Jeff Gorton said Thursday that the Canadiens will not be rushed into a move just because the Atlantic Division has turned busy before the NHL draft. The message was plain: Montreal does not see pressure as a reason to spend.
That matters now because the division has become a trade market in motion, and the Canadiens are being measured against it. On Thursday night, they sent Luke Tuch's rights to the Blue Jackets de Columbus for Hunter McKown's rights, a small deal that underscored how active the club is willing to be without chasing every headline.
Gorton said Montreal has been moving forward steadily for four years, and that the club wants to stay on that path instead of diluting its assets just to match what other teams are doing. He said it would not be the best decision to react simply because another team has made a move. In his words, the club is aware that its division is very strong, but that awareness does not mean panic.
The timing makes the stance more interesting. Brady Tkachuk is going to Floride, the Senators of Ottawa are replacing him by acquiring William Eklund, the Sabres of Buffalo obtained the fourth overall pick and are in position to trade it, the Maple Leafs of Toronto remain active in hopes of moving back into the pack, the Capitals of Washington acquired Jordan Kyrou and the Blackhawks of Chicago acquired defenseman Bowen Byram. There is also a perceived exodus of players to the United States, which has helped push the market harder.
That is the part that can pull a front office off course. Some teams have paid high prices in trades, but Montreal is signaling that it will not copy the market just because the market is loud. At the same time, Kent Hughes had said he was prepared to overpay if needed, which leaves the Canadiens with room to act if the right player appears without forcing a response to every rival's move.
For now, the only concrete next date is July 1, when Luke Tuch and Hunter McKown could become restricted free agents. Until then, the Canadiens' position is clear: they are willing to move, but not willing to confuse activity with progress.
