There is an excellent ''buy low'' option available to the Leafs this summer; he has ties to Brad Treliving as well
With Ryan O'Reilly set to hit unrestricted free agency and John Tavares possibly making a move to the wing, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in need of bodies down the middle who can provide the team with depth and scoring. While we don't know what the Buds plan to do about their 2nd line C slot, there may be an ideal 3rd line C ripe for the picking on July 1st. He has a previous history with new Leafs GM Brad Treliving and also happens to be from Brampton, ON.
Treliving and the Maple Leafs will have just a shade under $15 million dollars in cap space once they place Jake Muzzin on LTIR. That number can rise close to $20 million if and when Matt Murray is traded, bought out or placed on LTIR.
This year's free agent class is rather weak compared to other years, but one familiar name that can perhaps be of service to the Maple Leafs and would also be a solid "buy low" option is Sean Monahan.
The former Flames 6th overall pick back in 2013 enjoyed success relatively quickly after a decent rookie season in 2013-14. He scored 150 goals and 329 points in 396 games across 5 seasons between 2014-15 to 2018-19.
He scored a career-high 34 goals, 48 assists, and 82 points in 2018-19 but then succumbed to a massive drop off in his final 3 years in Calgary. From 2019-20 to 2021-22 he scored 40 goals and 99 points across 185 games and was a -37 with his average ice-time dropping to 16:34 from 18:49 in his previous 5 years.
During the 2021-22 season, Monahan had to undergo season-ending surgery before the playoffs on his right hip. He tore his labrum 3 games into the season and then fractured 3 ribs that were protruding out of his back midway through the year. He managed to play through the pain for most of the season but it explains the 8 goals and 23 points he produced in 65 games.
Treliving and the Flames decided to trade Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens in the summer of 2022 alongside a conditional first round pick in 2025 for future considerations - in other words, a cap dump. The open cap space allowed them to sign Nazem Kadri after losing Johnny Gaudreau to free agency as well.
Monahan did pretty well for the Canadiens but only managed to suit up for 25 games, where he scored 6 goals and 17 points. He suffered a foot injury, a lower body injury, and then suffered a setback during his rehab. Injuries have been a problem over the last few seasons, which will definitely affect his value on the market.
Taking his last 4 years into account, he had 46 goals and 116 points in 210 games and is no longer the top-line center that was at the top of his game earlier on in his career.
In saying that, a change of scenery did him well this past season and one has to assume that if he were placed in a better situation to succeed and if his health is managed by one of the top medical teams in the league, perhaps he can be restored enough to have an impact within the Leafs' middle six.
He won't break the bank for Treliving and the Leafs could sign him to a one-year "prove it" type deal if need be. He already has a standing relationship with Treliving. They were together for 8 years in Calgary, he brokered his 7-year deal back in 2016 that paid him $44.625 million, and the Leafs could provide him with a springboard back to success.
He could find himself centering the second line with Tavares on his wing if he can stay healthy and productive, he could also play the wing himself on either of the top lines, and if the Leafs want to focus on centre depth then he could be the 3C behind Auston Matthews and John Tavares.
There are plenty of options to work around when it comes to the veteran but the most important piece of information is that he would come in relatively cheap, which would allow the Leafs to focus their money elsewhere and shore up several different holes in their lineup.
Monahan was on pace for 20 goals and 55 points with the lowly Canadiens and if he were to play at an identical rate or something very similar with the Leafs in 2023-24, that would be a huge pickup for the new general manager.
He doesn't need to be a top producer on his team anymore.He can play in all situations, provide secondary scoring, and his hybrid play makes him somewhat of a utility knife if the Leafs ever feel the need to tinker around with their roster and lineup.
This won't be the move that pushes them over the top but it'll certainly help if he can forget about the years between 2019-20 and 2021-22 and overcome the myriad of injuries he battled through the past 2 years.
| POLL | ||
19 JUIN | 302 ANSWERS There is an excellent ''buy low'' option available to the Leafs this summer; he has ties to Brad Treliving as well Would you sign Sean Monahan to a 1-year "show me" deal if you were Brad Treliving? | ||
| Yes | 237 | 78.5 % |
| No | 65 | 21.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
