The 29-year-old center had 26 goals with Montreal and Winnipeg this season
The Buffalo Sabres face a season where accountability will be stressed under head coach Lindy Ruff and areas of need must be addressed by GM Kevyn Adams for the club to snap their 13-year playoff drought. We have been taking a look at players who could be potential trade targets this summer over the last few weeks in advance of a year that has to be considered playoffs or bust, but now we will take a look at who the Sabres could potentially be pursuing when the free agent market opens up on July 1.
Buffalo is not likely to pursue big-ticket players like Jake Guentzel or Elias Lindholm, as they will be pursuing long-term big-money contracts, but they will be looking for role players with size and two-way ability that can be signed for a lesser term and cap hit.
Sean Monahan – Center (Winnipeg Jets)
Stats:59 points (26 G, 33 A) in 83 games, 1 point in 5 playoff games
2023-24 Salary - $1.985 million
The Sabres have some uncertainty up the middle after trading Casey Mittelstadt, with Peyton Krebs not stepping up when given the opportunity to play higher in the lineup late in the season. GM Kevyn Adams has youngsters in Matthew Savoie, Jiri Kulich, and Noah Ostlund who might get a chance to vie for the job at training camp, but head coach Lindy Ruff likely will want some experience to play on the third line behind Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens.
As with free agent center Chandler Stephenson (who could be on the Sabres list of possible targets), Monahan might be out of the price range of what Adams is willing to pay, as he could be one of the most sought-after centers on July 1.
Monahan was a 2013 first-round pick (6th overall) of the Calgary Flames, who made the NHL as a 19-year-old, scored 22 goals as a rookie, and averaged 30 goals over the next five seasons. After a career-high 82 points in 2018-19, injuries began to plague the 6’2”, 202 lb. center, as his production dropped to 48 points in 2019-20, 28 points in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, and 23 points in 65 games in 2021-22.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJDxsRbxQRw[/embed]
After undergoing hip surgery, Monahan was dealt to Montreal to clear his $6.375 million salary off the Flames books, and he only played 25 games with the Canadiens because of a series of injuries. The rebuilding Habs re-signed the 29-year-old on a bargain $1.985 million deal and the risk paid off, as he rebounded and scored 13 goals before being dealt to Winnipeg for a first-round pick in February and scored another 13 goals for the Jets.
Monahan will get lots of interest, even with his history of health issues. If Adams could get him on a shorter-term deal, the Sabres could be in the running, but he will likely get longer-term offers in a market light on centers.
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