One of the names we are watching the most today on the free agent market is that of Sean Monahan.
We wondered if a return with the Montreal Canadiens was possible.
Well, we just learned that Monahan has signed a five-year, $5.5 million per year deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It’s a very lucrative contract for Monahan, who ultimately got what he wanted as he was looking to sign what is likely his last big contract of his career at age 29.
The former CH player therefore joins a team in full reconstruction which is accumulating good young talented players, but which simply has not yet taken off.
Monahan will be an excellent mentor to Adam Fantilli and Cayden Lindstrom.
Note that he will reunite with Johnny Gaudreau, his former teammate with the Calgary Flames.
The two former Flames could therefore very probably play on the same trio in Columbus.
For those who wanted to see Monahan return to the Canadiens, well, that’s not going to happen, and honestly, that’s a good thing when you look at the contract Monahan got.
It’s a contract he deserves, but it would have been risky for the CH considering Monahan’s injury history.
At any time, the 29-year-old striker could seriously injure his hips again, as happened in his first season with CH.
Anyway, we wish Monahan good luck in Columbus.
Prolongation
At the moment, with all the very (too?) lucrative contracts awarded by the various NHL teams, the best move that Kent Hughes is currently making is to do nothing.
