An argument supporting Monahans value

Team: 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 20, 2024

Published: Jan. 20, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Monahan is on pace for 51 points this year. That production comes from playing 2nd line center for Montreal, which has a very tough time scoring. He is not playing with high end 2nd line talent. If he had more talented linemates it is not unreasonable to assume he could have had a 60 point season this year (only 9 more points than his current pace).

I believe that 50 to 60 points is decent #2 center production for a good playoff team.

Last season Carolina was a good team and went into the playoffs with Kotkaniemi as the 2nd highest scoring center with 43 points. Carolina was viewed as a team with a shot at going deep in the playoff.

Colorado went into the playoffs with J.T. Compher as their 2nd line center with 52 points. Colorado was viewed as a contender.

Boston's first line center was Bergeron with 59 points. Boston was a contender.

Dallas had Domi at #2 center. He had 56 points.

The Rangers had Trochek, who finished with 64 points (close to what Monahan could probably do with better linemates).

Florida went to the Cup finals with Sam Bennett as their #2 centre. He had 40 points.
Vegas won the Cup with their 2 centres (Stephenson and Karlsson --after Eichel) having 65 and 53 points -- again achievable numbers for Monahan if he had better linemates.

So far Monhaan has 28 points in Montreal. Meanwhile, Carolina, Boston, Colorado and Winnipeg (all top 10 teams in the league) have #2 centres who have fewer points than Monahan. Monahan is also good on faceoffs. If the contending teams want to try to load up and make a Cup run they need to sacrifice something in a trade.

In the end, it appears there is a strong argument (not necessarily an iron-clad argument) to be made that Monahan could be a 2nd line centre option for a team that is a contending playoff team. The numbers add up.

Any team that drops a first round pick for him has to assume they will make the playoffs and win at least 1 round, which would put their first round pick at #25 overall at best (in a draft that I have not seen described as particularly deep). Therefore, giving up a first round pick for a team that wants to go deep in the playoffs should not be viewed as a tremendous sacrifice.

If the Habs do get that pick in the 25 to 32 range I think they should use that in an off season trade package to either move up in the draft (depending on where they land in the lottery) or trade for a young prospect (i.e. pick #25 + Jordan Harris + Owen Beck for "something").

Just my thoughts.

1.

2.

3.

4.