL at the very least, but I don't get why more teams don't take it slower like they used to, outside of the salary cap forcing the issue.

 

[Archijerej]

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.

They likely thought they can make do with a bottom pair consisting of any combination of Xhekaj, Struble, Barron, Reinbacher and Mailloux.

Reinbacher got injured and everyone else proved incapable of playing on acceptable level without being sheltered with a veteran partner.

It was a miscalculation. Perhaps an understandable one, in the context of a rebuilding team with lots of young defensemen vying for NHL minutes. At the end of the day, they were able to pivot with the Carrier trade.

 

[Sorinth]

That's because it wasn't answered, not because the question was asked.

Should we cuddle the org just because? Fans, myself included, pay money to watch them. We can always vote with our money and stop following. But there's other means.

Now, KH is doing a great job so it's no big deal. But in the past years and at the end of the MB era, despite shitty results (aside from the SC run), the org was still getting softball questions.

Exactly, you can ask all the hard hitting questions you want, you simply won't get an answer. Which goes right back to what's the point of asking the tough questions when you know you won't get a real answer.

 

[Chili]

Unless I missed it. thought there would be a question about the importance of goaltending. Last season it took a couple of months to address the depth in Laval, going with two rookies to start the season, might have cost them a playoff spot. This year, they waited almost to mid-season to give Monty some relief.

Prefer to listen to Gorton speak, find he's more of a straight shooter in his replies to the questions.

 

[Whalers Fan]

Brother your contradicting yourself .

By that logic, there was no reason to move Barron this season.

Of course there was a reason. There comes a tipping point with every prospect when an organization decides it's time to cut the prospect loose if he's not meeting expectations. In Barron's case, they weren't ready in the offseason, and Barron would have required clearing waivers to be sent down. They must have reached that tipping point during the season.

Just because the organization took longer to evaluate Barron than a bunch of fans on a hockey message board with no patience doesn't mean their approach was bad. They took a gamble and got rid of Kovy instead of Barron due to the potential upside. Not all prospects work out -- in fact, the majority do not.

 

[the valiant effort]

In 6 years a series of injuries will find 3rd string Primeau leading a team to the final playoff spot over the last two weeks of the season. Habs fans, irate that reigning Vezina winner and current Habs starter Zach Fucale is struggling down the same stretch, will begin screaming into the void: PRIMEAU HAD A .914 IN 2024 WHY DID WE GIVE UP ON HIM

 

[Archijerej]

Bye bye Gally

I'd say there's no chance whatsoever Gallagher is traded. Aside from his contract, I'm pretty certain the actually value a lot what he brings off the ice.

If they intend to create a roster spot, my guess would be they'll try to take advantage of Anderson's rebound year in order to move him relatively cost free.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'd say there's no chance whatsoever Gallagher is traded. Aside from his contract, I'm pretty certain the actually value a lot what he brings off the ice.

If they intend to create a roster spot, my guess would be they'll try to take advantage of Anderson's rebound year in order to move him relatively cost free.

I agree with Gallagher. Overpaid yes but very much valued on our team by the players and coach.

Anderson also likes it in Montreal and has taken a role well this year. Doubt we will be able to move him for futures only and would have to take a contract back which does not create a roster spot.

My question is who are we creating a roster spot for?
* Demidov takes Dvorak's spot
* Pezzetta is another open roster spot (maybe Kapanen takes it)
* We also are running with a 22 man roster and have an open spot now.

We should not be trading a vet away because we think Beck and/or Roy are ready. Same mistake we made with Barron. Let them dominate the AHL and earn their way up

The reasons to trade a vet away should be because we are getting a valuable future in return (Savard for example). The days of inserting youth learning on the job are over.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I'd say there's no chance whatsoever Gallagher is traded. Aside from his contract, I'm pretty certain the actually value a lot what he brings off the ice.

If they intend to create a roster spot, my guess would be they'll try to take advantage of Anderson's rebound year in order to move him relatively cost free.

if one has to go, it should be Gally. Anderson’s size and skating are too big an asset. Don’t mind Gally at all but he has limited use.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Unless I missed it. thought there would be a question about the importance of goaltending. Last season it took a couple of months to address the depth in Laval, going with two rookies to start the season, might have cost them a playoff spot. This year, they waited almost to mid-season to give Monty some relief.

Prefer to listen to Gorton speak, find he's more of a straight shooter in his replies to the questions.

Gorton has more experience dealing with media so makes sense.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Bad time to do it.. 2 powerplay points, a pile of minuses, over his last 10 games.

That's called the Dach special bro

 

[Habs Halifax]

if one has to go, it should be Gally. Anderson’s size and skating are too big an asset. Don’t mind Gally at all but he has limited use.

The issue with trying to move either of them to create a roster spot is you will get a roster player in return that you might have to buy out. If we are moving either out without taking back a contract, we will have to pay a 1st like we did with Monahan.

Why? We don't have cap issues and we really don't need to create a roster spot.

* Demidov takes Dvorak's spot
* Kapanen could take Pezzetta's spot.
* Maybe we trade Savard and one of Mailloux or Engstrom get a shot at making the roster?
* We are running with 22 guys right now. We have one open spot now.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

He was 22 at the end of last season with under 100 nhl games played. He's got good size and is a great skater.

I don't think folks realize how young 22 is for a D-man. And I laugh that this is all brought up on a conversation that includes Jonathan Kovacevic who didn't sniff regular nhl time until the age of 25 (!).

Folks have become so incredibly impatient and unreasonable in their expectations.

I'm not even being dramatic when I say Barron was inexcusably bad for 90% of his tenure here. Worst defense I've ever seen from a 6'2 player. Lost at all times, couldn't complete a pass. He could walk the blueline once every dozen games but he does not have what it takes to be a good NHL player.

And if you think he can be good and just needs time then we should've just kept him, he fits our timeline better than Carrier, but he was bad then and he is still bad now, and he will be bad in the future. This isn't some crystal ball magical prediction, it is clear to anybody that has suffered through watching him play.

 

[overlords]

if one has to go, it should be Gally. Anderson’s size and skating are too big an asset. Don’t mind Gally at all but he has limited use.

Gally can have Pezz's spot

 

[MasterD]

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

Perhaps, but I think the pressure of Montreal got to him. He should do better in a lower pressure environment.