Kent Hughes had quite a surprise in negotiations with the Penguins regarding Jeff Petry

In fact, it was Kent Hughes who contacted Kyle Dubas to see what he could get out of a three-team trade to help the Penguins acquire Erik Karlsson, while improving the Habs.

He was very surprised to learn that the CH was not on Petry's no-movement list, and that he was therefore available.

Negotiations then accelerated because Dubas had until Sunday morning to make the deal official, otherwise he would have had to use his plan b to free up payroll.

The Habs GM contacted Petry to promise that he would do everything in his power to trade him before the start of the new school year in early September. He did just that.

What's important to note here is that Kent Hughes made a pitch to the Penguins, but his intention was not to acquire Petry. Nonetheless, it all worked out. Petry is in Detroit, which was at the top of his list, Hoffman is gone, Rem Pitlick, who had asked for a trade, is also gone, and Nathan Légaré and Casey DeSmith are in Montreal.