Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is open to trading Jeff Petry
Kent Hughes has a lot of work ahead of him.
The Montreal Canadiens are in the midst of arguably the worst season in their 104-year history, as they sit dead last in the league with an 8-29-7 record.
Just two weeks into his gig as the Habs’ general manager, Hughes’ priority will be deciding which players from this disastrous season will be kept around and which will be moved out as the team retools for the future.
In a 30-minute interview with Quebec newspaper La Presse, Hughes stated that the team is open to trading veteran defender Jeff Petry, so long as a trade works for both the team and the player.
“We told him: ‘We are aware of what is happening in your life. This is not the ideal context to play,'” Hughes said. “At the same time, you are part of this team. If there’s a chance it will work out on both sides to trade you, we’ll trade you. But until this situation arises, you are part of the Canadiens and you have to do your best.”
Petry is currently putting together the worst season of his career. Through 37 games, he has just seven points and a minus-seven rating, a significant drop from the 42 points and plus-six rating he posted in 55 games during the 2021 season.
The veteran defender has also been criticized by spectators in Montreal for a lack of effort as of late. In particular, Petry was slammed for his lackluster response when Zack Kassian checked goaltender Sam Montembault behind the net in the Habs’ 7-2 loss to the Oilers on Saturday.
Zack Kassian clips Montembeault and nobody on Montreal does a fkn thing #LetsGoOilers | #GoHabsGo
🎥: @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/l9m8k6WlzV
Given the 34-year-old’s recent performance and his expensive contract, it might be a challenge for Hughes to execute a trade during the season.
The Habs inked poetry to a four-year extension worth $6.25 million annually back in September of 2020. His contract also features a modified no-trade clause in which he can submit a list of 15 teams that he can’t be traded to.