Quote:
Originally Posted by Stay Golden
If Monahan continues this outstanding level of play and Feaster/Burke, Hartley are going into game 9 there is no doubt Monahan has proven he is NHL ready and will only get better and better with more NHL experience.
He has been a catalyst to the team. Provided plays that matter at both ends of the ice.
If Monahan is sent down and he is in the top 3 for points i will truly question their intentions to be competitive and truly put the "best" product on the ice for this season.
We were discussing Monahan at the game last night and i ask the Flames just 1 simple question is there a better Center iceman in Abbotsford than Monahan.
The answer is clearly no. Not to mention he is the most productive Center on the Flames team.
Usually a team is afraid to keep a talented Jr eligible kid up because they are a step behind or they made the team but can't crack the top 6.
They can not use that excuse with Monahan. He has been a offensive difference maker so far every game.
They will look like asses if they send him down, they have to put their ego's aside and realize they are not burning a year of his contract if the kid is directly contributing to the Flames success and Nobody with a rational hockey mind can argue he isn't.
In fact Monahan is making his line mates better.
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My biggest concern going in was the team not letting the player decide.
A) they cut him before he even plays an NHL game because they don't want to burn a year on his contract.
B) they keep him on the roster all year as a marketing stunt despite him looking way over matched at the NHL level.
Those concerns are going away very quickly as they haven't taken him out of the line up yet (thought they'd have him play 2 sit one play 2 sit one etc to get him 15 games into the schedule and not 9), and they are putting him in a position to succeed.
Very good outcome, and a lot more than I expected.
This isn't done with mirrors, ... he could hit a wall but what he's doing is a hint to what kind of player he's going to be regardless of whether it happens this year or next