Why Canadiens’ Sean Monahan is worth the risk as a Trade Deadline acquisition

With less than two months remaining until the NHL’s trade deadline on March 8, we’ve got you covered at Daily Faceoff with at least one trade-focused story every day until Deadline Day.

Today we continue our player profile series with Montréal Canadiens center Sean Monahan, who ranks No. 2 on our Trade Targets board.

2024 Trade Deadline Countdown: 47 Days

SEAN MONAHAN
Center, Montréal Canadiens
Shoots: Left
Age: 29
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 202 lbs
Cap Hit: $1.85 million
Term: Pending UFA
2023-24 Stats: 46 GP, 11 G, 20 A, 31 Pts, 18:23 TOI
Career Stats: 11th season (Calgary, Montreal), 727 GP, 229 G, 281 A, 510 Pts
Best Year: 2018-19, 78 GP, 34 G, 48 A, 82 Pts, plus-7
Playoffs: 4 appearances, 2 rounds won, 30 GP, 10 G, 11 A, 21 Pts

Archetype and Ideal Role

Middle Six Center, Crafty Playmaker

After missing 74 games over the last two seasons, Monahan has rebounded to become one of hockey’s best comeback stories this year – and now a commodity ahead of the trade deadline. For maximum impact, Monahan will be playing with two high-end wingers and/or one elite shooter. If he drops to the third line center role, he can easily fill in on the second line late in games, even at the wing position.

Scouting Report

Monahan earned the nickname ‘Boring Sean Monahan’ in Calgary mostly through his personality in media interviews. His game won’t earn him spots in highlight reels or Top 10s, as it isn’t filled with flash and dash, but his ‘boring’ is the kind of reliable that coaches crave in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Monahan combines his strong Hockey IQ with work rate to put himself and his team in the best position on the ice to make plays.

For a five-year run from 2014 through 2019, Calgary could pencil Monahan in for 30 goals and 30 assists each year. At this stage of his career, his offensive production has taken a hit, but he still consistently excels in completing passes, attacking the net with high percentage shots, winning faceoffs and defensive zone posture.

This season, Monahan ranks 38th among all NHL forwards in completed passes at even-strength, according to SportLOGiQ. He has the seventh highest faceoff win percentage (56.9 percent), which is fifth among left-shooting centers, and he is the best at winning draws on the penalty kill (55.9 percent) – among centers with at least 600 faceoffs taken.

Even though the Canadiens’ power play has been up and down, Monahan can play the bumper position or act as a net-front presence on a second unit. According to NHL EDGE, Monahan is in the 95th percentile in high-danger shots on goal this season.

Defensively, Monahan’s intelligence give him the ability to anticipate well and get a head start, which helps make up for a lack of footspeed in backchecking, properly angling puck carriers and supporting his defensemen. He is particularly strong inside of the dots in his own end, ranking 13th in stick checks that have created loose pucks.

Given the relative lack of talent that he’s played with in Montréal, it’s pretty remarkable that Monahan is actually on track to collect more points than than former teammate Elias Lindholm this season – and is expected to be available at a lower price point by comparison. Why is that?

Buyer Beware

The biggest question surrounding Monahan has been: Can he grind through an entire 82-game slog and stay upright for a Stanley Cup chase? There is still a long way to go. He hasn’t played a full season since before the pandemic and it’s really been almost five years since he’s been this productive.

It is particularly noticeable the lack of physicality with which Monahan has played, given that the game goes to another level in the postseason. Monahan has registered a grand total of nine hits so far this season, which ranks 405th among all forwards. For comparison, Monahan was credited with 228 hits in his career-year in 2018-19 in Calgary. Does he play consciously thinking about staying healthy? How will he survive the grind of a Cup chase?

We referenced Monahan’s lack of footspeed, and while his mind makes up for some of that, it should still be a concern for teams that play with pace. His top skating speed is about five percent below league average, according to NHL EDGE puck and player tracking, which probably isn’t going to surprise anyone.

Lastly, Monahan’s shot has also lost a bit of luster. So far, his hardest shot this season has topped out at just 81 mph, which is well below league average (85). That means his shot isn’t something he can use from distance. He’ll have to be in close to score.

Potential Suitors

• Boston Bruins: Still looking to fill the void from Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Short on assets.
• Colorado Avalanche: Ryan Johansen isn’t cutting it. If Avs also get Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog back? Look out.
• Edmonton Oilers: Tough to think of a more ideal fit for Edmonton’s forward group at the deadline.
• Florida Panthers: The Cats’ third line has struggled to produce a bit this season and Monahan would give them a bump.
• New York Rangers: So long as questions remain about Filip Chytil’s health, the Blueshirts should be in the market for a third line center.
• Toronto Maple Leafs: GM Brad Treliving would know Monahan well. He isn’t the same player now, but he’d fit nicely behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
• Vancouver Canucks: They’re on the prowl for a top six forward, but a complementary center would make a ton of sense.
• Winnipeg Jets: The Jets have played their way into contender status – and Monahan would boost an already stout defensive team.

Comparable Trade Returns

March 21, 2022
To NY Rangers: Andrew Copp, 2023 6th Rd Pick
To Winnipeg: Conditional 2022 1st Rd Pick (No. 30 overall), 2022 2nd Rd Pick, 2023 5th Rd Pick, Morgan Barron

Feb. 24, 2020
To Tampa Bay: Barclay Goodrow, 2020 3rd Rd Pick
To San Jose: 2020 1st Rd Pick (No. 31 overall), Anthony Greco

Feb. 26, 2018
To Winnipeg: Paul Stastny (50% retained)
To St. Louis: 2018 1st Rd Pick (No. 29 overall), 2020 4th Rd Pick, rights to Erik Foley

All three of the centers traded for at the deadline stack up well with Monahan in hockey intelligence, point production, and even some things like footspeed, at the time that the trades were made. The return for Copp is likely on the high end, but it should be pointed out that the deal was originally for two second-round picks – just that one turned into a late first by virtue of the Rangers winning two rounds in 2022 while Copp played in more than 50 percent of the games.

One of the huge plusses for Monahan is that every team in the league, even the most cap crunched, can afford him. They might be able to add multiple pieces if the Canadiens are willing to retain half his salary to pump up the return. There’s no reason to think they wouldn’t facilitate that. The bottom line is the Habs should be looking for another late first-round pick to add to their arsenal – which is an incredible swing for GM Kent Hughes, considering the Calgary Flames already gave them one to take Monahan off their hands in a salary cap dump.

Summary

Despite the questions about his health, which can be asked of many players, Monahan is indisputably a player who helps put Stanley Cup contenders over the top. He is a reliable fixture in the middle of the ice who consistently supports the puck in high-leverage moments and can be counted on in all situations.

Daily Faceoff analyst Jon Goyens contributed to this report.