NHL Draft: Kent Hughes “open to everything” with the 5th choice held by the Canadian

NASHVILLE | Kent Hughes has a knack for hiding his game, like a poker master. 24 hours before the NHL draft at Bridgestone Arena, the general manager of the Canadian has imitated several of his counterparts by maintaining the mystery of his strategy.

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“As we speak, we still have the fifth choice, but we are open to anything,” Hughes said during a press conference in a chic Nashville hotel with Martin St-Louis at his side.

According to rumors that have been circulating for several days, the CH had the objective of climbing a few ranks in the first round. Such an option now seems less plausible since the trade to the Colorado Avalanche for Alex Newhook.

Hughes lost significant ammunition to advance by trading a first-round pick (31st) and another second-rounder (37th) to the Avalanche.

Several names

If the CH is less likely to dream of an Adam Fantilli or Leo Carlsson, two candidates to follow the first in class Connor Bedard, Hughes knows that there will still be high hopes for fifth place.

It now remains to know who will be the lucky one.

Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, Matvei Michkov, Zach Benson, Dalibor Dvorsky or David Reinbacher. The Habs should pronounce one of these names.

“There is more than one name in our head, confirmed the former players’ agent. If we keep our choice, we think that in fifth place, we will have a good hockey player. If we advance, we will be even safer. If we go back, it depends.