Monahan dilemma, to sign or not to sign?

[BehindTheTimes]

That absolutely doesn't change what a player truly wants.

Montreal is a peculiar place to play in. Whatever leanings Monahan may have, whether it's chosing where to play, if he wants long-term and/or the kind of money he's looking for, all this won't change from now till next July.

Whether something happens often or not has no bearings on whether it might happen in the future, especially since we're dealing with human choices here and not just chance/luck.

Yes, he may like Montreal now, but after being traded to a more competitive team he may like them more. You’re assuming his position wouldn’t change between when he got traded and the UFA period. I think it’s extremely unlikely that he comes back if we move him no matter what he may feel like today.

 

[CHfan1]

He's not good defensively, at best he is average.
He is 100% soft. He has 10 hits this year and recorded a total of 407 hits in his nearly 700 games career.
He missed 35 games in the past 3 seasons, he is injury prone.

As a note he missed 23 games the last 3 seasons. In 2019-20 Calgary only played 70 games, which Monahan played all of.

 

[WinterLion]

I think it's unlikely that he and the Habs reach an agreement. Even if Hughes is interested in keeping him around he needs to want it AND the two sides need to agree on a contract... I doubt all that happens. I think he will be moved. Suits me fine, I hope we get something decent back.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Suzuki would be 28 then.

Monahan would be 33 then. 5-6 years removed from 2 hip surgeries and many other injuries.

Apples and pies, really.

So Suzuki would be the same age then as Monahan is now, when you say he should be traded due to age.

 

[ZUKI]

If the medical team says his hips are good and can handle the load on a 4-5 years span and if his demands are reasonable (5M ish) the I’d re-sign him. We need veterans like him to be able to contend.

i agree with you.
The decision is on the medical team. I would definitely sign him. I would be even willing to offer him more years if the contract has a less impact on the salaries cap; you frontload the contract with the big bonus and in the way that in his last years, Monahan just makes 1-2 m$ . If he turns useless at that point, he could be traded to a team that needs to get to the cap floor without paying much money, or he turns to be a low cost buy out player.

 

[Nevins]

The main goal is to win a Stanley Cup and I don't want to wait 20 years for the next one. To achieve this objective, the CH needs a 2nd quality center, a 2nd quality RW ,at least 2 good right-handed defenceman and a #1 goalie . With all our prospects, not sure that we have a real 2 nd center, nor a 2 nd RW. We don't have a 1st right-handed defenceman and not sure we have a 2nd right-handed defenceman. And we don't have a future #1 goalie. So we need a lot of draft picks and or very good prospects.
So We have to trade Monahan,Dadonov,Drouin and Edmundston. Maybe Anderson …

Dach- Suzuki- Caufield
Slafkovsky- -
Farell- Dvorak/ Beck- Gally
Heineman- Evans/ Kidney- Mesar/ Roy

Guhle-
Hutson-
Xhekaj-Mailloux/ Barron
Harris-Kovacevic

Montambeault/ Dobes/ Dichow

 

[ZUKI]

So Suzuki would be the same age then as Monahan is now, when you say he should be traded due to age.

i put in one message that we should trade him now because he has a lot of value considering his performance . Of course i was joking because the obsession to get a team full of players in their prime, in the window, with low salaries make me laugh.

As much as the popular " team isn't contender if this player is blah blah" Hockey isn't a food recipe

 

[MasterD]

So Suzuki would be the same age then as Monahan is now, when you say he should be traded due to age.

Suzuki will be 28 ish when we try to win a cup.

Monahan is 28 now when we want to draft high in the best draft class in a long while. I don't want to trade Monahan because of his age per se, but because of his age vs our plan.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Suzuki will be 28 ish when we try to win a cup.

Monahan is 28 now when we want to draft high in the best draft class in a long while. I don't want to trade Monahan because of his age per se, but because of his age vs our plan.

If Monahan gets us a high 1st rounder, I would probably make the trade. but if it's a contender giving us around the 30th pick, no, that won't be enough by itself.

 

[HuGort]

Monahan trade could turn into one of best trades in Habs history. Be interesting to see what Hughes does with all the extra caproom this summer?

 

[jaffy27]

Trade him, as you thank him for his services at the airport, you let him know that your intent is to pursue his services come UFA day!!

 

[BaseballCoach]

I picked EXTEND but I admit it is unfair a bit, because I am not willing to extend at so-called market value for a 50-60 point 2-way center with size and faceoff prowess.

I think a more effective poll would have three options.

