(Toronto) Rick Bowness and the Winnipeg Jets wanted to strengthen their roster. The team also wanted to ensure that a player joining their roster would fit the right mold, even off the ice.
Jets head coach Bowness thinks Sean Monahan is that kind of player.
On Friday, the Jets acquired the experienced center from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a first-round pick this year and a conditional third-round pick in the 2027 draft.
“We’re absolutely thrilled,” Bowness said Saturday during the All-Star weekend festivities. He is a very important addition to our team. He will help us in many ways. We know he’s good on faceoffs and plays well in both zones, which is what we like to play as a style of play as well. I hear nothing but good things about him, his work habits and that he is a great teammate. »
A native of Ontario, Monahan scored 13 goals and 35 points in 49 games this season with the Canadiens. Bowness said he expected to start the Jets’ new center on a line completed by Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti.
“We’ll see how it goes, you never know,” Bowness added. We have to give them a good chance. We know what Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry’s lines look like when they’re going well.
“We’ll give Sean a good chance with Perfetti and Ehlers and see how it goes. »
The Jets are two points behind the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the Central Division, with two games in hand. The team has been without Scheifele for a while after he suffered a lower-body injury on Jan. 11.
“It makes the coach’s job a lot easier when you need a goal and he’s there in front of you on the bench,” Bowness said. He played excellent all-around hockey this year. We certainly missed his absence offensively.
“It’s all these little things he does. He is one of the first on the ice every day for practices. He is very involved as a professional. We missed him and hope he can return to the game on Tuesday. »
Tuesday could also mark Monahan’s debut with the Jets, he who will have practiced a few times with his new team.