Full quote

Question: You've said in the past that you're now ready to overpay in a trade if it will help the team. Do you think that's what it will take to improve the team in the short term?

Kent Hughes: "We've already tried to make trades that some people would've said are overpayments, but it didn't work... But we have limits because we have very good players who we believe will be very good NHL players, and not in a long time. There's a balance. Every time we evaluate a situation like that, I can't say whether it'll only come from our system or if we'll make a big trade... But one thing is certain : If we make a big trade and we sacrifice a part of our future, it won't be for a 34-35 years old player. It'll be for someone who can contribute to the team for many years in the future."

Cournoyer Segment (Goalie)

[Armoured_K] Cournoyer on what the biggest shock was going into the NCAA

"I'd say, for real, that it's just the culture. You get there, you can't speak French because you'll get told, "the Frenchies" and all that. It affected me as a Quebecer because I was with Xavier Veilleux who's from Québec on the team, and it was weird because we wanted to talk in French but we had to talk in English because the others didn't like it. I'd say that was the biggest shock when I got there."

[Armoured_K] Cournoyer on what drew him to Wisconsin for the next season

"It's the program in itself. I mean, 6 national championships... For me, it's just having a better chance to win a national championship on the american college level. Everyone knows I'm a winner and I hate losing, so it affected me to get blasted against Denver in the first game, so... No, I'm really excited with the opportunity to go there."

[Armoured_K] Cournoyer on if he received any promises in terms of ice time

"Yeah, we'll be three goalers, it'll be me and Daniel Hauser who'll be goaltending next year. Hauser is a real good goalie, I had the chance to know him. I was in Wisconsin for two weeks, and now I'm going back for the summer camp... But no, listen, it'll be a nice battle and I'm really excited to have competition and pressure."

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Hage Segment

[Armoured_K] Hage on what could make him chance his mind on going back to the NCAA

"I don't know, I think Kent and everyone have supported my decision. It's sure that it can change, and they told me that if I want to go pro, I can, but just for now, the plan is to go back to school."

[Armoured_K] Hage on what he thinks he'll gain from going back to school, in terms of development

"I think in the last two years, my development as a player and as a person, it was the most important years of my life and I think I can keep getting better and get more ready to make the jump. I'll go back and play in situations where I didn't play this year. Try to work on the things that I'm maybe not the best at. Being a leader too is something very important to me. Those are biggest things to me."

[Armoured_K] Hage on what he's thinking of when he says he will get to play where he didn't last year

"Playing at the end of the games, the big faceoffs, penalty killing, being a leader. I saw how it was in my first year, how the older guys showed me how to do everything, and I think it's my turn to do that. It's a very special place to me."

[Armoured_K] Hage on if he got a sense that the org was disappointed in his decision to go back

"I mean, I'm sure, you know, they obviously want you in the organization and whatnot, but they were great about it. Kent and Jeff obviously left it up to me and said they would respect the decision no matter what. They gave me their side on it, and I took everything into consideration and made that decision."

[Armoured_K] Hage on if seeing the Habs looking for a 2C in trades affected his decision at all, is it a "wait and see" type of thing to see where he could fit in

"No. I mean, I think it's never about who's here, who they're bringing in. I would bet on myself 100 times out of 100 to be able to step in and play the game I want to play, make an impact, but it was more about how bad I wanted to go back and... I've made some decisions like this in my career before that people that may have questioned... You know, I'm completely accountable for them and I'll own that decision."

[Armoured_K] Hage on how important it is to him to play as a center in the pros, and if there are elements of the pro center game that he needs to work on in Michigan

"Yeah, for sure. I want to be a centerman at the NHL level and I think that's where I'm best at, carrying the puck through the middle of the ice, making plays and making guys around me better. For sure. I think you learn as you go, but the defensive side of the game, faceoffs are a huge part and they only get harder as you turn pro. Those are all kind of things you want to continue to work on, and this year you kind of understand at school that the trust goes to the older guys first, they've kind of earned that spot to play at the end of games and take those big faceoffs. That was a big part of it, you know, going back and it kind of being my turn to get comfortable in those situations and really kind of round out my game."

[Armoured_K] Hage on if seeing the quality of players going to Michigan next year made it even harder to leave

"I think there's always going to be good players over there, but it's certain that when you see a team that really has a chance to win, I think we had that chance this year, but it's one game, it's hard. Yeah, it's probably exciting, and it's easy to look at that and be excited."

[Armoured_K] Hage on if he had any "what if" moments after taking his decisions and seeing the Habs go deep in the playoffs

"I don't think about that. I took my decision and... It was like the last chance, and I was just trying to watch and it was a lot of fun to see how they did in the playoffs. I don't think about the "what ifs" a lot. You just watch the team and think that maybe I can help them, for sure, but they did an excellent job."

