So the Canadiens lose Monahan, their 2 nd round pick Colorado and pay half Reinhart's salary to only receive a distant 1 th round pick?They would get more by trading Monahan at the deadline, keeping their 2nd draft pick and not paying half Reinhart's salary. So that's a no for the Habs.

Let's be real, we're not getting better for Monahan on his own. ~3 mil retention for 1 year, Monahan (who already netted us a 1st) for a 1 round upgrade going from 2nd to 1st? I can easily live with that. We can dream big but we're not getting a kings ransom for Monahan if we get anything at all. We get another 1st for essentially next to nothing, MTL would be stupid to decline.

You don't trade a guy you just signed as a UFA before he even stepped foot on the ice. That's terrible optics for future UFAs. At the trade deadline, for a contender, Monahan will be happy to pack. For now, he wanted to stay put. And he will.

I agree, but for value sake he was included. I don't think he'd be upset if he was included in the decision. KH is fairly reasonable that way (see Petry). Monanhan wanted another shot to prove he still has it and MTL was happy to provide that. For the sake of this trade proposal he was utilized so MTL could get another 1st, something KH should be aiming for.