There are three big reasons why forward Sean Monahan's new contract with the Montreal Canadiens marks a big win for the organization.
Earlier this week, the Montreal Canadiens completed a contract extension for forward Sean Monahan, bringing the center back for another year at a mere cost of $1.985 million. Was this a favorable deal for the Habs? I believe so. In fact, I think this was a very strong move by general manager Kent Hughes, locking up a valuable piece of the roster for pretty much a drop in the bucket against next year's salary cap.
Let's start with the money, and not in terms of that small price tag the Canadiens are responsible for paying Monahan next year. Instead, look at the massive pay cut he was willing to take to stay with the Habs: coming off of a seven-year Calgary contract paying him $6.375 million per year, Monahan has now agreed to slash $4.39 million off of that annual salary to remain in Montreal.
Would he have garnered a pay raise if he had instead chosen to test the free agency market? Probably not. Could he have gotten more than two million dollars and maybe a two- or three-year deal by going UFA? Maybe. It's apparent, though, that salary wasn't really the priority, with Monahan instead wanting to spend another year in Montreal, hopefully putting a productive 82-game season on the books, to see where that takes him. It's also possible that, if he has a good showing early in the season, Hughes then has a very trade-friendly contract on his hands to wheel and deal with at the trade deadline.
For a player who spent nine years with the Flames, scoring 20-30 (or more) goals and close to 50-60 points per season, bringing Monahan back to Montreal for one more year on a team-friendly contract gives both the player and the organization a lot to be pleased with. His scoring potential, contribution to the team's depth at center, and his leadership skills all combine to make this a terrific contract signing.
If you'd like to hear my full take on why this deal is so good for the Montreal Canadiens, plus some history on Monahan's NHL career and injury report, you can click HERE to watch my latest Habs Hockey Report video on YouTube.