Blue Line Station
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Some centers for the Rangers to pursue

By Steve Paulus

Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 15: Sean Monahan #23 of the Calgary Flames in action against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 15, 2013 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Flames 4-3 after a shoot out. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 15: Sean Monahan #23 of the Calgary Flames in action against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 15, 2013 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Flames 4-3 after a shoot out. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Sean Monahan

The Calgary Flames have made the playoffs only four times in the last 12 years and got past the first round only once.  After missing out yet again, reports are surfacing that they are willing to listen to offers for center Sean Monahan.   If he is really available, the Rangers have to be in on any deal the Flames would be looking to make.

Pros

  • He’s a center.
  • He can win faceoffs with a lifetime winning percentage of 50.2%.
  • He’s in his prime, turning 27 in October and is under contract for two more years at a reasonable AAV of $6.375 million.
  • Despite falling off the last two seasons, Monahan has been excellent statistically.  He’s topped the 30 goal mark three times and was an 82 point player just three years ago.
  • He’s a solid defensive center who has gotten Selke Trophy consideration.
  • He’s durable, missing only 26 games in eight NHL seasons.
  • In the 2019-20 post-season he had two goals and eight points in 10 games, an improvement over his regular season performance.
  • He is a Western Conference player so any young talent that would go to Calgary would play the Rangers only twice each season.

Cons

  • After that 84 point season three years ago, his scoring has dropped precipitously.  He went from a 0.44 goals per game (GPG) rate to a 0.20 GPG this season.
  • Although his contract is reasonable, it only runs for two more years and if he returns to form, he will be looking for a big payday in 2023-24.  He also has a 10 team no trade list on his current deal and the Rangers could be on it.
  • Monahan missed the last four games of the season when he underwent hip surgery.  Coach Darryl Sutter said that he had played in pain for 20 games before being shut down.  The hip injury could account for his career scoring lows this season.
The verdict

Explore it. Monahan is an intriguing option for the Blueshirts.  His ability to win draws and his past history as a top center are pluses, but only two years on his contract means that the team would be in a tough position after just one year.  If the Rangers were to trade for him and he delivered a big season in 2021-22, it would make it much simpler for the Blueshirts to decide how to move forward on Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome.

At 27 years old, he’s in his prime and would accelerate the Rangers return to playoff contention.  If he could recreate the magic he had with Johnny Gaudreau with Artemi Panarin in New York, look out.

Calgary would be looking for a lot in return, but Monahan’s value is lower now after two inferior seasons.  That and the fact that it’s a Western Conference trading partner makes a Monahan deal one that Drury has to be looking at.

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