At the beginning of the season it seemed clear that Sean Monahan would only move to Montreal and the Canadians would try to monetize him to the highest bidder. A few months later, nothing is less certain.
The former Calgary Flames has had an obvious impact on the Habs, both on the ice — he’s the team’s fourth-best goalscorer behind Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach — and off.
The Flames literally got rid of him and sent him to Montreal to have the Canadians accept the final year of his $6.375 million contract.
A GOOD LEADER
Finally we discover a player who is finally healthy and who still has good hockey in his body. We also discover a player who, from the outside, has everything a first-class veteran needs to look after the young nucleus of the Habs.
What are we going to do with him now?
I hear some say it would be better to trade him as soon as possible as he is not part of the team’s long term plans. I don’t quite agree. Yes, the Canadian’s future is called Suzuki, Caufield or Guhle. I understand.
But it will be important to surround these young wolves with veterans who are not only good mentors but also have the ability to provide good hockey for the Canadians.
Young Juraj Slafkovksy played the best game of his young NHL career in Calgary on Thursday night. Who was he paired with?
Sean Monahan.
BUT AT WHAT COST?
That remains the big question, maybe even the only one. Will Monahan try to make money with the Canadiens in the free agent market this season?
At 28, it’s obvious the center player wants to sign one last long-term contract. He certainly won’t be interested in agreeing on a season or two with the Canadians.
What salary requirements does he have afterwards? I don’t think the Canadian is interested in giving him $6 million a year. Bottom line, we need to seriously consider making him a key member of the team’s revival. Because if you look at the Canadian’s midline, it remains thin. There’s Suzuki and we still don’t know what the long term plan is with Kirby Dach. At the moment he likes to be on the right front row and could stay there if we had an interesting option on the second row.
A Sean Monahan for example.
GOOD FOR “SLAF”
Coming back to Slafkovsky, I think he would benefit from spending time with Monahan.
His game on Thursday confirmed to many that he has a place in the NHL and can make an impact if used with players other than the team’s two worst forwards in the fourth row.
Some still send him to Laval and others believe he will represent Slovakia at the World Junior Hockey Championship. For me it’s neither.
Let’s keep him in Montreal and keep building his chemistry with Monahan. Because it can be a good duo for the rest of the season… and the next.
– Interview by Kevin Dubé
Echoes of Bergie
ALL ANSWERS
It’s been a week since we questioned the Canadian if it wasn’t time the position of number 1 goalkeeper was entrusted to Samuel Montembeault and on Thursday night Jake Allen made amends, and nowhere near! The Habs’ goalie was impeccable and helped the team win 2-1 against the Flames despite beating Calgary 46-19. Despite his poor performance over the past few weeks, we’ve continued to pound on Allen being the No. 1 pick with the Canadiens. There are things we don’t know, that’s obvious. Are we trying to swap? Do we just not want to shake his trust because we don’t fully trust Montembeault? Nobody knows that except the leaders of the Canadians. One thing is for sure though, Thursday’s game certainly put a lot of folks at ease inside.
A DOUBLE RACE
We’re already over a quarter of the season in the NHL and what’s left will be exciting on many levels. Two races will be held until the end of the regular calendar: one between the teams looking to earn a spot in the playoffs, and another for the final spot and best chance of getting your hands on Connor Bedard. Several teams are already involved in this second fight, including the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Arizona Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers and even the Ottawa Senators. In her case, it’s certainly not voluntary. This is arguably the biggest disappointment in the NHL to date. Pierre Dorion has expressed his confidence in DJ Smith, but nothing works in either attack or defense. It has to change.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECRUITMENTS
Finally, I would like to congratulate the three members who will be inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame on June 8th, namely Dave Ezard, Stéphane Richer and Alain Vigneault. In the case of Alain, I had the chance to lead him with the Draveurs de Trois-Rivières. I had made a mega transaction to acquire it from Hull Olympiques during the 1979-1980 season. He then had a short professional career before becoming a manager with the Draveurs in 1986-1987. For him it was the beginning of a great adventure.