[Armoured_K] Hage on if the fact that he wasn't physically 100% in the NCAA frozen four was a part of why he wanted to go back and give it a full try

"Yeah, it was a big part of it. I think regardless of the decision that would've been made, I wouldn't have been able to play at the end of the year, just with my ankle, and... It definitely wasn't great in the Frozen Four. That's another part of it. You get to those kind of big games that you've worked towards all year as a group and just feeling like I wasn't able to kind of be myself and do what I wanted to do out there was something that hurt for sure, and I was wasn't going to start my career injured, so that might've been a part of it for sure."

[Armoured_K] Hage on how people were scared that he wouldn't sign with the Habs and wait to UFA. What does he have to say to those people?

"No, I definitely want to play with the Canadiens. It's the team I watched my whole life, and I think it's a very exciting team, very young, and... Yeah, I don't want to go play for another team."

[Armoured_K] Hage on how he seems to be implicated in most rumors for big trades for big players. How does he deal with that? Does it bother him? Does it bother his entourage?

"I think it's really not my job. I think that when I'm here and during the season, I try to show my best so that maybe they wouldn't want to trade me, but at the end of the day, it's not my job and I just have to try to be best player I can."

[Armoured_K] Hage on what kind of confidence boost the World Juniors gave him last season

"I don't know, I mean, it was great... I guess it was kind of what I expected to do. I think at times, you're a little doubted [interview cutoff here]

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Runtso Segment (RHD)

[Armoured_K] Runtso on how he would describe himself as a dman, and how it feels to put the jersey on here this morning

"I mean, as a defenceman, I'm kind of a two-way, jump up in the rush and make some plays, but also stay back. I think I have a 200 foot game. It was pretty cool. I mean, obviously, wearing that jersey is a special moment, it's been a dream wearing an NHL jersey."

[Armoured_K] Runtso on if he's a bit of a stuntman himself (his dad is a stuntman in movies)

"I mean, not really, but I think maybe later down the line, it'd be pretty cool. [...] My friends have even texted me at random times "Oh, I saw your dad in movies", so it's pretty cool to see him on the big screen."

[Armoured_K] Runtso on what movies his dad was in

"He was in the Amazing Spiderman 2, he's been in a bunch of shows, Walking Dead, The Rookie, yeah..."

[Armoured_K] Runtso on the Gold star combine in Florida. What was that like? How does he feel it helped him in the draft?

"I think it's a pretty cool experience. Other than me, it was a bunch of russian guys that play overseas and not too many scouts get to see them, so it's good for them to show off their skills. It definitely raised not just my stock but also theirs."

[Armoured_K] Runtso on what he remembers from his meeting with Montreal at the combine

"Yeah, it was a pretty funny experience. Obviously, there are some stories with their interviews and how they're definitely something special and something you'll remember... And yeah, it's a lot of fun. At the combine, I had to throw a puck into a bucket, and I also had to do a similar thing in Florida at the agency."

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Zharovsky Segment (w/ translator)

Answers here go through another prospect who translates, so most of the "he" will be referencing Zharovsky

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on skating with Demidov in Brossard. What is his link with him and how much has he helped him in MTL?

"He's (Demi) a really good player, he really likes to be with him. He helps him a lot and he really appreciates to spend time with him in Montreal."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on if he heard about Demidov's contract and if he's going to get Demi to buy him dinner now

"We'll see."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on if he plans to come to NA next year

"He still has a contract with his team in the KHL but he would like to come after his contract is done with. and he wants to perform as much as he can to come here in good shape."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on what he wants to accomplish this year

"Play good, have good numbers and help his team to get success."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on his reaction to seeing another Russian get drafted in the first round

"He was really happy to get another russian for the team and he thinks this team needs the type of player Gleb is."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on if he knows Gleb personally

"Yeah, he's played with him before."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on how he got a lot of his offence on the power play. We know the coach wants him to be a better player 5 on 5. What can he do to help his game this summer?

"He will listen to his coach, he will try to do as much as possible to be a good two-way player and to be good in the offensive zone and defensive zone too, so... He'll try to put in as much work as possible on this aspect."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on what it's like to come into the team and see other russians on the ice, around the arena and in the system

"It's much easier for him to be around russian players here in Montreal. He really likes it, and he really likes to be around Russian people here in Montreal."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on his level of understanding of english on the ice, during drills when there are explanations

"He relies on other russian players. He'll try to do as much as possible, he's still got a year in Russia and he will work on his English for sure."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on how well he knows Nick Bobrov considering he's a big reason why we have so many russian players

"He's started to know him only after the draft, but like I know [I as in the translator] Alexander is really big for the organization and he'll be working hard to be another good player for Montreal."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on if he plans on wearing #97 in the NHL

"No."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on if he [the translator] will charge Alex for the translations

"No. Maybe go for dinner, we'll see. I'm not trying to take any money from him, we're just friends."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on how he would describe his game and whether he has any role models in the NHL

"He doesn't really care, he only want to do what the coach will tell him to do. He wants to play, depends on what the coach wants. He'll do only what the coach wants."

[Armoured_K] Zharovsky on the feeling of wearing the Habs colors

"It's a nice feeling. Little bit nervous every time, he understands this is a really big organization, but it's really cool for him for sure."

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