It is safe to say the Winnipeg Jets are buying in to being playoff contenders.
On Friday, they acquired center Sean Monahan from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2024 first-round pick, along with a conditional third-round pick in 2027. The Canadiens are not retaining any of his $1.985 million AAV, which expires at the end of this season.
Monahan has been in trade talks throughout the season, thanks to his solid production with an underwhelming Habs team. Heading into the All-Star break, the 29-year-old was third on the Canadiens in scoring with 13 goals and 22 assists. Monahan had a pretty good month of January, registering four goals and 10 assists in 13 games.
The Brampton, Ontario native is having an excellent bounce-back campaign after suffering a season-ending groin injury. Monahan only ended up playing 25 games with the Habs during the 2022-23 season, posting just 17 points. In 74 games with the Canadiens, Monahan scored 19 goals and 33 assists.
This is the second time he has been traded in his NHL career. Prior to last season, Monahan was traded by the Calgary Flames to Montreal for a conditional 2025 first-round pick.
The center spent the first nine years of his NHL career with the Flames, the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2013. Monahan helped the team make it to the playoffs five times, though he was unable to participate in the 2022 postseason due to injury. His best season came in 2018-19, when he notched 34 goals and 48 assists for a career-best 82 points.
The Jets (30-12-5) have cooled off since they briefly held the best record in the league. They are currently third in the Central Division, two points behind the first-place Colorado Avalanche.
The Canadiens (20-21-8) are tied for sixth in the Atlantic Division, 11 points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for third, and 10 behind the Detroit Red Wings for the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
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