The Montreal Canadiens surprised many with their start, but due to many injuries, they have fallen down the standings and are where they are expected to be. The plan going in was to trade a number of their pending UFAs at the deadline for whatever assets they could get. Their top trade candidate is Sean Monahan, and after acquiring him with a first round pick, the team is hoping to get another first round pick for their efforts.
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Monahan has been injured for a while now, but has gotten into 25 games this season and scored six goals and 17 points, proving he has found his scoring touch once again. There are teams looking for a top-six centerman at the 2023 trade deadline and Monahan is one of the best options available. This will keep his price high if he can return to action in good time and be a win-win for the Canadiens. Let’s look at three teams most likely to bring in the Canadiens’ second line centerman.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are an obvious choice to appear here as a possible destination. They have checked in on all potentially available centermen this season as nobody has stepped up and taken hold of the second line center role. After Nazem Kadri’s departure and the injuries the team has suffered this season, they aren’t the dominant threat they were the past couple of seasons. They are on the rise, but a legitimate second line center like Monahan will stabilize the forward group and allow players to play where they’re more comfortable. The Canadiens’ downfall started once Monahan exited the lineup, so that just indicates the impact he’s had in his bounce-back season.
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a team in the playoff picture who are in a dogfight to stay in. They have limited cap space and a high need for a centerman. Due to their buyout hit going up even further the next two seasons, they have room to only add a rental. Monahan would help out their top-six greatly as the talent is very thin down the middle.
Monahan’s cap hit would be $3.19 million at 50 percent retained by the Canadiens, and there may be a player like Jordan Greenway that the Canadiens can take back. He would fit more of what Montreal is looking to do with their lineup and offset the cost. The Wild really need to not only make the playoffs, but end their streak of getting eliminated in the first round. Shoring up the center of the ice is the best way to do that in a season like this one.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes have lots of money to spend with Max Pacioretty’s $7 million off the books for the remainder of the season. The team may be one of the best in the league, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to make a significant upgrade. There have been rumours surrounding the team regarding many of the top available forwards out there. Monahan wouldn’t be the most expensive of the group, but he would address the second line hole that the Hurricanes have been needing help at all season. Money isn’t much of an issue and depending on how much they would ask the Canadiens to retain, the Hurricanes could also make more than one trade deadline addition.
