Big turnaround to come regarding a possible trade involving Sean Monahan and the Montreal Canadiens?

Published January 22, 2023 at 8:30 PM
BY MARCO

We are now a little over a month away from the NHL trade deadline and unless there is a huge turnaround, the Habs will be among the sellers.

We remember that last year, Kent Hughes was very active when he traded Tyler Toffoli, Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak and Artturi Lehkonen. The Habs general manager should be just as busy this year.

With Joel Edmundson, Jonathan Drouin, Evgeny Dadonov and a certain Sean Monahan likely to be traded, the organization could take advantage of this opportunity to pick up prospects and draft picks between now and the deadline.

However, as Marco Normandin of Habsolumentfan.com reports, the Monahan situation could very well change,by then.


Prior to his injury last December, the Habs forward was off to a great start this season and many experts felt that Kent Hughes was in a position to get, at a minimum, a first round pick in return for Monahan.

But it's likely that he's lost value due to his absence, and now reporter Marc-Antoine Godin, who covers the Habs for The Athletic, is suggesting that if Kent Hughes isn't able to get what he wants in return for Monahan, it could very well be that Monahan will still be with the Habs, after the trade deadline.

Here is Godin's explanation:

"Now, let's imagine a scenario where the next few weeks don't offer the 28-year-old center the launch pad he's looking for, and the Habs have to settle for unsatisfactory offers. Both the player and the organization could decide to renew their vows for another year, and jointly work to ensure that the Habs get a better return for his services next year and that Monahan is in a better position to go after the big contract he might covet."

"The option to trade Monahan by March 3 is still preferable. There will certainly be teams looking for reinforcements at center by then. The Colorado Avalanche, the Pittsburgh Penguins and perhaps even the Dallas Stars are all in the mix. But the possibility that he will stay in Montreal, or else reconnect with the Habs, this summer is very real."

Here's a possible change of plans from the Habs regarding Sean Monahan that makes a lot of sense. If he had stayed healthy, he could have even increased his value, as he was having a very good season with 17 points, in 25 games, before his foot injury that has kept him out of the game, since.

It's a shame because the Habs would have certainly taken advantage of his time in Montreal to make his acquisition profitable last August, but I must admit that I really like the idea of seeing number 91 back next year.

Not only is he very appreciated by his teammates, but his presence makes him a kind of mentor for many young players in the organization.

Even if the option to trade him remains very possible, it could be only a matter of time before he is traded. It is certainly the Habs organization that will come out on top in all this.

POLL
January 22   |   193 answers
Big turnaround to come regarding a possible trade involving Sean Monahan and the Montreal Canadiens?

Did Monahan lose value with that injury?

Yes, no way we're getting a 1st rd pick10152.3 %
We'll get a 2nd round pick8443.5 %
3rd round pick84.1 %
LIST OF POLL
Latest 10 stories