Without being Kirby Dach, contrary to what Renaud Lavoie thinks, Sean Monahan is a very important player for the Habs. Not only is the center a guy who collects points, which is quite unexpected, but he’s also an undisputed leader and an outstanding teammate.
His signing this summer is one of the most important of the Kent Hughes era.
No, Monahan isn’t the team’s MVP, but he’s awfully important. Last year, he played just 25 games and scored 17 points in that span. And when he was injured, the team literally collapsed that very night…
In 2023-2024, the 29-year-old veteran continues to build on his success. In seven games, he has six points, including three goals. On top of that, he wins nearly 60% of his face-offs.
But the stat that stands out: he has more points than Jonathan Huberdeau (four points) and Nazem Kadri (one point) combined.
Mind-blowing stat of the day: Sean Monahan has more points this season than Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri…combined 🤯#Flames
– Salim Nadim Valji (@salimvalji) October 27, 2023
It’s not the statistics as such that are important. Because after less than 10 games, it’s not out of the ordinary for an “average” player to have more points than two star players combined.
After a season, that would be pretty special, but not after a few weeks of activity.
The funny thing about this statistic is the circumstances that brought Monahan to Montreal and the irony surrounding the situation.
Let’s not forget that Nazem Kadri signed a massive seven-year, $49 million contract… minutes after seeing Kent Hughes acquire Mony’s services. In other words: Calgary got rid (literally) of their center to sign a guy who should/should, in theory, be much better. What’s more, he had just won the Stanley Cup.
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Huberdeau is not involved in this irony, but he is disappointing. For a player paid $10.5 million annually, his four points so far in 2023-2024 and his 55 points last year are clearly not enough.
For Kadri, he has just one point this season (in eight games). And last year, he collected only 56 points in 82 games. I can name a dozen players who had better seasons than him, and who have much smaller contracts.
In my opinion, both forwards will bounce back. They’re far too talented to continue being bad. They’ve just changed coach and the sample under him is still very thin. If they continue to “produce” at such a rate in two months’ time, we’ll start to worry.
For now, don’t panic. If you have them in your pools, don’t abandon them. But for now, Monahan, a guy who wasn’t in the Flames’ plans, is producing more than both players TOGETHER.
In short
– He’s so special.
Lane Hutson doing Lane things. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/M8ZP3KCvoJ
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 27, 2023
– One of the best? Yes. The best? No.
Jack Hughes “best in the world right now”?🤔🏒https://t.co/j8aOaUGSF1
– RDS (@RDSca) October 27, 2023
– To listen to.
🚨 NEW BASU & GODIN NOTEBOOK! 🚨
With David Savard out, how does the Montreal blueline adjust? PLUS: Brendan Gallagher’s resurgence, Kaiden Guhle nears return, prospect Joshua Roy and more!
🎧: https://t.co/924nEatQzp
📺: https://t.co/96SwuJiQvb@ArponBasu @MAGodin pic.twitter.com/Ur7nMyXocF– sdpn (@sdpnsports) October 27, 2023
– Who will keep goal when?
CH : Discord over goaltendinghttps://t.co/GmqWSSJbM1
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) October 27, 2023
– Belleville banged up.
With all the injuries in Ottawa, the club-school in Belleville is forced to play with 5 defensemen tonight against Toronto. Not an ideal situation. https://t.co/bxYPfiSsNt
– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) October 27, 2023