Max Lapierre proposes a monster trade to Hughes and the Canadiens for the NHL Draft

PUBLICATION

Jeff Drouin
July 2, 2022 (8:59)

SHARE THIS STORY

The NHL Draft is less than a week away at the Bell Centre, and the Canadiens fans who will be there should be quite vocal as their favorite team has the first overall pick.

As we know, it is not yet known if Kent Hughes will choose Shane Wright or Juraj Slafvovsky. The latest rumours suggest that the Slovakian winger could very well top Wright at the very top of the list, even though the Kingston Frontenacs' center seems to have the support of the fans to become the Habs' first choice.

What if Kent Hughes is able to get his hands on the top two prospects on July 7 in front of a packed Bell Centre?

As reported by Marco Normandin of Habsolumentfan.com, that's what Maxim Lapierre proposed during his appearance on 98.5 with his colleague from La Poche Bleue, Guillaume Latendresse.

According to Lapierre, the Habs should do everything in their power to get their hands on the New Jersey Devils' first-round pick, the second overall, and give the fans on site a show by getting their hands on Shane Wright and Juraj Slafkovsky.

The Habs veteran mentioned that he was willing to give away the team's other first-round pick, 26th overall, as well as the team's second-round pick, 33rd overall. He even went further and questioned whether he would also give away the Habs' first pick in the 2023 draft.

"For sure, moving Jeff Petry's contract would be important. I see a lot of comments about the second pick. Also, everyone is mixed on the first two picks. Should it be Wright or should it be Slafkovsky? I know it's really a long shot, but going for the second one would be amazing. Are we ready for that? Do we have the material? I think we do. I think that by trading our late first round and second round picks, and maybe pushing even more, we have some picks next year. Are we willing to sacrifice next year's first pick? Do we have confidence in the two players? [...] The Devils are different than Montreal. They're tired of losing and the owners are tired of losing."

The idea has a lot of people talking, especially knowing that the Devils are also in rebuilding mode. It's a safe bet that their general manager, Tom Fitzgerald, would love to be able to get his hands on a player like Wright or Slafkovsky, to improve his team right away.

Plus, if the Devils were to accept this offer and the Habs still finish in the basement of the standings next year, it could very well be that this first round pick given to the Devils in 2023 could be a certain Connor Bedard.

Imagine for a second the Devils selecting Bedard with the Habs' pick. Let's just say that Kent Hughes would look pretty bad. In our case, no touching the 2023 pick.

Going back to this year's draft, it would also be surprising if Tom Fitzgerald let the second overall pick go without getting at least one quality player from the Habs. Let's just say that with the exception of Josh Anderson, whose name is circulating in several trade rumors, candidates are not abounding.

But we'll see what happens on July 7th at the Bell Centre.