1. Extend at market value, Sean is the guy we want for our kids to develop with
2. Trade even if the return does NOT include a 1st round pick or young talent with first round value
3. Depends on cap hit and trades offered

I have always been of the mind that you need to keep some vets, so I was willing to keep Anderson, who is 28 with 4 years after this year left on his contract.

I have been saying that on a 4 year deal, my target for Monahan is $17 M or $4.25M per year. Yes, he can probably get much more, so that would basically be almost like trading him at any price.

So the tougher question for me to answer is:
a. would I rather extend Monahan 4 x $5.5M and trade Anderson?
OR
b. Trade Monahan and keep Anderson?

I think even if there is a marginal difference in trade values, I would invest in Monahan.

Yes, I know we could trade both but I am already trading Dvorak, Edmundson, Savard and Armia plus Hoffman if possible. If had to keep one vet forward, I would pick the guy who at worst is a great 3C, and whose past is clearly better offensively than Anderson, if the cap hit were similar.

By the way, on D my one vet to keep is Matheson.

Notice how in both cases I go with the first-round talent at only age 28.

 

[nhlfan9191]

If Monahan gets us a high 1st rounder, I would probably make the trade. but if it's a contender giving us around the 30th pick, no, that won't be enough by itself.

We got a first+ for just Chariot last season. Monahan is more valuable at 50% retained. Contenders get stupid for C/D at the trade deadline, especially if they’re producing like Monahan has.

 

[sandviper]

Trade him, as you thank him for his services at the airport, you let him know that your intent is to pursue his services come UFA day!!

100% Dude, I don‘t know why this is so hard for some people to grasp.

 

[ML16]

The main goal is to win a Stanley Cup and I don't want to wait 20 years for the next one. To achieve this objective, the CH needs a 2nd quality center, a 2nd quality RW ,at least 2 good right-handed defenceman and a #1 goalie . With all our prospects, not sure that we have a real 2 nd center, nor a 2 nd RW. We don't have a 1st right-handed defenceman and not sure we have a 2nd right-handed defenceman. And we don't have a future #1 goalie. So we need a lot of draft picks and or very good prospects.
So We have to trade Monahan,Dadonov,Drouin and Edmundston. Maybe Anderson …

Dach- Suzuki- Caufield
Slafkovsky- -
Farell- Dvorak/ Beck- Gally
Heineman- Evans/ Kidney- Mesar/ Roy

Guhle-
Hutson-
Xhekaj-Mailloux/ Barron
Harris-Kovacevic

Montambeault/ Dobes/

Delete.

 

[HabsForHire]

He's far too slow to be part of our core moving forward. It's best to get value for him and keep injecting talent

Right the rebuild ain't over, sell high

 

[Habs Halifax]

Suzuki will be 28 ish when we try to win a cup.

Monahan is 28 now when we want to draft high in the best draft class in a long while. I don't want to trade Monahan because of his age per se, but because of his age vs our plan.

100% and this is what fans need to think about. By the time Slaf and prospects around his age are Suzuki/Caufield age today, it's 4 or 5 years from now. Suzuki will be 28 and Slaf/others will be around 23. Monahan will be 32/33+.

All Monahan does is help us become playoff pretenders but he does help development for Slaf though cause I don't see Dvorak doing that.

It's an interesting dilemma but the right move is to trade Monahan for the best futures we can get. If the futures being offered are meh, then consider the extension if it's 3 years or less and a team friendly AAV. Futures won't be meh though

 

[Sorinth]

Trading/Keeping him depends on how much you think he brings to the development of our young guys, notably Slafkovsky but to an extent Dach as well. Getting a late 1st but then having no one to center Slaf causing him to struggle is a bad trade. Just go read the Slaf thread to see how much people want to see him playing with Monahan so that he has a good player to play with. If playing with Monahan leads Slafkovsky to learning how to take care of all the little things then that's worth more to our rebuild then a pick that has to beat the odds to become a quality NHLer.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Yes, he may like Montreal now, but after being traded to a more competitive team he may like them more. You’re assuming his position wouldn’t change between when he got traded and the UFA period. I think it’s extremely unlikely that he comes back if we move him no matter what he may feel like today.

If we trade him for the futures we want and he ends up signing somewhere else, so be it. Keep the cap space open and there will be other centers we can try to add later once we really know the holes in the line-up. Got to manage who Slaf is playing with (if not Suzuki) but we should not be hooked on the idea that Monahan is the cup contender solution. Other options will come at a later date when the timing is more right.

