I don't think they'd be sending Monahan down "just for the sake of it". They'd be sending him down to get a taste of success and a deep playoff run. Not to mention time to play with guys that will surely be making their way to the big club in the next season or two. Not only is it beneficial to Monahan, it's beneficial to the players around him, and the organization as a whole. They can see who has chemistry with him, which could play a big role in who is on the Flames roster to start next season. Sure, he's an NHL'er, and you don't just send an established NHL'er down to the AHL to stack the team for playoffs, but you have to remember, he's still just 19. The majority of the kids he was drafted with are still playing Juniors, it's not going to hurt his feelings to send him down to get paid to play some meaningful hockey.
|