Yesterday, we received some very good news from the Canadiens with Sean Monahan’s one-year contract extension for just under $2M.

The return of the latter is greatly favorable for the team, given that he is an excellent leader in the locker room, could act as a mentor for many young players, and also because this contract is not a risk for the organization at all.

He could become a real bargain if he can return to his last year’s production levels. Moreover, if the club does not make the playoffs and he remains healthy, at the salary he commands, he could become a very interesting asset on the trade market.

However, this signing raises several questions, including a surplus of center players for Montreal.

Considering that Kirby Dach and Sean Monahan will lead a line, with Nick Suzuki, Jake Evans, and Christian Dvorak as the team’s other centers, it’s clear that considerations will need to be made during the off-season.

Does Monahan’s signing announce a trade?

According to former player agent and now analyst on BPM Sports, David Ettedgui, the answer is yes and it is likely to be Dvorak, the player to be sacrificed by the organization.

“Kent Hughes is an unmatched poker player; whether it’s the Michkov or Dubois file, no one knows for certain what the Canadiens have planned. Fans and NHL teams are only speculating, while Kent maintains perfect control. For my part, I think Monahan’s signing is a harbinger of some upcoming trades from Montreal, with the first departure of… C. Dvorak.”

It is true that with his salary of $4.45M for another two seasons, it seems increasingly likely that the 27-year-old forward’s fate is to find himself under different skies sooner rather than later.

Could we see him traded at the draft? The possibilities remain quite plausible.

The Winnipeg Jets have already shown interest in Dvorak, and it’s also possible to see him included in a package for Pierre-Luc Dubois.

The upcoming days leading to the draft promise to be very interesting!

Credit: Rumeursdetransaction.com