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Choice of the Flames: the Sean Monahan transaction is incredible for the Canadiens
Marc-Olivier Cook
Choice of the Flames: the Sean Monahan transaction is incredible for the Canadiens
Credit: Getty Images

I remember the moment the Canadiens went to get Sean Monahan in Calgary. I was working that afternoon on DLC and as soon as the news came out, I said to myself…

Huh? Why?

In the end, that trade turned out to be a real success for the Habs.

It turned out to be a success for several reasons.

1. The Canadiens were able to count on the services of a veteran – who had a significant injury history – for a while. Monahan helped with the young players, allowed some guys to develop, and played his role in the formation of the Canadiens.

He still collected 52 points in 74 games with the Habs.

2. To get rid of the player, the Flames had to give up a first-round pick to the Canadiens. And that pick could pay off big this season. I’ll get back to that.

3. Kent Hughes finally traded Monahan in February 2024, after acquiring him in August 2022. The GM of the Canadiens was able to squeeze out another first-round pick from the Jets, a pick that was used to move up in the draft to select Michael Hage.

Not bad.

But if we go back to the second reason, we need to know that the Flames are likely to finish the season between 16th and 18th in the NHL’s overall standings due to their current position (16th) and the fact that there are only nine games left in their season.

This would allow the Habs to pick up a mid-first-round pick – all because the Flames decided to get rid of Monahan.

If the Flames finish 18th in the NHL’s overall standings, the Habs will (very likely) have the 14th pick in the next draft.

I say “very likely” because the team would still have a 1.5% chance of winning the lottery by finishing 18th in the overall standings. The teams that will finish 16th and 17th in the standings will have a 0.5% chance of winning the lottery.

All this to say that we can expect the Flames’ pick to be between 16th and 18th in the first round.

(Credit: Tankathon)
Kent Hughes pulled off a big move at the end of the summer of 2022 and it deserves attention.

Acquiring two first-round picks for a guy in whom few people believed due to his many injuries… that’s really something.

And it also shows that the Habs’ GM is not afraid to try certain things.


Overtime

– I love it.

– Uh…

– NHL players are so talented.

– Oh yeah?

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