Quoting: palhal
Monahan certainly can't displace any of the Leafs in the top 6, doesn't replace Domi at centre now......so what's the point of wasting a first ?
Liljegren has been good in the past two years playing 17 minutes a game......what's the love for Larsson.?
That's a valid question, honestly.
On the forward-stacked Leafs, Monahan doesn't play top-6.
But that's because the Leafs are a powerhouse offensively.
And they are a top NHL team. That means they're in a win-now mode.
And that also means that their 1st round pick is 25th or worse.
They are aiming for the Cup.
Tampa Bay has systematically gotten rid of their 1st round picks on their Cup runs, for players that NOBODY would have paid a 1st round pick for: Goodrow, Savard, etc.
So your question is great because I think it's true that Monahan is not WORTH a 1st round pick as a player right now.
But when factoring in these other items: "available rentals" + "low cap hit" + "to a division rival" + production + faceoff beast + can play RW-C-LW - leadership, etc...
It just makes a great addition to a Cup run (like Corey Perry type player) for a team wanting to aim for the Cup NOW.
The opportunities to win a Cup don't come very often.
And as a Habs fan, I am really, really impressed at how dominant Leafs' offense is. Monahan would most likely play at a point-per-game pace with that team too hehe.
Montreal's defensemen are SECOND in the NHL for goals.... but DEAD LAST for forward goals... there's NO OFFENSIVE PUNCH on that team lolll
So for all those reasons, if I'm Leafs GM, especially inside the division, I would offer a 1st and even a 3rd if I want the best center available as a rental besides Lindholm (he will cost at least twice the cap hit and maybe more as far as picks). It's just a matter of being greedy with the offer and NOT getting another key forward... or going ALL-IN for the Cup, for the win-NOW mode.
Cheers buddy !