Canadiens Could Benefit From Potential Mass Exodus In Calgary

The trade that saw Sean Monahan join the Montreal Canadiens from the Calgary Flames keeps getting better.

Not only did the Canadiens acquire Monahan for free, but they also received a conditional first-round pick from the Flames, who were desperately attempting to alleviate their salary cap concerns.

The conditions for the first-round pick are rather complicated, but for now, it seems like the Montreal Canadiens will be receiving the Flames’ 2025 first-round pick, as originally intended.

The #Flames have traded Sean Monahan and a conditional 2025 first round pick to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for future considerations.

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) August 18, 2022

Monahan recently signed a very team-friendly extension, which will pay him $1.985 million next season, and will give the Montreal Canadiens another opportunity to trade the 200-foot centre at the deadline, thus increasing their total haul from the original trade.

MUST READ: Three reasons the Monahan extension is a home run for the Canadiens

But it gets better, at least from a Montreal point of view.

Things aren’t going well in Calgary, there seem to be several disgruntled players in the lineup, which could lead to the 2025 first-round pick becoming much better than previously anticipated.

Top forward Elias Lindholm is in the last year of his six-year contract, and there’s a strong possibility the talented centre may not re-sign with the team, and consequently, could lead to a trade.

#Flames update: CGY recently made a big pitch, rolled out the red carpet ($) to try to re-sign C Elias Lindholm.

CGY is waiting on a response from Lindholm and haven't been given definitive answer yet. But general league speculation is he's leaning toward not re-signing w/ CGY.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 22, 2023

Mikael Backlund may also leave the team, which would be a significant blow to the Flames. Backlund is also in the final season of a six-year contract that pays him $5.3 million per season.

Finally, on #Flames: Bit of a surprise. Told Mikael Backlund is also leaning toward not re-signing in Calgary.

That could change, and Flames hope it does. He's been a staple for 15 years.

Nonetheless, Craig Conroy has decisions to make.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 22, 2023

And finally, defenceman Noah Hanifin has made it clear that he wants to play elsewhere, which could lead to the Flames trading the blueliner rather than letting him walk away for free this summer.

The belief is #Flames have received a more direct answer from defenseman Noah Hanifin, who has clearly indicated that he does not plan to sign an extension in Calgary.

That doesn't necessarily guarantee a trade, but Calgary has an answer on where he stands.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 22, 2023

This comes on the heels of Darren Dreger‘s report that suggested Tyler Toffoli may be involved in a trade in the near future.

A lot can change between now and 2025, but the chaos out west is nothing but encouraging news for the Montreal Canadiens.

The Sean Monahan trade looked good from the very get-go, but now it has the potential to become one of the best trades in Montreal Canadiens’ history.