It’s not clear whether or not Jeff Petry will be a Montreal Canadien when training camp begins. Just ask GM Kent Hughes.
On the subject of Petry’s future — which has been clouded by immense trade speculation — Hughes said the team is having conversations about a Petry trade, but that nothing is imminent. Rumors suggested that Petry requested a trade back in December, and his name was floated around the rumor mill leading up to the trade deadline.
“There’s a possibility he’ll be here,” Hughes said. “We have to feel comfortable that in trading Jeff Petry, we’re advancing the interests of the Montreal Canadiens.”
Hughes said Petry is an important defenseman for the Canadiens, eating up heavy minutes, especially in the absence of Shea Weber. Petry is coming off a difficult season, but there’s still valuable in a mobile defender that can run a power play and provide a steady presence on the right side. And a lot of the struggles were far from his fault — the Canadiens became the first team to finish 32nd in NHL history with a myriad of issues throughout the lineup.
Petry, 34, has three more years at $6.25 million per season left on his deal. He is the third highest-paid skater on the Canadiens behind Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher, and makes double of what Joel Edmundson gets on Montreal’s blueline. The Canadiens have just $1.92-million in cap space, with the future of Carey Price and his $10.5-million hit uncertain after a year full of injuries.
