With the Bruins needing help down the middle, this Jets center could become one of their targets.
The Boston Bruins' top objective this offseason is to improve down the middle. While Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha did a good job during the regular season, replacing Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, it is still crucial for them to strengthen their center depth if they hope to be a bigger threat in the Eastern Conference.
Because of this, top free-agent center Elias Lindholm has been heavily linked to the Bruins leading up to July 1. While this is the case, the Bruins should also explore other options, as Lindholm could always re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks or sign with a different club.
Thankfully for the Bruins, there are other centers who could be strong additions to their roster. One specific pending free agent who could end up on their radar because of this is Winnipeg Jets center Sean Monahan.
Monahan, 29, had a big bounce-back season, split between the Montreal Canadiens and Jets. In a league-leading 83 games, the 2013 first-round pick posted 26 goals and 59 points. It was a successful offensive season for the Brampton, Ontario native, and he should get Boston's attention because of it.
Monahan would be a nice addition to the Bruins' top six, as he is a goal-scoring center who distributes the puck well. He specifically could work well on a line with Brad Marchand. In addition, he would be an obvious fit for their power play.
However, what also makes Monahan a valuable player is that he can play on the wing. As a result, he could still be an intriguing target for the Bruins even if they landed a bigger fish down the middle.
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