A fresh start for Sean Monahan

MONTREAL -- It can be tough for NHL players to change teams, especially when they've already spent nearly 10 years with the club that drafted them.

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That's the situation Sean Monahan found himself in when the Canadiens acquired his services from the Flames on August 18.

For the Brampton, ON native, Calgary was his second home. The 28-year-old forward made his NHL debut at the age of 18 when most draftees typically return to their respective Junior teams or make the jump into the American Hockey League.

Fate had different plans for Monahan. Selected sixth overall by the Flames in 2013, he made an immediate impact and became the first Calgary rookie to reach the 20-goal plateau since defenseman Dion Phaneuf in 2005-06.

"It was impressive," recalled Paul Byron, who played with Monahan during his first two seasons in the League. "We don't generally see the sixth-overall pick come into the NHL right away and be ready to play. His maturity and the way he handled himself really stood out. He was absolutely NHL ready and completely prepared for the workload and details that players need to be good professionals at a young age. It was pretty cool to see, and honestly I thought at one point that he was going to be the future captain of the Calgary Flames."

From that point on, Monahan never looked back, registering 462 points (212 goals, 250 assists) in 656 games. Away from the rink, he also made his presence felt in the community and built a life with his wife, Brittany, and their dog, Winston.

It's understandable that joining a new squad and moving to a new city could present a real challenge. But, the advantage of being dealt in the offseason is that you have time to adjust. Monahan and his better half arrived together before training camp to go house hunting in Montreal. A few of his teammates are also living in the same area and showed him around so he could grow more comfortable with his surroundings.

"We're starting to feel at home," he said.

That feeling of familiarity also translated onto the ice. Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, Monahan has showcased his talent, experience and leadership on a team hungry to learn and improve.

Featured on the wing and at center, the versatile veteran has adapted well to head coach Martin St-Louis' style.

"Marty is a passionate guy. We come in every day trying to win and get better," said Monahan. "As a group, we've done a good job at that and we're having fun working hard together, and that's the most important thing. When you do that, the results start to come."

He established chemistry with captain Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach, among others. Fans especially enjoyed seeing Dach and Monahan click.

"We get along pretty well, we play a similar style of game, and we're able to understand each other and make tic-tac-toe plays," explained Dach, after scoring the overtime-winner off a nice pass from Monahan against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 17.

Monahan has come a long way, literally, and not just because of the thousands of kilometers between Calgary and Montreal. The imposing forward underwent major hip surgeries over the last two years. When he was officially shut down on March 31, there was no telling how long it would be before he returned or how he would eventually respond to the compete level in the best league in the world.

If anyone understands the reality of hip surgery and what a subsequent return to play entails, it's Byron. He underwent a procedure in July 2021 and returned to the lineup in January for 27 games, but was unable to finish the season. He was then placed on long-term injured reserve in October.

"Honestly, it's extremely difficult from a mental standpoint, especially since he had the first surgery, came back, wasn't feeling well, and then he had to have a second one. Having double hip surgery is tough," explained Byron. "As an athlete, you take it one day at a time and all you can do is focus on the next step and try to get better the next day. He's still so young and he has his whole life ahead of him. It's nice to see that his body has been able to withstand the surgeries, adapt, feel good, and just find a way to go. It's amazing to see."

Byron isn't the only one impressed with Monahan's level of play. Fans witnessed his brilliance in the season-opener on October 12 during a thrilling 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. To top it all off, Monahan scored his first Habs goal on his birthday.

"My goal that night wasn't to score. I wanted to play, feel healthy, and play well," he explained. "It was nice to score that first goal at home, though, and it was nice to win the game."

Monahan also experienced the electric atmosphere of the Bell Centre as a Canadiens player, which was a truly unforgettable moment.

"It was exciting. I think it almost felt like a playoff game," he said one week after the game, his first appearance following four months of rehab. "It was a home opener, an important game, a divisional game against the Leafs, so it was a special feeling that I'll always remember."

Monahan is off to a strong start, having registered 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in 18 games. Will he be the same player who previously surpassed the 20-goal mark seven seasons in a row? That remains to be seen, and he isn't setting any personal objectives in that department.

He's just happy to be healthy. And for someone who has played his entire career until recently with one team, in one city, and who has overcome a series of career-threatening injuries, he seems to belong in Montreal, both on and off the ice.