Philippe Boucher predicts the Tricolore will buy out a contract

With the Montreal Canadiens’ off-season now underway, players can focus on spending more time with their families and resting.

With the Laval Rocket officially out of the playoffs, there’s not much else in the hockey world to get your teeth into in Quebec, other than the Trois-Rivières Lions’ playoff run.

In his season review, Habs general manager Kent Hughes mentioned that there will be no contract buyouts this summer.

However, there are several interesting candidates for buyouts, including Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson, to name but a few.

This statement by the GM may give some players for whom contract buyouts are a possibility some breathing space, by giving these players one last chance, so to speak, to raise their game next year.

Former NHL defenseman Philippe Boucher was a guest on Jean-Charles Lajoie’s show on TVA Sports. He took the opportunity to make a prediction about the Habs.

One that has nothing to do with the playoffs, but that contradicts what Hughes said in his season review.

“I’ll make you a prediction, me: the Habs will buy out a contract this summer.” – Philippe Boucher

“Le Canadien va racheter un contrat cet été “: https://t.co/ScDft3Kiq8

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 19, 2024

If there’ s ever an off-season worth doing a contract buyout without affecting the club too much in the future, it’s this year, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary.

Next year would also be a good time.

Players like Anderson, Gallagher, Christian Dvorak and even Joel Armia could all see their contracts bought out soon.

Armia is the least likely to suffer this fate, as his end-of-season performance has given hope to Tricolore fans and surely to management too.

Anderson, on the other hand, needs to take his game up a notch, as buying out his contract will most likely be Hughes’ main option next summer if he offers another such season.

Also on ” JiC “, Boucher clarified that he doesn’t want to call Kent Hughes a liar with his statement, but that he believes it would simply be logical.

At the same time, Hughes couldn’t say openly that there will be contract buyouts this summer.

“These are questions where you can’t always answer exactly what you think.” – Philippe Boucher

In short, the Canadiens’ off-season will be one to watch carefully, as there are likely to be many changes.

Let’s see if Kent Hughes will deviate from his off-season plan.

Breaking news

– Here’s the very first goal of the 2024 NHL playoffs and it belongs to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who pulled out his eagle for the celebration :

KUZY GETS THE CANES ON THE BOARD EARLY! pic.twitter.com/u6yJVs4Hxp

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 20, 2024

– The Rocket’s final game of the season will be broadcast on RDS2 tonight at 7pm. Here are the absentees for the game against the Belleville Senators.

Mitchell Stephens, Jayden Struble and David Reinbacher (minor injuries) will not play tonight.

Mitchell Stephens, Jayden Struble and David Reinbacher (minor injuries) won’t play tonight.

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) April 20, 2024

– Fans’ frustration is understandable.

His poor start to the season just isn’t cutting it. https://t.co/FvyClUhlnu

– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) April 20, 2024

– Here’s the result of the very first playoff game in the NBA.

It’s a smoking Donovan Mitchell up for the Cavaliers. https://t.co/HqbvGnrRoK

– AlleyOop360 (@AlleyOop360) April 20, 2024

– Interesting.

Dwyane Wade among owners in Salt Lake City: https://t.co/PuP4XlPGFk

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) April 20, 2024