Are you disappointed with Sean Monahan's compensation? Would you have preferred Kent Hughes to retain his services? Would you have liked the Canadiens GM to bring in a young player who fits the profile of a Kirby Dach or an Alex Newhook, as many have mentioned on social media? This scenario did not present itself as Monahan will be entitled to full autonomy.
• Also read: For Jets GM, Sean Monahan was the best option
• Also read: The Canadian transfers Monahan to the Jets
• Also read: Kent Hughes explains why he believes he got the right price for Sean Monahan
No one will deny that the Brampton center has served the Habs proudly this year. We're already hearing that the Canadian could be looking for him in the summer, like Marc Bergevin did with Tomas Plekanec.
However, we are talking about two different situations.
A player of Monahan's age who will be crossing the threshold of thirty this year doesn't really fit into a rebuilding process. If the Habs become a competitive team, Monahan would be 32, 33 or 34 years old.
A long-term contract would be difficult to endure.
Go to draft
Let's look at the situation from a different perspective.
Yes, as many fans regret, the Canadian will slip down the rankings by the end of the season. In a context where there's little to hope for from a team that's going nowhere right now, it's better if they drop a few spots in the draft.
The Montreal organization currently holds its own first-round pick seventh overall. The Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators could close in on them in the standings, which could give them fifth place like last year.
Yes, the draft lottery is a double-edged sword. It may allow you to move up a few ranks, or it may allow you to move down a few ranks. But for teams like the Canadians, the risk is not great.
On the other hand, some fans are already starting to have enough of the Canadian's recovery plan. At the risk of repeating myself: there is nothing simple about it. Examples include the Buffalo Sabers and the Ottawa Senators.
It takes courage to undertake such an operation. Once you start down this path, you must strive to do things well to get the results you want.
The Canadian's management deserves trust.
Yes to the Four Nations Tournament!
That's two pieces of excellent news that the National Hockey League and the Players' Association announced yesterday in Toronto. After two notable absences, NHL players were eager to return to the Olympics. Italy will benefit in 2026 and most likely France in 2030, not to mention the millions of fans across the hockey world.
But what can we say about the creation of this four-nation tournament that will bring together the best players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland this time next year? In addition, Montreal would be chosen to broadcast the games on Canadian soil. The games on American territory would take place in Boston.
The event will replace the All-Star Game, which few will complain about. It is also hoped that this meeting will be deleted forever. The NHL is the only major professional league in North America to use a hybrid format to present its annual classic.
A five-minute game of three-on-three is great! But more than that is too much!
Would you watch the Major League Baseball All-Star Game with six players on the field instead of nine? NFL and MLS games with eight players instead of eleven?
Dubois gave it his all
You heard what Rick Bowness said about the great spirit that exists with the Winnipeg Jets this season. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler's ears must be ringing.
For those who don't know, Bowness said his star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was very happy with the Jets' trade with the Los Angeles Kings last summer. That trade led Michigan native Hellebuyck to agree to a seven-year contract extension with the Jets.
So there is more to life than just the United States!
Bowness was clear in his comments.
“It’s just a matter of who wants to be on the team and who doesn’t,” he said.
“You can’t keep one foot in the door because you don’t want to be here. That's not how it works. It affects the whole team.”
A few hours after this statement, the Kings ended their relationship with coach Todd McLellan. Of course, Dubois cannot be held solely responsible for this dismissal. All players on the team have to look in the mirror.
But what happened to cause a team that looked so dominant when it visited the Bell Center in December to fall so badly that it was in danger of missing the playoffs?