It was a surprise to see Sean Monahan agree to sign for one year and just under 2 million, on the eve of his first chance on the free-agent market. The forward could have earned more elsewhere, but he decided to stay, which says a lot about the quality of the club and its personnel. Last year's original plan could still be on the table. We know that number 91 would have been a great bargaining chip at the trade deadline, but his injury prevented Hughes from trading him. This year, if he remains healthy, he'll be traded. At least, that's what Jean-Charles Lajoie thinks. <q>Jeff Gorton's rosary is on the clothesline. So is Kent Hughes'. Both are praying for Monahan to stay healthy. If he stays healthy, he'll produce. And if he does, we'll be able to do what we couldn't do last year, which was trade him. If he produces, in March, he's gone.</q> If JiC seems convinced of the outcome for Monahan, we're not. The fact that he signed in Montreal is very telling, as we told you earlier. And why shouldn't he be part of longer-term plans? It's all very well having youngsters and building around them, but it also takes quality veterans to surround them, and Monahan has what it takes to fill that role. <div class='youtube_container'><iframe class='youtube_video' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2aFLRdiRSKA' width='100%' loading='lazy' frameborder='0' title='' allow='autoplay; fullscreen' allowfullscreen></iframe></div>