Did the Canadian make a good move last February by trading veteran Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a first-round pick who became prospect Michael Hage?
In the long term, probably: Hage is currently showing very good qualities in his first season in the university ranks.
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In the short term, however, it is becoming more and more obvious that the Habs are missing the veteran center player.
This is what reporter and columnist Renaud Lavoie explained on Tuesday during his visit to JiC.
“On the Montreal Canadiens side, we greatly miss the services of Sean Monahan,” he said.
“It wasn’t just his offensive game that was interesting, his defensive game was interesting too. He took important faceoffs in the offensive and defensive zones, and there was also his leadership,” he then illustrated.
Monahan played 49 games with CH last season. During this period, the team maintained a record of 20 wins, 21 losses and eight overtime losses.
Since his departure, the club has played 45 games, for 14 victories, 22 defeats and nine other defeats in overtime.
What all this illustrates, according to Renaud, is that “when you lose a player of this quality, you will suffer”.
“This is what we are seeing now,” he continued. “We change the trios, we try to find the right formula. Kirby Dach is not Sean Monahan, it’s very boring, but it’s reality.”
And meanwhile, the Columbus Blue Jackets, who count Monahan in their ranks, are having a start to the season above expectations…
See “Checking” in the main video.
