Renaud Lavoie speaks out on Sean Monahan's future with the CH

Even if Monahan is able to succeed with the Habs, many fans will have the easy answer that Hughes needs to trade him at the trade deadline since he will be an uncompensated free agent next summer.

Of course, that's a pretty simple thought under the circumstances, but as Charles-Alexis Brisebois of Danslescoulisses.com reports, one particular expert doesn't think so at all.

In an article published on NHL.com, Renaud Lavoie mentioned that if Monahan starts the season strong and becomes an interesting asset for the team's center line, Kent Hughes might want to keep him.

Interesting, but also intriguing words from Lavoie. He is not wrong, however, because Monahan is only 27 years old and it is often at this time that NHL players, in general, reach their full potential.

However, there is a rather telling statistic about the Habs' new acquisition. Of the players coming out of the 2013 draft, Monahan is the third best goal scorer, behind Nathan MacKinnon and Aleksander Barkov. In fact, these three players are the only ones from the 2013 draft to reach the 200 career goal plateau.

Imagine if that year's sixth overall pick found his scoring touch under Martin S-Louis!

You could say that Kent Hughes made quite an acquisition, but if not, the Habs GM can take comfort in the fact that it didn't cost too much and that he got a first round pick as a bonus.