Kent Hughes wants more from Patrik Laine

Dose
Crédit: MONTREAL, CANADA- MARCH 15: Patrik Laine #92 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre on March 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/NHLI via Getty Images)

These days, Kent Hughes is in Detroit on the heels of a meeting with the other GMs and coaches, whichis one of the reasons we’ve seen news of the playoff salary cap. Ofcourse, Kent Hughes is expected to discuss with his counterparts the possibility of (Carey Price’s) contract being traded between now and the start of the season. But are these the only issues to watch? No. Kent Hughes sat down with Eric Engels, who covers the Canadiens for Sportsnet, to discuss a number of Canadiens-related topics, including Patrik Laine Patrik Laine. The GM wasn’t afraid to say it: he’d like to see his talented forward in a position to take more cap hits than last year for the upcoming campaign.

[content-ads]The GM, who didn’t hesitate to trust Laine by taking on his entire contract last year, obviously didn’t mean it as a big threat to the Finn.

After all, Hughes knows he’s got the talent to give more, especially at five-on-five.

In my conversations with him after the season, I said: hey, let’s look at the aspects of your game that need improvement so we can give you playing time more regularly. I think Patrik can make those changes.

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Kent Hughes to Patrik Laine

That’s why I don’t feel it was a big “threat” from the GM. After all, every GM wants to see his players give more… and Laine spent part of the 2024-2025 year saying that, with equal numbers, he had to give more. Remember that the Finn is in the last year of his contract and wants to stay in town after the 25-26 season, as we know.

So clearly, he’d do well to listen to his bosses and do what it takes to buy himself some playing time on the top-6 and first powerplay.

Spacer title=’Overtime’]- Read more.

– Luke Hughes and his contract: it’s coming, says Devils GM. [JdeM] – Yes,

– Carey Price’s

– Interesting.