BREAKING: TSN Hockey Insider Confirms Canadiens trading F Monahan to Jets for a first-rounder and a conditional pick

According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the Montreal Canadiens are reportedly sending center Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets in return for a first-round pick and a conditional draft pick.

Dreger mentions that the official trade call has not been finalized as of now.

Trade call between the Jets and Canadiens happening soon. Sean Monahan to the Jets for a 1st and a conditional pick. Excellent asset management by the @candiens_MTL and a very good add by @NHLJets @TSNHockey

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 2, 2024

The potential trade involving Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets follows remarks from Darren Dreger, who had previously mentioned that the recent Elias Lindholm trade to the Vancouver Canucks had raised interest in Monahan.

The Jets, currently trailing the Canucks by six points in the Western Conference and holding two games in hand, are eager to bolster their center depth according to TSN’s Winnipeg Bureau Reporter John Lu.

This move comes in response to their recent struggles without Mark Scheifele, who has been absent due to a lower body injury. During Scheifele’s absence, Winnipeg has posted a record of 2-3-1 and has been outscored 14-9, a stark contrast to their previous 14-game point streak.

Sean Monahan, aged 29, has accumulated 13 goals and 35 points in 49 games this season, rebounding from a limited 25-game performance last year due to injury. Notably, he was ranked at No. 3 on the latest TSN Trade Bait board.

Two years ago, the Montreal Canadiens acquired a conditional first-round pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for absorbing Monahan and his $6.375 million cap hit in a trade.

Monahan, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, inked a one-year contract worth $1.985 million with the Canadiens last summer. Earlier this month, Dreger disclosed that both parties agreed that he could be traded to a competitive team nearing the trade deadline.

According to Dreger on Insider Trading on Jan. 11, various teams are actively seeking centers, whether for depth or for a top-two or top-three center role. Potential suitors include the Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, and possibly the Washington Capitals if they maintain competitiveness leading up to the trade deadline. The 29-year-old Sean Monahan of the Montreal Canadiens is fit and putting up a respectable performance this season.

“In the off-season, when the Canadiens signed the experienced forward, they reached an agreement stating that he would be traded to a competitive team or a team of his choice when the timing is right. This arrangement remains unchanged. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Monahan is one of the first forwards to be traded before the deadline.”

Monahan has accumulated 231 goals and 514 points in his NHL career, spanning 730 games played with Montreal and Calgary.

Currently, the Canadiens are trailing the Detroit Red Wings by 10 points for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montreal is on course to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year after making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021