WINNIPEG – Adding a player who can win the majority of his faceoffs should pay off for the Winnipeg Jets.
Sean Monahan was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday for a first-round draft pick in 2024 and a conditional pick in 2027. Monahan, who is also expected to improve the Jets’ struggling power play, has won 55% of his draws this season.
“Yeah, I take pride in it,” said the 6-foot-2, 202-pound native of Brampton, Ontario. “As a centreman, you should start with the puck. I’m not sure how I’ll be playing or used, but whenever I take a faceoff, I want to win. So that’s where my mind is at.
The Jets are 28th worst at faceoffs in the NHL with a 46.7 percentage.
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“Faceoffs on your specialty teams are huge,” said Jets coach Rick Bowness, who has been lamenting the lack of prowess in the circle all season. “When the (penalty kill) wins the faceoff, it’s down the ice. … If you lose the faceoff on the power play, you’re wasting 30 seconds.
“Faceoffs are important. He’s really strong on that left side. We’re going to use him in those situations.”
Monahan, who scored 13 goals and 35 points in 49 games with the Habs, is expected to add life to a power play that ranks 24th in the NHL at 15.7 per cent.
“It’s good for me. I’m comfortable in the bumper there,” said the 29-year-old Monahan. “When you’re feeling good and you have that confidence with touches and are obviously surrounded by great players on the power play, you want to get them the puck and be able to relieve pressure. It’s something that I’ve done kind of my whole career.”
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