Surprising Information has just Surfaced Regarding the Trade Between the Canadiens and the Flames Last Summer

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Elliot Ben Jacob
July 21, 2023 (3:57 PM)

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Almost a year ago, Kent Hughes carried out one of his best trades since his arrival as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Indeed, he acquired the services of forward Sean Monahan and a first-round pick in return for future considerations.

The 28-year-old center had a great time last year, amassing 17 points in 25 games before suffering an injury that sadly ended his campaign. However, Monahan signed a one-season contract extension this summer, earning a salary of $1.985 million in 2023-2024.

There is no doubt that if the forward can achieve similar statistics this year, he could become a very interesting target for several NHL teams at the trade deadline. The Canadiens could therefore secure a second first-round pick for the sole and unique reason of having absorbed Monahan's contract.

This would certainly be a stroke of genius on the part of Kent Hughes!

However, the excellent Ali Murji revealed major information regarding the trade that sent Sean Monahan to the Tricolore. According to his sources, the name of Josh Anderson was repeatedly involved in the talks, but Nazem Kadri's arrival forced Brad Treliving to quickly part with a big contract.

"From my understanding the original deal with Montreal was supposed to be Monahan, a 1st and an extra piece for Josh Anderson, but Nazem Kadri decided to become a Flame so it ended up being a cap dump." - Ali Murji

Wow! If it weren't for the signing of Nazem Kadri, Josh Anderson could have been a member of the Calgary Flames today. In the end, the CH general manager managed to get Sean Monahan for free, while also getting a first-round pick.

While Josh Anderson's offensive contribution is quite modest, he scored 32 points in 69 games last year, his impact in the locker room and on the ice cannot be simply measured by his point tally. The forward has an intense style of play that fits perfectly for playoff hockey and there is no doubt that he is a valuable asset in Martin St-Louis's lineup.

Credit: Habs et LNH