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The Montreal Canadiens announced that Kent Hughes will be the 18th general manager in team history on Tuesday, and on Wednesday he met the media from the Bell Centre ice along with owner Geoff Molson and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton.
It will be the first opportunity to hear from Hughes and what his vision is for the organization. The 51-year-old Beaconsfield native was a player agent prior to taking the job with the Canadiens.
With Quartexx Management, Hughes represented a number of current and former NHL players, most notably Kris Letang, Patrice Bergeron, Vincent Lecavalier, and Darnell Nurse.
Geoff Molson started the press conference with a statement.
Geoff Molson: "We interviewed 11 candidates... We narrowed things down to three candidates and me and Jeff met with them. Over the weekend, we decided on our new GM."
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
Kent Hughes started the press conference with a statement in French before taking questions.
Kent Hughes: "This is somewhat a homecoming for me, and I'm proud to be back with the team of my childhood."
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
"No, I had no hesitation accepting this job," - Kent Hughes.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) January 19, 2022
After just getting the job offer on Monday, he intends on taking time before making any changes.
Kent Hughes says his first order of business is to meet his team in Vegas and get to know his players.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) January 19, 2022
Jeff Gorton responded to the fact that Kent Hughes was his best friend with a quick joke.
"No offence but Kent is not my best friend" - Jeff Gorton
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
He says they have not had a friend relationship, but professional respect.
Hughes said Gorton and he discussed him joining the Rangers back in the day. But the conversation was short, because he wasn't prepared to leave his agency.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
What changed?
"The Montreal Canadiens..."
Kent Hughes spoke to Bill Guerin about the Canadiens job. Guerin reminded him that the Canadiens are the Yankees, the Cowboys of hockey, and that he needn't think too hard about taking the job
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) January 19, 2022
Hughes on the current Montreal Canadiens and what the future may hold: "There's no question that there need to be changes." #TSN690
— Conor McKenna (@mckennaconor) January 19, 2022
Kent Hughes: “I would describe myself as a hockey junkie.”
— Dan Robertson (@DanRTSN) January 19, 2022
"The word doesn't matter to me--whether it's rebuild, reset--my vision is to build a team that can win for years."--Kent Hughes
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
"There was no favourite" when they started the GM search according to Geoff Molson
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
“I spoke first, and expressed my preference for Kent.” - Geoff Molson on a conversation he had Sunday with Jeff Gorton, essentially quashing the notion Gorton had to convince him on Kent Hughes.
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 19, 2022
"We wanted somebody who was a very good hockey person" - Jeff Gorton notably not mentioning gender in his answer
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
#Habs Jeff Gorton on what set Kent Hughes apart: "it came down to a good feel with Kent" - says he liked Hughes' philosophies on where he'd like to take the franchise that made him the successful candidate.
— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) January 19, 2022
"Hopefully there are people we talked to that we'll have the chance to talk to again" - Jeff Gorton https://t.co/fcsWfMIEno
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
"I have an idea of what a modern coach should be" - Kent Hughes adding that he will be talking to Dominique Ducharme
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
Wants a team that plays fast with the puck and has possession.
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) January 19, 2022
"I wouldn't be here today if I wasn't confident in being the general manager of the Montreal Canadiens" - Kent Hughes
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
Hughes: "I'm perfectly open to who will be the AGMs of the team. I'm going to discuss it with Jeff Gorton and then we'll identify candidates.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
"As for timing, most important is we choose the right people."
"I believe advanced statistics are very important."--Kent Hughes.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
Kent Hughes says he will look at advanced statistics and then take them to his development staff to see if the player can be improved or not
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
Geoff Molson on Carey Price: "I'm wishing for him to be healthy, and I hope he comes back and comes back healthy because he's one of the best goaltenders in the world."
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
"I wouldn't take a job based on a roster" - Kent Hughes
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
Hughes: “think there are some really interesting pieces here in Montreal that can be built around.”
— Dan Robertson (@DanRTSN) January 19, 2022
"Right now Martin Lapointe is overseeing our amateur scouting. Very confident in him as a hockey evaluator" - Jeff Gorton
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
"I grew up dreaming of playing for the Canadiens but this is the second best option." - Kent Hughes
— Jared Book (@jaredbook) January 19, 2022
Jeff Gorton says he hasn't had any players request a trade out of Montreal.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 19, 2022
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