Trading/Keeping him depends on how much you think he brings to the development of our young guys, notably Slafkovsky but to an extent Dach as well. Getting a late 1st but then having no one to center Slaf causing him to struggle is a bad trade. Just go read the Slaf thread to see how much people want to see him playing with Monahan so that he has a good player to play with. If playing with Monahan leads Slafkovsky to learning how to take care of all the little things then that's worth more to our rebuild then a pick that has to beat the odds to become a quality NHLer.

Younger players development like Slaf is a factor no doubt. But we are also thinking Monahan is 100% healthy in the next 3 or 4 years as well? It could back fire on us if we keep Monahan and sign him to 3 or 4 years at $5M and it ends up not working like we think it will after this season.

Save the cap space and take the futures. There will be other centers that we can add or we draft one.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

He's been a pleasant surprise and has fit in well, but he should be traded to bring in assets. It doesn't make sense to fall in love with guys in their late 20's or older in a retool.

We have already heard the "Habs are looking to re-sign/keep him" from the media, which is what we heard with Lehkonen/Kulak last season before they were traded.

His second line C spot will likely be filled by Dach next year, plus perhaps we could use the assets received in a trade to go after a younger forward who fits the retool more.

 

[Habs Halifax]

So Suzuki would be the same age then as Monahan is now, when you say he should be traded due to age.

No. You are missing the point.

Monahan at age 28 today with several guys that need to mature and develop in the next 3-5 years is not the same as when Suzuki will be 28 cause Slaf will be 23 then, not 18 today (for example).

And this is only one layer to this discussion

 

[MasterD]

So the tougher question for me to answer is:
a. would I rather extend Monahan 4 x $5.5M and trade Anderson?
OR
b. Trade Monahan and keep Anderson?

That’s actually a fair point. I guess I could keep Monahan if we deplete the team in other ways…

But we need to draft high. And I believe we’d get much better return for Monahan than Anderson.

 

[Sorinth]

Younger players development like Slaf is a factor no doubt. But we are also thinking Monahan is 100% healthy in the next 3 or 4 years as well? It could back fire on us if we keep Monahan and sign him to 3 or 4 years at $5M and it ends up not working like we think it will after this season.

Save the cap space and take the futures. There will be other centers that we can add or we draft one.

If he gives 2 years of solid play then it doesn't really matter that much if he falls off in years 3 & 4. If Monahan plays this season 100% healthy then there's little reason to be concerned about his health going forward. Remember Markov being labelled injury prone and how we could never rely on him because of it only for him to come back and play great without any more injuries.

Assuming you can find a top-6 center in a few years just like that is how you end up in a perpetual tank. Not too mention it's overall just bad for the rebuild to not have an adequate #2 center while we wait for this future center given that we have a number of potential top-6 wingers that will be joining the team fairly soon.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If he gives 2 years of solid play then it doesn't really matter that much if he falls off in years 3 & 4. If Monahan plays this season 100% healthy then there's little reason to be concerned about his health going forward. Remember Markov being labelled injury prone and how we could never rely on him because of it only for him to come back and play great without any more injuries.

Assuming you can find a top-6 center in a few years just like that is how you end up in a perpetual tank. Not too mention it's overall just bad for the rebuild to not have an adequate #2 center while we wait for this future center given that we have a number of potential top-6 wingers that will be joining the team fairly soon.

I would have no problem with trading him and then signing him. This way, you get to see the entire season including his playoff run with the new team. If he really likes it in Montreal, he will consider us as a UFA. If he signs somewhere else so be it.

If you sign him, you have to do it before the deadline. I'm not willing to go with a leap of faith he is who he is today for the next 3 or 4 years. I like what I see just as much as you and others do but it's on the premature side folks.

Signing Monahan is a Bergevin move IMO. It lacks long term vision and it's looking for short term gains. Take the late 1st if we are offered it. Late 1st could bust, could hit, or could be a depth guy. But the extra darts is important over the long haul. Stay the course!

That’s actually a fair point. I guess I could keep Monahan if we deplete the team in other ways…

But we need to draft high. And I believe we’d get much better return for Monahan than Anderson.

Cap space is not the issue here so they can both be traded or stay if fans are thinking cap space management. However, with me, it's not a cap space calculation in terms of long term strategy

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

Trade him, as you thank him for his services at the airport, you let him know that your intent is to pursue his services come UFA day!!

This almost never works. Players typically view such trades as an affront and take them personally.