Hockey Insider: Montreal Canadiens Sean Monahan a Top Trade Target

The Montreal Canadiens are still a few years away from competing for a Stanley Cup and GM Kent Hughes will once again be active this season looking for ways to upgrade his hockey team for this season and for the future.

The Habs have a number of players who are drawing interest from other teams and while most of the attention seems to be on Jake Allen and a potential move to the Edmonton Oilers, forward Sean Monahan has skyrocketed up the trade boards of late.

Monahan is a pending unrestricted free agent who has battled a ton of injuries throughout his career. The 29-year-old is signed to a $1.98 million contract for this season and becomes a free agent next summer. His contract doesn't have any trade protection and he can be moved at will.

So far in 23 games, Monahan has registered 13 points and the Brampton, ON native could be a great third-line centre addition for a contending team. Recently Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff mentioned Monahan on his trade targets and had this to say about a move:

Strong teams are built down the middle. Monahan is a few games away from a $15,000 bonus to net an even $2 million on the season. Why a bonus at 26 games played? That would mean one more than last year, and a not insignificant milestone as a guy whose body has been through a lot. When healthy, Monahan shapes up to be one of the great trade chips of this deadline. He’s been productive, playing at nearly a 50-point pace this season, and he doesn’t cut corners in his own end. Monahan appears to be an ideal third-line center option on a Stanley Cup contending team

Monahan was listed as #2 on the trade targets board on DFO and will inevitably be moved in the coming weeks.