A big trade offer has just been raised between the Habs and the Avs: young goaltender Justus Annunen and Sean Monahan involved?

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MarcO
January 29, 2023 (5:20 PM)

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First, let's review some facts.

First, and not surprisingly, the Montreal Canadiens will be among the sellers as the NHL trade deadline approaches.

Second, Sean Monahan's contract is up at the end of the season, and he will be a free agent without compensation. So it makes absolute sense that Monahan will be traded by the deadline, especially with the emergence of young Kirby Dach.

Third, according to several very well informed sources, including Pierre Lebrun, the Colorado Avalanche would be among the favorite teams to acquire Monahan (plus, Montreal and Colorado know each other well, especially because of the Artturi Lehkonen trade)

"LeBrun, on Insider Trading, says the Avalanche are a team to watch when it comes to Sean Monahan.

They expect Landeskog to return before the playoffs, so it will be hard to have the payroll space to go after a Horvat or O'Reilly. Monahan could be a cheaper alternative."

- Via NHL Watcher

So what could a trade between the CH and Avalanche look like?

The excellent Marco D'Amico (Montreal Hockey Now) looked into the matter and he brought up an interesting name.

Justus Annunen

Annunen is a goalie of the future who was drafted in the third round (2018) and is having a solid season in the AHL.

He stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 210 pounds.

Annunen, 22, has an AHL record of 14 wins and 6 losses with a 2.47 GAA and .913 SV%. He was Finland's starting goaltender at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2020.

He is considered one of the NHL's top prospects in net.

So, based on the Lehkonen trade between Kent Hughes and the Avalanche, this is what it could look like:

TO MONTREAL - Justus Annunen + 2nd round pick in 2025

TO THE AVALANCHE - Sean Monahan

This would look like the template for the trade made between the two clubs in 2022.

Would you do it?

Kent Hughes could also push for the Avalanche's 1st round (protected) pick in 2024, but then he'd possibly have to add a bit, due to uncertainty about Monahan's health.

What about you, what would be your concrete offer?

Credits:

Obviously, for a trade involving Monahan to happen, he would have to come back to the game.