$44.6M a lot, but Monahan is worth it, GM suggests
Being the savvy businessman he is, Brad Treliving maintains a system of checks and balances.
But the Calgary Flames general manager also knows a good investment when he sees one.
Given Sean Monahan’s production rate over his first three NHL seasons, his quickly established status in the professional hockey world and his career trajectory, Treliving could easily justify spending US$44.6 million over a seven-year period.
And the 21-year-old centre, who’ll get a salary worth an average annual value of $6.375-million per season, has earned it.
“Sean has done some things that put him on a certain level,” Treliving said on Friday after inking one of his cornerstone pieces and stars to a long-term pact.
“As we talk all the time, you want to be fair. But it has to work for both sides. You take into consideration the player, the team and the things we’re trying to accomplish.”
Like, for example, a return to the playoffs. Or, the ultimate goal, a Stanley Cup.
In the interim, Monahan symbolized the beginning of the Flames’ rebuild and has quickly established himself as one of the leaders in a young dressing room.
On the ice, he’s steadily improved every year and jumped from 22 goals and 12 assists in his rookie campaign to 31 goals and 31 assists in his second year (his first season playing with Johnny Gaudreau).
Last season, his third in the NHL, he finished second in team scoring behind Gaudreau with 27 goals and 36 assists in 81 games.
Monahan is among a class of top young pivots in the league that signed deals following their threeyear entry level contracts, including Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (seven years/$44.1 million, $6.3 AAV), Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele (eight years/$49 million, $6.125 AAV), and Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (six years/$35.5 million, $5.9 AAV).
Comparably, none of those players had as many points or goals in as many games over the three-year period as Monahan.
In other words, the deal is fair for both sides.
“Part of the negotiations is finding where a player fits in the marketplace,” Treliving said. “I don’t want to comment on other players but ... when you look at his production and what he’s done over three years, he’s at that level.
“History puts you at a certain spot and gives you a marketplace. But it’s about moving forward — where you project the player.”
With Monahan, the Flames have always seen potential.
On Friday, Treliving indicated the best is yet to come.
“Sean plays a critical position,” he said. “He’s a big centreman. He can score goals and make plays. He can play both sides of special teams. He’s a big body. We’re excited where it ended up.
“He’s established himself as a top-end player in this game and we’re excited to have him for the next seven years ... this agreement not only speaks to what Sean’s done but where he’s going and what we think he’s going to do.”
Sean plays a critical position. He can score goals and make plays. He can play both sides of special teams. ... We’re excited where it ended up.