|
In Hainsight: What to Expect from Sean Monahan |
|
|
|
|
|
Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
When the Flames decided that Sean Monahan wasn’t worth his contract anymore after two hip surgeries, Kent Hughes was more than happy to take him off Calgary’s hands for a first-round pick. It was a risk-free gamble for the Canadiens, but Monahan appreciated that Hughes gave him a place to play. After another injury ridden season, the pending free agent wasn’t going to get a huge contract in free agency. He needed to find a place where he could prove once again that he was all healed up and that he could play. Before the calendar reached July 1st, he inked a one-year deal worth $1.985 million to get a do-over in Montreal.
Last season, Monahan was limited to just 25 games thanks to a foot injury followed by a groin one, a combination that kept him out of action until the end of the season. By the time he finally agreed to stop playing to heal the first injury on December 5th, he had gathered 17 points in 25 games, that’s a 56-point rhythm over the course of an 82-game season. There’s no denying that Monahan is not running on empty, there’s a lot of gas left in that tank, but can the body hold up?
The good news is, when he was injured last year, it was just bad luck, it was a foot injury that could have happened to anyone and had nothing to do with his hip operation. Then more bad luck lead to a groin operation from which he has apparently fully recovered. However, the fact that he kept on playing on his injured foot in December probably complicated matters and made the injury worst, hopefully, the last season will have scared him straight and if he’s hit by another ailment this year, he’ll know to stop and fix it before it gets any worst.
Last season, Monahan got to play with Josh Anderson more often than not, when he wasn’t with the big forward, he was completing the Habs top line alongside Caufield and Suzuki. Considering how productive he was, there’s no denying that he can be a top-six forward for the Canadiens. However, since Dvorak is unlikely to be ready to start the season, he could find himself centering the third line. He’s a good veteran and even though he hasn’t played a lot of games with the team, he fit right in with the team’s system, and he could be a very good guide to help Alex Newhook get acclimated.
Monahan has got a lot riding on this season and whoever he plays with, I expect a big offensive year for him and if he stays healthy, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be a highly sought-after player around the trade deadline. If his body holds up, there’s no doubt in my mind that Monahan’s going to deliver and when Dvorak is back, I’d like to see him in the top-six playing on Kirby Dach’s wing. It’s important that Dach gets some reps at center, but having Monahan is an excellent insurance policy if the pivot responsibilities get to be too much for Dach.
It’s hard not to root for Monahan considering everything he’s overcome to keep playing the sport he loves. He’s fought his way through enough now and he fully deserves a season with no injuries in which he can just showcase his talent and show that he deserves a better and longer contract next offseason. Providing he gets what he deserves health wise, which is by no means guaranteed, I think he’ll easily reach the 40-point mark this coming year.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»