Unfortunately for Sean Monahan, his first season with the Montreal Canadiens was more of the same. He showed well when he was able to be in the lineup, but the injury bug bit him again. Now for the good news, he did show flashes, and certainly deserved the extension he received from Kent Hughes.
Monahan is intriguing; he has playoff experience and brings a lot to the lineup. His faceoff prowess and his quick stick showcase his soft hands and two-way acumen. In a lineup with so much youth, mistakes are bound to happen, but a guy like Monahan can prevent them, and teach Suzuki and the centre’s. He can be put out in all situations, and slot in on the wing but take some of the lines faceoff duties when needed.
Which Young Canadiens Will Be His Linemates?
It’s very difficult to predict lines for the Canadiens; mostly because there are so many decisions ahead. The forward crop is jam-packed, and unless some players are moved or buried in the minors some of the youth could be squeezed out of the lineup. This won’t affect Monahan’s ice time, but it will require him to gain traction with potentially new linemates.
If I had to guess, I believe the Monahan will either slot in on the wing on one of the top two lines or center the third line. Suzuki and Dach will slot in 1 and 2 as centers, respectively and from there the craziness begins. Aside from Caufield on the top-line wing, the rest is speculation, until Martin St Louis confirms his top four lines. I think Monahan can be an interchangeable piece that slots in the top six, wherever it’s seen as fitting.
I think Caufield, Suzuki and Monahan would be a good line, and should Dach need support on faceoffs he can swap with the second-line right winger. On the second line, I think a trio of Newhook, Dach and Anderson could be fun, and they all complement each other quite well.
Certainly, Monahan could slot in perfectly as the third-line centre, but until decisions are made, there are multiple options for the position.
In A Perfect Canadiens World
Should Suzuki and Dach adapt well as the top two centres, Monahan could slot in at number three. A potential combination that would be nice for Monahan is Slafkovsky on his left wing and Gallagher on the right. Slafkovsky can be insulated by the two veterans, and benefit from their all-around play. Gallagher’s dogged style and Monahan’s smart, strategic approach could really gel nicely with Slafkovsky’s power game.
Monahan could support Gallagher in mentoring Slafkovsky, all the while, the pair could benefit from Slaf’s youthful exuberance. For a young guy to have two very different, but very determined guys as linemates, Slafkovsky could learn a lot. A line that could play such a sound defensive game, but they all have the offensive potential to make opposing defenders look silly.
Some players might not want to be involved in a rebuild, but for Monahan, it provides a fresh start, with some talented up-and-coming players. The expectations to make the playoffs are low, and that provides the perfect low-pressure opportunity for Monahan to get healthy. The young guys and Monahan will both benefit from playing together.
Habs’ management will have plenty of decisions to make come October, and Monahan will be right in the center of it.
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