The last time CH and the Bruins made a player trade, Lucien Bouchard resigned as premier of Quebec and Apple released the iPod. Eric Weinrich went to Boston against Patrick Travers. One to one.
The trade between the Bruins and CH is as illogical as giving a PIN to your worst enemy.
But if there is anyone who can put an end to this drought, it is undoubtedly Kent Hughes, the handsome fox from Beaconsfield who has had a distinguished career as an agent in the Boston area.
One of the NHL's best-kept secrets is that Hughes loves Bruins center Pavel Zaka. Hughes represented Zacha at Quartexx, an agency he agreed to leave only after much consideration to become general manager in Montreal.
Reliable sources in the NHL assure us that Montreal is not on the list of teams to which Zacha would refuse a trade, quite the contrary. Apparently, there are several Czechs in the league who have Montreal dreams. I'll stick to this.
The second worst secret in the NHL: the Canadian needs a second-line center. Discussions took place in the summer. For Zachi among others. We plan to monitor how the clubs decide to sell.
Oliver Kapanen surprises in the center and has some chemistry with Ivan Demidov. So much the better. The observation does not change.
Because Demidov is still underused at even strength. If Martin Saint-Louis could have attached an experienced center to the Russian, I bet things would have been completely different.
Zacha ticks many of CH's boxes: great contract (just $4.7 million per year through 2027), versatile, talented, responsible at 200 feet…
But he is also one of the good friends of his compatriot David Pastrnak, whom we do not want to offend for the sake of entertainment in Boston.
Zacha wouldn't revolutionize Montreal hockey the way Crosby did. Anyway, Montreal has a number one center, his name is Nick Suzuki. Zacha will plug the gaping hole and bring CH closer to contender status.
For Hughes, snatching it from his arch-enemy would be a huge blow.
Supply and demand
What works against CH is the number of teams desperate to find a center player.
The Canucks had been looking for him for months. Honestly, who doesn't want a center player?
Conversely, who would want to give up a central player? There will be no shortage of options.
We can remember Nazem Kadri from the Flames. Strong, good hands, 30-goal scorer, striker who doesn't run in the streets.
Also left-handed, like Zaka. This is important. There are very few left centers in CH.
Much will be written in Calgary by people who want to calm things down, but a contender like Kadri will be hungry for a second Stanley Cup. Loyalty is a rather abstract concept when a team finishes last in the overall standings.
Kadri has performed in Canadian markets. He knows tobacco. His $7 million is absolutely nothing in today's market. His contract ends in 2029; then he will be 38 years old. If an extra year is a concern, you can always convince the Flames to withhold some salary.
Photo by AFP
We can also discuss Ryan O'Reilly. It's not a cliché to call him a winner. Selke, Conn-Smythe, Stanley Cup: His trophy collection captured the imagination at the 2019 Las Vegas Gala. At 34, he still irritates his face. My colleagues Dave Morissette and Jean-Charles Lajoie still foam at the mouth about it.
O'Reilly doesn't have a no-trade clause, but Barry Trotz is a respected general manager who wouldn't send such a decorated veteran anywhere without his consent.
And the dream of seeing Crosby come to Montreal? More than ever, this feels like the early season dream the Penguins are living out.
