LA Kings: Flames are listening to offers on forward Sean Monahan

The Calgary Flames are reportedly listening to offers for forward Sean Monahan. Should the LA Kings get involved for scoring help?

According to the Ottawa Sun, the Calgary Flames are listening to offers for Sean Monahan this offseason. Calgary could be open season on many prominent names in what is potentially an offseason of change for former LA Kings head coach Darryl Sutter’s new club.

"The Calgary Flames are listening to offers for centre Sean Monahan. He had only 10 goals and 28 points in 50 games this season and hasn’t lived up to expectations. He has two years left at $6.125 million in 2021-22 and $6 million in 2022-23 so he’s only a short-term commitment for a team that wants help. His deal has a standard 10-team no-trade clause. –  Ottawa Sun/Garrioch"

We already discussed the idea of Matthew Tkachuk and Drew Doughty being on the same team next season, so there is no need to revisit that.

However, Monahan, 26, is an intriguing option. Admittedly, the Ottawa Sun discusses Monahan as a fit for the Senators, who need an established centerman. The former sixth overall pick in 2013 put up 10 goals and 18 assists in the shortened season. He’s two years removed from an 82-point campaign.

Over the last three years, he ranked in the bottom seventh percentile in even-strength defensive metrics. While the LA Kings may not need another center, moving Monahan to the wing could kill two birds with one stone.

Think about it.

Wingers have far less responsibility defensively, and Monahan has proven himself in the past to put up a bunch of goals, which, if you recall, is an area the Kings could use a boost. Five-on-five scoring has been the primary challenge for Los Angeles over the last few seasons.

Two years ago, the 26-year-old forward tallied 22 even-strength goals.

He has two years left on his deal at a $6.38M cap hit each season, which plays a major factor in any potential trade because the reality is the Kings could see him walk in free agency after two seasons. Still, there’s so much to like about his game.

While the 2021 season should be considered a down year for Monahan’s standards, he nearly matched his expected production (51.3 GF% vs. 51.7 xGF% – data via Natural Stat Trick). He recorded a career-low 10.2 shot percentage this past season, which obviously played a role in the drop in points.

With a career shooting percentage is 14.5%, he’d fit right in with a Todd McLellan system that wants his players to put the puck on net. At the very least, general manager Rob Blake should do his due diligence and see what Calgary might be looking for in return. Something to consider as the offseason unfolds.