The Montreal Canadiens made a great trade recently when they shipped out veteran center Sean Monahan.
The Canadiens received a first round pick in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft for Monahan, which is quite a haul. That is especially true considering the Canadiens initially received a first round pick for taking on his contract for the 2022-23 season.
The trade does leave the Canadiens pretty thin down the middle of the ice. Season ending injuries to Kirby Dach and Christian Dvorak already left the team with few options at center. Trading Monahan really only left them with Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans as options at center ice.
So, it should have come as no surprise that the Canadiens called up a center from the Laval Rocket this morning. Lucas Condotta, who was with the Canadiens just before the All-Star break, has been brought back up ahead of the Habs next game on Tuesday night.
Les Canadiens procèdent au rappel de l'attaquant Lucas Condotta du Rocket de Laval.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 4, 2024
The Canadiens have recalled forward Lucas Condotta from the Laval Rocket.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/SWmOUXUc2r
Condotta has been a responsible two-way center for the Rocket for the past two seasons after being signed out of UMass-Lowell where he had ten goals and 23 points in 33 games in his senior season.
The 26 year old center made his NHL debut in the Canadiens final game of the 2022-23 season and scored a goal. He played two games in the NHL this season before the All-Star break but did not register a point.
Condotta has five goals and 13 points in 40 games with the Rocket this season. Last year was his first full AHL season and he had 16 goals and 31 points in 72 games as a rookie pro.
He will likely play fourth line center for the Canadiens, and while he may not produce a ton of points, he will not hurt the team with his defensive play and should fit in well on a line with Joel Armia and Michael Pezzetta.