Canadiens trade Monahan to Jets

The Montreal Canadiens traded center Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a first-round pick in 2024 and a conditional draft selection, the clubs announced Friday.

The conditional pick is a third-rounder in 2027 if Winnipeg wins the Stanley Cup, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Monahan is a pending unrestricted free agent and was viewed as the top pivot available for this year's trade deadline after Elias Lindholm was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks earlier this week. Monahan, 29, has managed 35 points in 49 games this season for the Canadiens.

Montreal isn't retaining any salary, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu. Monahan is on a one-year contract worth $1.985 million, and his cap hit for the remainder of the season is just over $785,000, per CapFriendly.

The Canadiens acquired Monahan from the Calgary Flames in August 2022 as a salary dump. They received a first-round pick in that deal as well.

Monahan's been heavily limited by injuries in recent years but scored at least 22 goals in each of his first seven NHL seasons. He'll provide some much-needed center depth for Winnipeg behind top-line star Mark Scheifele.

Winnipeg is currently third in the Central Division but only two points out of first place with two games in hand.

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