Ever since the Canadiens hired Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes to run hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, they've done a pretty impressive job. They've developed a young core by drafting guys like Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson. He's also surrounded this young core with star players like Patrick Laine and Noah Dobson. The two have built a roster that looks to be one of the best up-and-coming teams in the NHL.
However, one move people overlooked was the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier. In December of 2024, the Canadiens sent Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Carrier.