Quote:
Originally Posted by FlameZilla
The gist of what I've read on Monahan is that he's a complete player. The consensus observations are that he is a 2-way centre that plays all 3 zones. Somewhere along the way people started interpreting '2-way' as 'defensive'. Then some posters panicked and started comparing him to various dud centre prospects from years' past.
In October this guy was projected to go top 3 & deemed an elite offensive prospect. Since then Drouin tore the Q a new A & Barkov cemented himself as a top prospect. His stock has not dropped; other guys have had excellent seasons. Monahan's team sucked. As it stands, he seems to be thought of as a #1 centre, but not a superstar/franchise talent.
The only worrying trait that props up is that his skating isn't at the same level as his other attributes. That doesn't seem to affect the abilities of Tavares. Like Tavares, Monahan seems to dictate the play & pops up in the right place at the right time to make clutch plays.
He is exactly the kind of player the Flames have been lacking.
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Monahan never projected as an elite offensive player though. He's always been considered closer to a Staal or Toews prospect that has great intangibles, can play in all zones and situations but lacks some offensive dynamism that others around him in the draft appear to have. You'll probably get 80 points out of him best case scenario and 50ish worst in his prime.
To me he's a little better than Couturier was coming out, and in this draft I don't think that's better than what a Lindholm or a Nichuskin can give you.