Since signing in Columbus, the Blue Jackets have been searching for Johnny Gaudreau to be the participant he was with the Calgary Flames. The issue was he was lacking one thing. Enter Sean Monahan.
On July 1, Monahan signed a five-year cope with the Blue Jackets with an annual common worth of $5.5 million. Monahan and Gaudreau are reunited, and the Blue Jackets hope it will flip Gaudreau into the participant they anticipated him to be when he signed there a few years in the past to his seven-year, $68.25 million deal.
NHL Rumors: Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and the Nashville Predators
Monahan and Gaudreau had been along with the Flames from the 2013-14 season by 2021-22. They the place a dynamic duo on the highest line in Calgary for many of these years. They had been the primary motive the Flames went to the Stanley Cup Playoffs 5 occasions. Although the Flames solely made the second spherical twice, there was hope in Calgary that these two younger items can be there for some time.
Alongside the best way, that core cut up up, as gamers both selected to go elsewhere or the crew determined to maneuver on gamers. We ended up right here with Monahan and Gaudreau reuniting in Columbus.
The Gaudreau signing in Columbus was a little bit of a head-scratcher when it occurred, and a few are saying the identical factor concerning the Monahan signing. Nonetheless, new GM Don Waddell has seen what these two gamers can do firsthand, and it made sense to get a primary heart with an elite winger.
If you happen to return to their time in Calgary, Gaudreau and Monahan performed eight-plus seasons collectively. In keeping with Pure Stat Trick, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau performed greater than 5,500 five-on-five minutes collectively from 2015 to 2021. The pair outscored their opponents 271-226.
As well as, the pair mixed for 351 targets and 574 assists for a complete of 925 factors complete over these eight seasons. Simply think about if they’ll rekindle any magic once more; they could possibly be one of many higher duos within the league.
Gaudreau hit 74 and 60 factors within the final two seasons, respectively. Possibly he can inch again into the 80 to 90-point vary with Monahan again on his line. Whereas it’s a gamble to signal Sean Monahan, given his damage historical past, you can not deny what the 2 gamers have performed collectively.
Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau Nonetheless Not Meshing in Columbus
To not point out, being in a special scenario in life and having a great pal and linemate there for you’ll undoubtedly assist. However the Columbus Blue Jackets nonetheless have an uphill climb within the Metro Division.
Nonetheless, including a participant like Sean Monahan will permit the youthful gamers to play roles extra fitted to them. The depth now down the center has Monahan on the primary heart place positioning Adam Fantilli within the second place, adopted by Cole Sillinger within the three-hole.
Most significantly, Boone Jenner might shift to the wing with the arrival of Monahan. However the greatest factor for the Blue Jackets is that offensively, they could have discovered the spark wanted for Johnny Gaudreau to get going by bringing in his acquainted face from his previous in Sean Monahan.
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