What is the best Monahan trade for Habs

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Nov. 14, 2023

Published: Nov. 14, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I am wondering where Monahan should go in a situation that helps both teams, but my biggest concern is helping Montreal. Retention is an option for Montreal, as is taking back a contract from another team to make it work financially.

I know some will say that Montreal should keep Monahan, but that is not the point of this post. I am just wondering about trades.

I think that Hughes should try to get a first round pick for him. Obviously a team that misses the playoffs would be best, so that the draft pick is a lottery pick. After that, hopefully a team that goes out in the 1st round (so that it is at least top 24).

Looking at those types of teams I would think the following would be good fist for a Monahan trade for a 1st round pick:

New York Islanders (potentially a playoff bubble team (although that does not look good now) that does not score much right now and could use some offensive punch to the lineup. My concern would be that if they (somehow) made the playoffs this year the Sorokin could carry them a round or two, which would lower the Habs' pick).

Pittsburgh (another bubble playoff team that is in the middle of the pack in scoring for some reason). I know this would have to be a 2025 pick, since the Penguins do not have a 2024 first round pick, but maybe Pittsburgh will be on the outside looking in next year as well.

Anaheim (close to a playoff position right now. Are they willing to make a push after years of not being good and consistently missing the playoffs?)

Washington (bubble playoff team that could use a Backstrom replacement (sort of, not saying Monahan is as good as Backstrom was)

St. Louis (low scoring team that is in a playoff position right now. Maybe they want to make a run at the playoffs while Binnington has seemingly bounced back this year).

I think Montreal would be willing to add a "B" or "C" prospect f if it is necessary to get a first round pick from one of the playoff bubble teams, as they probably value their first round picks highly, given their situations.

What else should the Habs add to the trades (reasonably speaking) to make them happen?

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