The Habs pulled the trigger early on a Sean Monahan trade, sending him to Winnipeg on Friday for a first-round and a conditional third-rounder in 2027. Having had some time to ponder the move, our writers offer up their assessments.
With the Habs needing centre depth, they’ve turned to the AHL, announcing on Sunday that they’ve signed Brandon Gignac to a two-year, two-way contract. In addition, Lucas Condotta was also recalled from Laval.
Last year, the Habs weren’t able to trade Sean Monahan due to injury. That won’t be the case this time around as on Friday, Montreal traded the centre to Winnipeg for a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 third-rounder.
The first month of 2024 certainly had its highs and lows for the Habs, featuring some of their best and worst games of the season. Amidst the inconsistency on the scoreboard, some players stood out among the rest. Who were their top performers? Make your picks for our monthly three stars.
All good things must come to an end and that was the case for Laval’s point streak. While the Rocket managed to pick up a win, they ended the week by losing a pair of crucial divisional matchups.
The Habs didn’t have the most successful of weeks heading into the All-Star break but they were at least able to put forth two of their better efforts, one of which was overshadowed by Brendan Gallagher’s reckless and dangerous elbow which rightfully landed him a suspension.
Earlier this season, Nicolas Beaudin made it known he wanted more ice time in Laval. He didn’t get it and now, he will look for that playing time elsewhere as the two sides have agreed to terminate his contract; the Habs placed him on unconditional waivers on Sunday.
The Habs will be without Brendan Gallagher for a little while as the Department of Player Safety announced that the winger received a five-game suspension for his hit on Islanders defenceman Adam Pelech on Thursday night.
After another rough outing to start the week, the Habs look to get back on track on Thursday as they hosted the Islanders. They started strong before blowing the lead late in the third but managed to get one with just over two minutes to go to get the 4-3 win.
Laval had a pair of key divisional matchups last week in a home-and-home set with Belleville. While they’ve struggled recently against the Senators, the Rocket did manage to pick up the win in both games, aiding their midseason playoff push.