Stirring welcome surely awaits rejuvenated former Flame Sean Monahan

CALGARY – The feel-good moment destined to play out when Sean Monahan returns to the Saddledome Thursday might only be topped by how happy Calgary Flames fans should be to hear him utter these five words:

“Playing hockey is fun again,” the former Flames centre said Tuesday night.

It’s a powerful proclamation from the 28-year-old Montreal Canadiens reclamation project whose legendary list of ailments included postseason surgery five of the last six seasons.

Given the pain he’s endured over the last few years in a futile yet admirable attempt to return to form as a 30-goal scorer, there weren’t many who believed the one thing he’d find in his game was joy.

Hobbled by hip issues that required season-ending surgery each of the last two years, the man who’d eclipsed the 20-goal mark his first seven seasons, spent the last few years in Calgary mired on the fourth line.

The only thing harder to come by than ice time were goals and assists, as someone who’d clearly lost a step, and plenty of confidence, soldiered on for his teammates.

His time in Calgary came to a merciful and unceremonious end in mid-August when GM Brad Treliving sent Monahan and a conditional first-round pick to Montreal as part of a salary dump that opened the door for the signing of Nazem Kadri.

As hard as the news was to swallow for the recently married Toronto native, he’s the first to admit it gave him new life.

The change was absolutely necessary for him to be successful again.

“For sure,” he said. “Things weren’t going well. I was hurt and wasn’t playing much. I wasn’t having too much fun.

“To get a fresh start was huge for me. I’m really happy to be here.”

No doubt.

Declaring himself pain-free at training camp after another long summer of post-surgery rehab, Monahan has shown flashes of the player he used to be.

Currently anchoring Montreal’s third line, Monahan is a fixture on the team’s first power-play unit and its second penalty-killing unit, and has five goals and 14 points.

For those keeping score at home, that’s one fewer point than Kadri has as a Flame.

“It’s been great, playing in all situations,” said Monahan, who had a career-high 34 goals in 2018-19, one year after enduring four post-season surgeries.

“It’s a pretty young group. It’s been a lot of fun to be able to be a leader and learn from some of the younger guys and the coaches. Just being here, a fresh start, it’s been really good, and I love it here.”

Monahan’s enthusiasm of late extends to his return to the city in which he quickly went from the team’s sixth pick overall in 2013 to an alternate captain who teamed up with Johnny Gaudreau to compile almost 500 points over nine seasons.

“I spent almost half my life there – it’s going to be weird, but I’m excited to get back there,” said Monahan.

“I don’t think I have anything to prove. I had a decent career there. I think the big thing is just the relationships. I built a lot of lifetime relationships with people from the city and the organization and obviously some teammates.

“It’s going to be special. I’m looking forward to getting back there.”

Monahan’s return comes two nights after Matthew Tkachuk’s homecoming included a standing ovation, followed by boos every time he touched the puck.

This will be different.

Unlike Tkachuk, Monahan didn’t want out.

He never asked for a trade, nor did he ever use his injuries as an excuse.

He was the consummate team player, who soldiered through endless ailments to try helping the team at both ends.

The video tribute and reception for Monahan should be stirring.

“It should be great,” said Tkachuk, when asked about his longtime teammate.

“He was somebody who put everything he could into it, played there for many, many years.

“He did everything the right way and is just a great person in the locker room.

“He was somebody who took me in at a young age. He wasn’t even that old either, but he really made me feel comfortable. I’m super grateful for him and everything he did for me. And I think fans should feel very similar – they should feel grateful they had someone like him represent the organization for so long.”

Andrew Mangiapane agreed, pointing out that all his longtime pal from Toronto ever did in town was dedicate himself and his body to the team.

“Hopefully, fans appreciate that and give him some cheers and welcome him back,” he said.

“Monny gave it all. He put his body on the line here, for sure.

“I know his hip was kind of bothering him and he’d come in limping around and stuff.

“We used to carpool to the airport together and he’d be, ‘Ah, my hips are sore today,’ and stuff like that.

“You wouldn’t think they were that bad with how he was able to still be able to play and handle that pain.”

That pain, insists the rejuvenated Monahan, is gone.

It has been replaced by a renewed passion Canadiens coach Marty St. Louis said is infectious.

“For a player that’s been in the league a long time and had a ton of success and now battled injury and now is finally back healthy and himself, you can see his enthusiasm coming to the rink and I think that enthusiasm is so contagious,” said St. Louis, who Monahan used to play against and has nothing but respect for.

“What he does every day as a pro, that’s contagious too. He’s been such a huge pickup for us.”

There was never any pouting or woe-is-me from Monahan, who took the trade in stride and has reacted the right way.

“I think Sean knows what he is,” said St. Louis.

“I don’t know who’s doubting him.

“I know that Sean is not doubting himself, and that’s all that matters.”

Truth is, with just one year left on his contract, it certainly appeared Monahan’s career was in jeopardy – a notion he’s done well to dispel early on.

“It’s nice, but I’m still finding my game right now and I still have a lot to prove,” said Monahan. “I think I can be a much better player than I have been.

“It’s slowly coming back here.

“It’s an exciting time, and playing hockey is fun again.”

--with files from Sportsnet's Eric Engels