[News] Monahan knows what's on the line this season: 'I have a lot to prove'

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Macman

But Tkachuk still has another year before having to be re-signed so a lot can happen. He's going to come at a premium though, that's for sure. Maybe the cap will increase next year as well so who knows.

Tkachuk is an RFA with a $9M qualifying offer this off season.

[TheScorpion]

It makes a lot of sense to try and move Monahan this summer. With just one year left on his deal, they'll be able to do it.

For now, he's a perfectly capable 3C on a very good Flames team, and moving him during the season is almost assuredly not going to be worth it.

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

It makes a lot of sense to try and move Monahan this summer. With just one year left on his deal, they'll be able to do it.

For now, he's a perfectly capable 3C on a very good Flames team, and moving him during the season is almost assuredly not going to be worth it.

Will they?

If the Flames buy him out they save $4 million on the cap, if they trade him they save $6.375 million,

Monahan also has a modified no move clause.

I struggle to see someone wanting a 3rd line center for that cap hit, without the Flames retaining salary. If they retain $2 million, maybe but that seems like a tough needle to thread with a no move.

[TheScorpion]

They might have to package a pick to make it work. I think Ottawa is a natural fit on all fronts, though. They aspire to contend soon and Monahan has all sorts of ties to that area. They've made similar trades before, too (Derek Stepan comes to mind)

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Boreal

I struggle to see someone wanting a 3rd line center for that cap hit, without the Flames retaining salary. If they retain $2 million, maybe but that seems like a tough needle to thread with a no move.

Much depends on the finish to his season. Monahan has been playing much better lately than he did early in the season. If he turns out to be a useful contributor in the playoffs, teams will take notice and his value will rebound to some degree.

Monahan has a limited NTC (he can list 10 teams he will not be traded to), not a no-move clause. I imagine most of the teams on his list would be the sort of bottom-feeders that won't want to give up assets for a high-priced 28-year-old in fragile health. The teams that might actually be in the market for him probably won't be on his list, so his market value would not be much affected.

I think trading Monahan with $2 million retained would be quite doable, and might return something in the way of usable assets – provided he plays reasonably well the rest of this year.

[CalgaryFan1988]

He's playing much better of late and the recovery is a year on his surgery (skating). At just over 6 million, he will have value next season wherever he plays, imo.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Edit: already covered.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

He's playing much better of late and the recovery is a year on his surgery (skating). At just over 6 million, he will have value next season wherever he plays, imo.

He’s playing better, but no one with his current skill set gets his current contract. Calgary will need to retain or give up something substantial to move him, or take back an unwanted contract.

[Lil Pedro]

I still think it's going to be hard to move him; the modified NTC only complicates it as it's likely blocks him from going to bad teams, which are the ones with cap space and are lacking centre depth. Hopefully AZ isn't on that list, as they have the roster and cap space to take him next year.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Monahan doesn’t score enough to be top 6. He’s too slow and contact-shy to be a checker.

Maybe people can offer up some NHL comparables of what Monahan has become. Kyle Turris comes to mind. Any other suggestions?

Ryan and/or Dylan Strome?

Maybe Derick Brassard? Ryan Johansen?

Originally Posted by Boreal

Will they?

If the Flames buy him out they save $4 million on the cap, if they trade him they save $6.375 million,

Monahan also has a modified no move clause.

I struggle to see someone wanting a 3rd line center for that cap hit, without the Flames retaining salary. If they retain $2 million, maybe but that seems like a tough needle to thread with a no move.

Take a look through the C depth of non-playoff teams (ie. teams with cap space)...most are lacking. The benefit of Monahan to a bubble or worse team is that there is a decent chance of selling him at the TDL if they're out of it. Or they can give too much $$+term to a Kadri/Trocheck/Strome who end up declining (ie. very overpaid) by the time that team becomes competitive.

Monahan may want to consider a different approach when designing his NTC this year, where it's more about setting himself up for success and to sign his next contract.

[agulati]

He also only has one more year at his current cap hit. That can be a helpful factor for any team considering acquiring him.

I hope he does bounce back from now till the end of the season, but he is the most likely player to be moved out over the off-season ( if the flames can find any takers)

[Erick Estrada]

A productive playoffs would make Monahan much easier to move as a lot of GM's typically overrated playoff performances. I feel he's a player that has to be moved in the offseason to make room to sign other key players.

