Panic trade involving Brett Kulak: it could turn into a 4-for-1 deal for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens
As you know, there is a possibility that the Montreal Canadiens could acquire Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak by next Tuesday.
The Edmonton Oilers will have to make a panic trade, and they are pressed for time, as they have until this Tuesday to act if they want to match the offer sheets made by the St. Louis Blues.
The contract that Philip Broberg accepted with the Blues (two years, $9.16 million) is much more difficult to match than the one accepted by Dylan Holloway (two years, $4.58 million).
In any case, as reported by several sources including journalist Bruce Garrioch, the Oilers are working quickly to trade Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak.
They urgently need to free up salary cap space!
Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens are among the few organizations currently able to quickly assist the Oilers.
A trade of Brett Kulak to the Montreal Canadiens?
Imagine if Kent Hughes acquires Brett Kulak for free and then re-trades him to another team (as he did with Jeff Petry last year).
He could effectively double-dip on the Edmonton Oilers via trade.
Why? Let's remember that it was the same Kent Hughes who traded Kulak to Edmonton in 2022, and it turned out to be quite a deal.
Let's recall the original trade, concluded in 2022:
To the Oilers - Brett Kulak
To the Canadiens - William Lagesson, a 2022 second-round pick (which became Lane Hutson), and a 2024 seventh-round pick.
However, if Kent Hughes were to go back and acquire Brett Kulak from Edmonton and get paid to do so, this double transaction would be incredible for Montreal.
It would result in something like:
To the Oilers -
Future considerations (and salary cap relief)
To the Canadiens -
William Lagesson (who has since left)
Lane Hutson (who was drafted with the second-round pick)
A 2024 seventh-round pick
A first-round pick
Once again, it would be an incredible asset management move by general manager Kent Hughes, who could also potentially re-trade Kulak to another team for another draft pick.
This is a situation to watch, but it looks promising.
| POLL | ||
Do you think Kent Hughes should take on Brett Kulak's contract, along with a first-round pick, in exchange for future considerations? | ||
| Yes | 607 | 67.7 % |
| No | 290 | 32.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
