Not sure what you are babbling on about, but your working theory is solid bro. That Hughes wanted Dubois so bad that he wouldn't give up anything quality for him, and therefore failed in his quest. And then went on "tilt" and traded 31 and 37 for the former 15th OA.
This is some very solid reasoning. Can you break down some more trades for us that have that simple, what seems obvious is probably true approach to these things? Simpletons like me that realize that Hughes would have known long before any of us that PLD wasn't coming to MTL. Or those that know, even if he was, he isn't getting more then Caulfield or Suzuki. Why focus on any of this very logical stuff when you can create a narrative around Lebrun, and Hughes desire to pursue a guy that makes no sense for the team.