Arpon Basu talks first round pick if traded

Sean Monahan is having an excellent season with CH. The veteran has collected 13 points in 16 games so far this year, and aside from the points, his versatility and leadership make him perhaps the most important forward on the team right now.

Note that I’m not saying it’s necessarily the best. I’m simply saying that with everything he brings, he is perhaps the most important striker in Martin St-Louis’ lineup.

Monahan, who signed a one-year, $1.985 million deal with the Habs last summer, shows that when healthy, he still has the level to make him a very quality NHL forward. He’ll have to avoid injuries between now and the end of the year, of course, but he’s a hell of a hockey player on the ice.

Because of this, some would like to see Kent Hughes work out a deal with Monahan to keep the latter in Montreal for a few years… but on the other hand, there are big risks involved. His injury history is impressive, he’s 29 on a rebuilding team and his best value (which may never be as high as it is now) may be outside of Montreal.

From the beginning, I have the impression that it is this value away from Montreal that will dictate Monahan’s future with the Habs. If CH gets a high price to replace it, it will become attractive…

And in the eyes of Arpon Basu, who was on the airwaves of BPM Sports this afternoonthis value could definitely be a first round pick. He talks about this towards the end of his column, for those interested.

Yesterday, Basu also said in a text that he thinks Monahan is the club’s most important striker this season. The fact that he revived Brendan Gallagher, that he is exploited in all ways, that he is the mentor of Juraj Slafkovski and so on: his characteristics are impressive.

On the other hand, if Kent Hughes was indeed offered a first-round pick for Monahan’s services, he needs to jump at the chance. I know Monahan already brought a first round pick to the Canadiens, but the club needs to maximize the value of their assets in veteran players, and a guy like Monahan is worth his weight in gold to a team rebuilding in the trade market. .

In fact, this isn’t the first time Monahan has been thought to be able to fetch top dollar in a trade. Last year, the talk was pretty much the same… until Monahan got hurt for the season.

However, this year we can think so money it would be even easier to trade without the Habs even having to retain salary. Last year he would have cap hit of approximately $3.2 million with a 50% salary deduction, but this year, his cap hit from base is 1.985 million dollars.

That’s about a $1.2 million difference… but for an ambitious cap-fighting team, it can make a big difference.

CH could also keep 50% of his salary, but with two deductions already on his record (Joel Edmundson and Jeff Petry), using a third on Monahan would be unwise. losing in the sense that his contract is already more than replaceable.

Even without holding back, I think a first-round pick isn’t absurd for a guy who can anchor the second center bench on a good team. Now it’s up to Kent Hughes to find his prize.

A lots of

– Unlocks for Penguins.

– I love it.

– The seniors asked their players to pronounce their own name correctly. The result is very funny. (Reddit)

– MLB is considering shortening the pitch clock.

– That’s the story.