Sean Monahan was the biggest offseason acquisition for the Blue Jackets prior to the 2024-25 season. He signed to be in Columbus for a bevy of reasons, one of which was to play with his best friend Johnny Gaudreau.
The tragedy of losing both Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau was heartbreaking for everyone in the hockey world, but no one more so than Monahan. He would never get to play again with his best friend. He would never get to live near or spend time with his best friend again. Monahan, more than many others, took Johnny’s loss very hard. Many people did not know how Monahan would perform this year due to the toll that this accident took on him.
He took that heartbreak and used it as motivation. He dedicated this season to Johnny and did he ever deliver. In the first game of the season (one in which the Blue Jackets honored Johnny Gaudreau), Monahan scored the second Blue Jackets goal of the game. Immediately after scoring, Monahan pointed to the rafters, which hung a #13 banner in remembrance of Johnny. Raw emotion oozed from Monahan’s face, and everyone could tell that Johnny was with him in that moment. That goal was a sign of how this season would go for the veteran center.
Monahan centered the top line for the CBJ. He was often between Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov. He scored 19 goals and added 38 assists for a total of 57 points. He averaged over a point per game this season, which is one of the best (if not the best) by a true center in CBJ history for a single season. He veteran presence and composure with the puck was evident all season long. He brought a calmness to a young group and really helped develop the young forwards around him.
Unfortunately, he only played in 54 games, missing nearly two months of time with a wrist injury. His absence was felt, as the CBJ struggled offensively in the second month of his injury.
Monahan signed a 5-year contract worth $5.5 million per season last summer. The 2024-25 campaign was the first of five seasons, so he has four more years left in Columbus. He will be in the Blue Jackets top-6 for a majority (if not all) of that time, where he will be counted on to provide offense and leadership.
Final season stats: 54 games played, 19 goals, 38 assists, 57 points, 20 PIM, +19, 128 shots on goal, Overall grade: A-
Monahan joined the Blue Jackets and immediately became the #1 center on the club. He filled the role admirably and helped the #1 line become one of the top lines in the NHL. His calmness and experience helped develop the talented young forwards around him. The only reason he receives an A- and not an A is because he missed some time due to injury.