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Trading Joel Armia: Kent Hughes claims 'not to have come close'

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Mar 21, 2025 1:46 PM ET

On the heels of the trade deadline, Kent Hughes extended Jake Evans’ contract, which had the effect of taking him out of the trade market. Without that, he was surely on his way out.

But when it comes to other free agents to be, it’s a different story.

Christian Dvorak, David Savard, and Joel Armia all stayed in town, despite the fact that they could have taken advantage of their autonomy to not stay in Montreal for the next season.

But how close did they come to leaving?

Kent Hughes, in an interview with Pierre LeBrun in Florida this week, mentioned that Savard and Dvorak, due to the price at which they would have been traded, were not necessarily likely to leave.

I don’t think the return would have been worth it.

We would have had to replace them with players from the Rocket and weaken Laval. For some mid-round picks, it wasn’t worth it. – Kent Hughes

Kent Hughes gathering some important intel about where his young team has come and where it may be going. The season is already won, but a surprise playoff berth would be the cherry on top.
Chatted with the Habs GM in my latest for ⁦@TheAthletic⁩ https://t.co/LvNBcd9xAg

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 21, 2025

But what about Joel Armia?

Armia had a better value (a second-round pick, according to rumors, was requested by Kent Hughes) and he really had a chance to leave the Canadiens at the trade deadline.

But the fact that the Canadiens started winning after the break made Hughes raise the price for Armia. His message? I’m not saying no to trading him, but if it happens, it will be for a high price.

So, did he come close to being traded?

I wouldn’t say we came close. – Kent Hughes

Armia, after being with Laval at the start of the 2023-2024 season, found an identity in 2024-2025. He is very useful to the Canadiens (despite his current wrist injury that prevents him from playing at full capacity) with Jake Evans and Emil Heineman.

We’ll see if he leaves this summer.

– Note.

Le #CFMTL vient de nous donner une mise à jour de ses (nombreux) joueurs blessés :

-Neal : OUT (genou, remise en forme et non blessure)
-Vrioni : OUT (mollet. L’aine semble guérie)
-Synchuk : OUT (bas du corps)
-Herbers : OUT (cuisse)
-Vilsaint : OUT (cuisse)

*Alvarez : cas…

— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) March 21, 2025

– To read.

#ALLCAPS forward Lars Eller has enjoyed his return to Washington and breaks down how the team is different, yet the same.

Also talks about coming together to help Alexander Ovechkin break the scoring record.

Full interview below: https://t.co/bR58u9UhpI

— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) March 21, 2025

– Ah yes?