[Kipper_3434]

I dunno, I think Lucic is by far the most easily movable player next season. Not much real money owed, having a good season, and known for intangibles on and off the ice. Would suck to see him go, and would likely mean re-signing Gudbranson to keep a tough to play against identity.

Might see both Monahan and Lucic moved I suppose, Not this year though, these 2 are our playoff sleepers for now.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Never sacrifice your top 4/6 for the bottom 2/6. Zadarov and Gubranson have been excellent but Mangiapane is going to be flirting with 40 goals this year.

Lucic, Monahan, Zadorov and possible Dude are the ones out the door. If we fill in the bottom roster with young depth, that's good that's the goal. Troy Brower's 1.5 buy off comes off the books this summer as well, thank god.

[joejoe3]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

Never sacrifice your top 4/6 for the bottom 2/6. Zadarov and Gubranson have been excellent but Mangiapane is going to be flirting with 40 goals this year.

Lucic, Monahan, Zadorov and possible Dude are the ones out the door. If we fill in the bottom roster with young depth, that's good that's the goal. Troy Brower's 1.5 buy off comes off the books this summer as well, thank god.

which possible dude are we talking about here?

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by joejoe3

which possible dude are we talking about here?

The one playing out of position, in the bottom six in a checking role, when he has always been a scoring and defensively responsible centre up until this point in his career. I assume people are advocating getting rid of the talented 22 year old centre who learned the pro game from Micheal Backlund and then was moved to a position and role that he was unsuited for, because of reasons.

He could be an excellent and cheap 3C here, or be traded for a 5th and be that somewhere else. That dude.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

I dunno, I think Lucic is by far the most easily movable player next season. Not much real money owed, having a good season, and known for intangibles on and off the ice. Would suck to see him go, and would likely mean re-signing Gudbranson to keep a tough to play against identity.

Might see both Monahan and Lucic moved I suppose, Not this year though, these 2 are our playoff sleepers for now.

He's also got a modified NTC. At this stage of his career I can't see him waiving to go to a bad team and I'm not sure how many good teams would want his cap hit.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's also got a modified NTC. At this stage of his career I can't see him waiving to go to a bad team and I'm not sure how many good teams would want his cap hit.

Seattle? He waived a full NMC for expansion (though a very small risk) and it's near his home town. Or Vancouver itself. I know in the past he said he wouldn't go there because of his treatment as a Bruin but that's a while ago.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's also got a modified NTC. At this stage of his career I can't see him waiving to go to a bad team and I'm not sure how many good teams would want his cap hit.

Hey he signed in Edmonton, I'm sure as long as we don't send him there he'll waive for most teams. It's only one season after all.

[Bourque's Twin]

Monahan is clearly not the same player he was. The chance of him lighting it up in the playoffs is low. He won't be very easy to move, but he will have to be moved if the Flames want to sign Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Kylington and Mangiapane. I'd love to see them keep Zadorov and Gudbranson too.

Lucic, Backlund, Dube, and Monahan are the logical guys to trade. They all have value in their own way, and short contracts, but some picks may need to be included. They free up $19.275 if no salary is retained. We will probably get some players in return but I'm not going to include that in this analysis.

If we assume the following,
Gaudreau at 10M is an extra $3.25M
Tkachuk at 9M is an extra $2.0M
Mangiapane on a bridge at $5.75M is an extra $3.325M
Kylington on a bridge at $3.5M is an extra $2.75M
Combined this adds $11.325M

The rest of the expiries, including Brouwer buyout, free up $11.2516M

If we take the $19.275M from the trade
The expiries of $11.2516M
and subtract the big dog signings above of $11.325
we have $19.20 to sign the following,
#5/#6 D
three C's
two wingers.

Sign Ruczika for 850K.
Bring up Pelletier for 863.333K
Bring up two 4th liners, sign 2 cheap 4th liners, or a combo for a combined $1.5M
Sign Zadorov for 4.25M
Sign Gudbranson for 2.0M
Total is $9.463M to sign a #2C, #3C

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Coleman - ??? - Mangiapane
Pelletier - ??? - Toffoli
4th Liner - Ruczika - 4th Liner

Hanifin - Andersson
Tanev - Kylington
Zadorov - Gudbranson

Markstrom
Vladar

Tons of assumptions such as Tre being able to make trades, the big dogs signing on those terms, and Pelletier being able to sit on the 2nd or third line, but not all hope is lost..... we might actually be able to keep one of Backlund or Monahan (Backlund preferred) and still be able to make the cap work.