The loss of Kirby Dach is undoubtedly a shock. At 22 years old, we felt like this young man, who had played 210 games in the NHL, was poised for a big season. Unfortunately, he has to spend a lot of time on the injured list and is now unable to continue his development. A lost season.
If we only focus on the current season, i.e. the wins and losses, the loss of Dach hurts the team’s depth, but the fact remains that the presence of Alex Newhook, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche last summer, is reassuring. An addition that becomes even more important in the current context.
But there is one veteran on this team who could really make a difference this season if he’s healthy, and that’s Sean Monahan, who turned 29 on October 12th. His efficiency in the faceoff circle and his 200-foot game make him an impressive player. And if the Canadiens beat those who predicted a seventh or eighth place finish in the division, Sean Monahan will most likely be a big reason for the team’s success.
IN THE ROW OF THE GREAT
The tragedy of Sean Monahan’s career is his groin and hip injuries, which meant we didn’t get much of a glimpse of what he was capable of achieving. What kind of career could he have had if his bad luck hadn’t befallen him? Bob Hartley, who was his first head coach in the NHL (2013-2014), knew him very well and speaks of him as an impact player.
“Look at the Calgary Flames before he arrived and the impact he had on that team from the beginning,” Bob Hartley said by phone. Johnny Gaudreau brought the flash, but Sean was the substance. He’s not a player we can put on the same pedestal as Patrice Bergeron, but I would tell you that he is a cousin of Joe Sakic. They have the same personality on and off the ice. We’re talking about two people who don’t like noise. Sean doesn’t play hockey to be in the spotlight like he used to [aussi] This applies to Joe Sakic. Joe Sakic has been called “Ordinary Joe” and the same goes for Sean Monahan.
The former Flames coach also highlights Sean Monahan’s leadership and professionalism. From his first skates in the NHL, he continually showed that he wanted to make a difference. “He spent a lot of time in my office making videos. We watched his every presence and always made him the center of attention and made him kill penalties. It was a big challenge that we gave him, we invested in him, but it was not a gift that we gave him. He deserves the investment we made in him. In his first season he lacked experience and physical strength. He showed up to his sophomore year with 20 pounds more muscle. Sean, it was really fun coaching him.”
Hopefully Sean Monahan won’t end up on the injured list this season. This would be a first in five years. But at 29 years old and with his talent, he can actually have a big impact on this team like he did last season. And if Kent Hughes hadn’t had the same feeling, it would be obvious that he wouldn’t have retained his services for the current season. A wise decision.
