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Jack Todd: Canadiens GM Hughes impresses with his solid player deals

by The Novum Times
17 July 2023
in Canada
Reading Time: 9 mins read
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Sports Montreal Canadiens

Also: How football is a game of schedules, the latest ridiculousness from Soccer Canada, and the new king of tennis.

Author of the article:

Jack Todd  •  Special to Montreal Gazette

Published Jul 17, 2023  •  Last updated 3 hours ago  •  4 minute read

Kent Hughes next to a Canadiens logo
Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes is neither overpaying for players to justify his trades nor is he underpaying to assert his authority, Jack Todd writes. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette files

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It was a summer signing, no big deal in the scheme of things. Four years, $11.6 million for newly acquired 22-year-old forward Alex Newhook, the 16th overall pick in the 2019 draft.

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On a second look, what strikes you is how perfectly apt the deal is: The right amount, the right term, for the right player. Yes, there’s an element of risk — but that’s true of any contract. The risk at this level isn’t huge, the potential could be.

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Not for the first time, I’m impressed by the very solid, low-key way Kent Hughes goes about his business. Again and again, you see the effect of his long experience as a top-flight player agent. He isn’t looking to beat a player in negotiations, he’s looking for a price point that works equally well for both sides, an approach that satisfies both player and team.

Hughes doesn’t overpay to justify his own trades. “Lookee here, I’m gonna give this guy a six-year, $33 million deal just to prove what a great player I got.”

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Nor does he underpay to show the new acquisition who’s boss. “It’s $1.1 million for one season. Take it or leave it. Show me something and maybe we’ll sign you to a new deal next year.”

Above all, he doesn’t get personal in contract negotiations: Think Phillip Danault, Alexander Radulov, Andrei Markov.

After 16 seasons, 990 games, 119 goals, 453 assists, a couple of scarifying injuries and consistently brilliant defensive play that made a number of defence partners rich, Markov deserved a two-year deal and the opportunity to play his 1000th game in a Canadiens uniform. That he was denied it is on Marc Bergevin, 100 per cent.

It’s not surprising that fans are complaining that Hughes had a poor offseason. They want the gaudy signings, the flashy draft picks — not the thoughtful, brick-by-brick roster building that is needed to put together a championship club.

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It takes patience, persistence and an ability to tune out the perpetual noise in this crazy market. Hughes has those qualities, as does Jeff Gorton. Have some faith, people. This team is on the right track.

Tyler Snead holds a football during a game
Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Tyler Snead (85) makes the catch for a touchdown over Toronto Argonauts defensive back DaShaun Amos (8) during first half CFL football action in Montreal, Friday July 14, 2023. Photo by Christinne Muschi /The Canadian Press

When the schedule is the killer: The loss was built into the schedule before either team had played a game: the Toronto Argonauts at Percival Molson Friday, with the Argos fresh off a bye week and the Alouettes on five days rest after a Sunday night game in B.C.

Football is a game of schedules. Time to rest and prepare is everything. Not only were the Als on a short week, they also had to recover from a five-hour flight over three time zones, shake off the aches and pains of a tough loss and prepare to play the defending Grey Cup champions, the best team in the East.

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That they almost pulled it off underlines the difficulty of what the Alouettes were forced to do. They had tied the game at 27-27 late in the fourth quarter but a blown coverage led to an Argos touchdown and the Als were unable to recover — but it took an almost superhuman effort to come that close.

The Alouettes now have a three-game losing streak after two wins to open the season — but they have endured a tough stretch and with the mobile Cody Fajardo at quarterback and a multi-pronged passing attack replacing departed receiver Eugene Lewis, they should be a playoff team in the East.

Another schedule trap awaits in late August and early September, however: The Blue Bombers on five days rest, followed by the B.C. Lions again and a home-and-home against the Argos.

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Soccer Canada – the gift that keeps on taking: Thanks to the remarkable Rick Westhead of TSN for this beauty concerning the filthy relationship among Canada Soccer, Canadian Soccer Business and our national teams.

Turns out that Gatorade has a sponsorship contract that pays performance bonuses based on the success of the men’s and women’s teams. The women’s team that begins World Cup play against Nigeria Thursday will be, as defending Olympic champions, one of the tournament favourites.

If they excel, Gatorade will pay a bonus which goes, not directly to the women’s team as you would assume, but to Canadian Soccer Business and from there to the owners of the Canadian Premier League — a men’s professional league.

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The gall of the people who set this up is mind-blowing.

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates while on his knees on a grass court
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning Championship Point in the Men’s Singles Final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at Wimbledon on July 16, 2023 in London, England. Photo by Julian Finney /Getty Images

The new king of tennis: He’s barely 20 years old, unfamiliar with the grass surface, years away from what will surely be his prime — and already, Carlos Alcaraz is the best player in the world.

He confirmed that with a brilliant five-set win over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon Sunday.

Better still, Alcaraz appears to be a worthy successor to Roger Federer at Rafa Nadal — something Djokovic never became, despite his excellence on the court.

Heroes: Pamela Ware, Austin Mack, Kaion Julien-Grant, Cody Fajardo, Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Marketa Vondrousova, Ons Jabeur, Kwadwo Opoku, Chinonso Offor &&&& last but not least, Carlos Alcaraz — the new king of tennis.

Zeros: Novak Djokovic, Soccer Canada, Nick Bontis, Victor Montagliani, LIV golf, CFL scheduling, Chris Jones, Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& Jeffrey Loria.

Now and forever.

jacktodd46@yahoo.com

twitter.com/jacktodd46

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Tags: CanadiensdealsHughesimpressesJackPlayersolidTodd

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