Despite GM and POHO Don Waddell stating in June that the Columbus Blue Jackets wouldn't be active in free agency, Columbus went out on the first day of the period and acquired a decent talent.
The Jackets picked up veteran centerman Sean Monahan on a 5-year deal worth $5.5 AAV. Monahan is coming off a season split between Montreal and Winnipeg, where he posted 26-33-59 in 73 games. He also averaged 54.85% in the faceoff dot, playing just under 18 minutes throughout the season.
Monahan has experience with other vets on the Blue Jackets roster, precisely when he played with Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary for several years and Erik Gudbranson with the same franchise in 2021-2022.
While Sean's final few seasons in Calgary were ones to forget, he played some of the best hockey of his career with Johnny during his first few years in the league and is coming off the season as mentioned earlier, that seems to have pumped life back into his career. Sean spoke about the importance of the chemistry he shared with Johnny and how excited he is to regain that same form in Columbus.
"I am really looking forward to being teammates with Johnny again. Johnny is motivated to have a big season and be a huge part of the team and I’m excited to have the opportunity to reignite the chemistry we had for close to a decade."Sean Monahan
While some fans have been debating whether the length of the deal will impact the development and placement of players like Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson; there's no doubt that the signing makes the Blue Jackets better at the moment. It's an upgrade to the weakest position in their forward group for perhaps the entire existence of the franchise.
Sean is an incredibly skilled centerman in the faceoff dot, a part of the game the Jackets have been in the bottom half of the NHL for years, and he can provide playmaking and goal-scoring on the powerplay that the Jackets sorely need.
With the salary cap continuing to move north over the next few seasons and the upcoming expiration of contracts like Patrik Laine and Elvis Merzlkins, I don't think this signing could've come at a better time for Columbus. Even if Adam Fantilli takes the top center job within the next few seasons, paying $5.5 AAV for a second-line center with experience, grit, and playoffs experience could be a bargain in a few seasons.
One bold prediction: Sean will score 20 power play points this season for the Jackets.
Following the departure of Mark Recci from his position as the Power Play coach for the Jackets, I am hopeful that the power-play will improve. Under a new system drawn up by the new coaching staff headed up by Dean Evason, Columbus will be able to find a way to utilize Sean's talents on that end of the ice.
He'll get to play with players like Johnny Gaudreau and Zach Werenski, and should help revitalize their special teams unit that has been near the bottom of the league for years. Monahan is too skilled on that end of the ice not to be able to find a way to mesh his talents well with one of the best playmaking wingers and power-play quarterbacks in the NHL.