The Montreal Canadiens have secured a crucial player with a one-year, two-way deal.
The Montreal Canadiens have bolstered their goaltending lineup by signing Connor Hughes to a one-year, two-way contract, the team announced on Tuesday.
Hughes, a 27-year-old goalie, spent last season with Lausanne HC in the Swiss National League (NL). Born in London, Ontario, Hughes also holds Swiss citizenship. Last season, he played 19 games, achieving a 10-6-1 record, a 1.73 goals against average (GAA), and a .940 save percentage. In the playoffs, he posted an 11-6-1 record in 18 games, with a 1.91 GAA and a .933 save percentage, leading the league with the best GAA and save percentage.
Over the past seven seasons, Hughes has played 148 games in the top two Swiss divisions. He also represented Canada at the 2023 Spengler Cup.
Hughes is expected to provide organizational depth, likely sharing time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Jakub Dobeš. Last season, the Canadiens had only Dobeš available for call-ups if Cayden Primeau or Samuel Montembeault were unavailable, though this wasn’t a significant issue with Jake Allen’s presence. This season, the team aims for a more balanced setup, offering Laval two reliable goaltenders.
