Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
he goes into rough areas but he doesn't hit? He negotiates or reaches in to attempt to get the puck?
Toews did not hit much in his first year in the league. He still does not hit much considering the role he plays. He did have a +40 Takeaway/giveaway last year and in his rookie year had 8 giveaways and 29 take aways in 64 games. He only had 27 hits in 64 games.... in 60 games Monahan should have 10 hits.
In Toews first playoff year his second NHL season he had 19 hits in 17 games.
Right now there is no way I can see Monahan stepping it up physically when he goes up against the other teams best centres in important games.
I think you can agree that is the role that the flames are counting on him to take over when they are a serious playoff team. He needs to grow.
I am really worried that if he plays 60 games as a fringe player that it will be more difficult for him to grow out of it.
It will get worse for him as the NHL season goes along. Already because of his scoring success and talent the other teams coaches are making game plans that involve physical domination of Monahan.
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You seem to think that if he stays in the NHL for the full season, any growth in his game is impossible. That's wrong. If anything, judging his physical stats by his first 6 games is ignorant.
Just to put this argument of yours to bed, I looked up the stats for Jonathan Toews first 6 games:
Toews-
2G, 4A, 1 Hit, 0 BkS, 38%FO
Monahan-
4G, 2A, 1 Hit, 1 BkS, 42.1%FO
Monahan has performed better or equal to Toews in every category. Same amount of points and hits, more blocked shots (1), and a higher FO%.
Now go away with your silly argument. Toews got better, he was 19, he didn't perform as well as Monahan has. The end.