State Of Conditions Tied To Canadiens’ Sean Monahan Trade

When the Montreal Canadiens acquired Sean Monahan from the Calgary Flames, they also secured a conditional first-round draft pick that comes into play this season.

Odds currently have the Canadiens pegged to finish in the bottom-10, but the fate of the Calgary Flames will also be important to follow.

That’s because, depending on where Calgary finishes in the standings this season, the Canadiens could either end up with the Flames’ or the Florida Panthers‘ 2025 1st.

As Kent Hughes and former Flames GM Brad Treliving created the most convoluted trade condition tree in the history of the NHL, they also managed to rope in Florida’s 2025 1st into the mix; previously acquired in the blockbuster Matthew Tkachuk trade that went down just a month earlier in July 2022.

The trade saw Florida send Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar and a conditional 2025 1st-round pick in order to nab Matthew Tkachuk out of Calgary, but, prior to finalizing the trade, the Panthers put lottery protection on their 1st-round pick.

That means that if Florida’s 1st-rounder in 2025 is a lottery pick (1st or 2nd overall), the Calgary Flames would instead be given Florida’s 2026 1st-round pick as compensation, and Florida would retain its 2025 1st-round pick.

You still with me here? Because that was the easy part.

Here’s what you need to know to follow the Sean Monahan trade and the conditions attached to Calgary’s 2025 1st-round pick this season:

1.  If Calgary Owns Florida’s 2025 First-Round Pick

As of right now, both the Flames and Panthers have gotten off to strong starts, but a lot can change over the length of a season.

If Calgary ends the 2024-2025 season with Florida’s 2025 1st-round pick, the conditions change based on where Calgary’s and Florida’s 2025 picks fall:

• If Both Calgary and Florida’s 2025 Picks are Outside the Top 10: Montreal will receive the earlier of Calgary’s or Florida’s 2025 first-round pick.
• If Calgary’s Pick is in the Top 10 and Florida’s is Outside: Montreal will receive Florida’s 2025 first-round pick.

If these conditions are not met, or if Calgary does not acquire Florida’s pick, Montreal proceeds to the next set of conditions below:

 2. If Calgary Does Not Own Florida’s 2025 First-Round Pick

In the event where Florida takes a once-in-a-lifetime nosedive in the standings and walks out of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with one of the first two picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, here’s how the scenario unfolds:

• If Calgary’s 2025 Pick is Outside the Top 10: Montreal will receive Calgary’s 2025 first-round pick.
  • Additional Condition: If Florida’s 2025 first-round pick (owned by another NHL team) is also outside the Top 10 and ranks better than Calgary’s pick, Montreal will also get Calgary’s 2025 fourth-round pick.
• If Calgary’s 2025 Pick is in the Top 10:
  • Montreal receives Calgary’s 2025 first-round pick unless Calgary wins the first overall draft pick.
  • Exception: If Calgary’s pick is first overall, Calgary will retain the pick, and Montreal instead receives Calgary’s 2025 third-round pick and a conditional 2026 first-round pick.
    • This 2026 pick will be the better of Calgary’s or Florida’s 2026 first-round picks, if Calgary still holds Florida’s pick.

Ideal Scenario for Montreal Canadiens?

With the way the Flames have been playing of late, and the long list of unrestricted free agents they currently have, things could get very interesting throughout the season. But it’s also worth noting that the Panthers have lost some very important pieces from the Stanley Cup contending team, especially on defence.

The best scenario for the Montreal Canadiens would be Florida falling off a cliff and finishing in the bottom-10, but not win the lottery in May 2025. However, the more likely scenario would see the Calgary Flames come back down to Earth, after a hot start, and finish with the 11th overall pick (since a bottom-10 finish would assure the Canadiens of Florida’s 2025 1st-round pick instead).

The Canadiens could either use the pick they ultimately receive to draft another young prospect with potential, like Michael Hage, Owen Beck or Oliver Kapanen; or make a trade for an established right-shot defenceman.

Many possibilities remain, but there still remains a lot of hockey to be played, and, after reading this, a lot of Advil to be consumed.