Monahan had been scheduled to play on the top line in Monday's preseason game against Toronto but was needed to fill in as the third-line center with Alex Newhook (upper body) unavailable, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis adjusted the projected lineup and moved Josh Anderson from the third line to the top line. St. Louis immediately responded to questions about Anderson being paired with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, which is a combination that didn't work despite numerous attempts in 2022-23. "I need Mony at center because Newhook can't play," the Canadiens bench boss said, "so it was a bit of juggling." Based on that, Monahan appears to be penciled in to start the 2023-24 campaign on the top line. St. Louis likes Monahan's ability to adapt to his linemates. In the coach's words, Monahan will do "what the game needs him to do."