Quote:
Originally Posted by Table 5
Value to this team for a couple weeks during December? Who cares. It's much more important for him to get a chance to experience the world-stage against elite peers, be a leader on his team, and get a chance to play in high-pressure situations... than it is for him to contribute to an average team in the middle of the season.
I know we've been getting points this season, but pretty much every decision right now should be towards the betterment of the young guys, and not to the Standings. The WJC's will be another great learning experience for Monahan... they definitely shouldn't prevent him from getting it just because they might get an extra point or two out of it. He'll have the rest of the year to get the NHL experience.
|
I'm in agreement with you a bit here, I think Roger is out to lunch with his value to the team comment. Monahan should stay or go based on what's best for his development not his "importance" to the team. If he didn't show he was an NHL level player, he should have been sent back, not because we lack centre depth or anything.
But unlike you I'm not convinced playing in the World Juniors is better then the meaningful minutes he's playing in the NHL right now. Even playing against middling NHL players is a higher level of competition then elite junior guys. The pressure he felt the past month trying to make the NHL is probably higher then what he would feel going back down to a junior tournament.
I know we all love to watch the World Juniors each holiday season but if Monahan is playing well in the NHL and doesn't need a little shot in the arm, keep him in the NHL. Sending him back to juniors, even for two weeks for this tournament, is a step down in every way. I really don't like the idea of Monahan doing all this development, raising his game to this level, to have to readjust to a lower speed game just so us fans can enjoy him playing there.
The World Juniors is nice but it has shown to not mean much when it comes to development.