2023-06-20 13:02:00
MONTREAL – Sean Monahan said during the end-of-season review that he hadn’t played enough games at the Bell Center in a Canadiens uniform for his liking. He will have the opportunity to play others next season.
The Montreal hockey club announced Tuesday that it had agreed to a one-year, $1.985 million contract extension for Monahan, who would have been granted full free agency on July 1.
Sean Monahan’s contract includes a games played bonus of $15,000 so it could ultimately be worth $2M total.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris)
June 20, 2023
In addition, the contract includes a bonus clause associated with the number of games played during the season. Monahan could make up to $2 million with a full $15,000 bonus.
This is a significant pay cut for the 28-year-old Ontarian. Monahan has earned an average annual salary of $6.375 million over the past seven campaigns.
Injuries derailed the career of the man who scored at least 20 goals in each of his first seven NHL seasons, particularly hip surgeries. Monahan has been limited to 24 goals in his last three campaigns.
The Canadiens acquired Monahan from the Calgary Flames last summer. He also picked up a conditional first-round pick in return for future considerations as the Alberta club sought to free up some space on its payroll.
Monahan played only 25 games in his first season with the Habs. He was off to an interesting start to the season with six goals and 11 assists when he finally had to take a break in hopes of recovering from a foot injury.
And while recovering from that injury, he suffered a groin injury which ultimately forced him to miss the rest of the season.
The management of his foot injury raised some eyebrows. Monahan had been spotted wearing a protective boot in the days before he was sidelined. He played a few games despite the pain, including insisting on playing the Calgary Flames on Dec. 1.
“It was my choice to play in Calgary. It happens in sports. Now, I regret it, but I can’t change anything,” Monahan said during the Habs’ end-of-season review.
If Monahan had remained healthy, general manager Kent Hughes could have counted on an interesting asset as the trade deadline approaches. Hughes had subsequently expressed some interest in extending Monahan’s association with the Canadiens.
“A healthy Sean Monahan was a very valuable player to the team. We let him focus on his health and then we will make a decision,” Hughes said after the conclusion of the trading period on March 3.
For his part, Monahan said during the end-of-season report on April 14 that he would be able to return to the ice “in two and a half weeks” and that he was “confident” that his groin injury be completely healed.
Monahan, who will participate in a videoconference on Wednesday, has therefore probably regained his health, otherwise the Canadian could have let him leave the team on July 1.
“I loved my time here and made lifelong friends in a very short period of time,” Monahan said during the Habs’ review. I think this team can quickly become competitive. It would be special to come back here. I don’t think I’ve played enough games at the Bell Centre.”
The Flames’ 2013 first-round pick, sixth overall, Monahan has 218 goals and 261 assists in 681 career NHL games.
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