January 27, 2024 | 9:44pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

RANGERS PURSUING CENTRE MONAHAN

Sean Monahan, forward

The New York Rangers have been scouring the NHL looking for a centre to slot into their third line and the recent injury to pivot Filip Chytil might force GM Chris Drury into escalating his search.

Drury is believed to have been exploring the trade market for the last few weeks, combing for options up front, and with fairly limited salary cap space, he may be looking for players with bargain contracts.

One player the Rangers have already expressed interest in is Montreal Canadiens centre Sean Monahan, who ranks inside the Top-10 of the TFP Trade Watch List and has already been linked to the Blueshirts.

During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada this evening, Elliotte Friedman reiterated New York’s interested, noting Monahan is on Rangers’ radar, and added that it could cost the club a first-round draft pick.

“I think one of the teams that people are looking at are the New York Rangers,” Friedman said. “The Rangers were already looking for a centre, and now they may have to look for two.”

Monahan, 29, comes with an affordable $1.985 million salary cap hit. He has registered 34 points in 48 games with the Habs so far this season, and has also attracted the interest from other clubs, including the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets.

Friedman also noted that “there isn’t a lot of love lost between the two front offices,” and wonders if that will result in this potentially being “complicated deal to do between” the two clubs.