Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I've said it in game stories but I've been really impressed with the player since the week before the olympic break.
I'm not a scout, so my view on the guy from reading and development camp was a passer that has good poise in the offensive zone, and a great understanding 200 feet back to his net.
He's surprised me this year with his ability to find open ice (you can't teach that), and his quick release.
His shoot out performance shows he's one of those guys that can hit a very small hole on a goalie accurately which is really impressive for his age.
I wasn't concerned that he wasn't physical and was getting pushed around down low, because you expect that at his age (weight)
My biggest concern was his puck handling skills as he looked almost have stone hands when he get the puck. He wasn't a guy to carry it at all, so because of that you never saw him set anyone up (save for that Baertschi goal against Montreal).
Now however he's changed again.
He's adjusted to the foot injury, got a break, and came back way more confident with the puck. He's creating more, but yet again on Saturday there he is finding the seam and scoring a big goal.
His stock is rising in my mind. Great young player, and I'm now 100% convinced it was a good move to keep him and not send him back after 9 games (will always wonder about his WJC experience impact though)
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I agree with all of this, plus with the bolded it seems like after the break he's making a conscious effort to be more physical. He's going into the corners, taking hits, finishing hits, and sticking up for his teammates. He's 19, yet he's not letting anyone push him around.
With regards to his assists. It's not so much the wingers he's been playing with, it's youth. The passes that worked in junior don't work in the NHL. Players are way to good in the NHL with reading plays, and have good, really active sticks. As he gets more experience, and his vision improves those passes will start connecting a lot more.
Case in point my cousin plays for UBC and during the lockout the Canucks practiced with them and he was in awe with how well they picked off passes and had sticks in lanes all the time.... Also mentioned how easy it was to score on an NHL goalie, Schneider, when Sedin is passing the puck.
Or you can look at the Oilers. They are struggling more so cause they keep trying to play in the NHL like they did in Junior. Doesn't work. Better defenders, better players.
So again, it's not so much the linemates... it's experience.
I fully expect Johnny hockey to struggle the first little bit as well since the passes that connected in College won't be working in the NHL, but he'll adjust quicker more so because passing is his strongest asset.
I think the biggest thing is that Monahan can score, he can finish. The assists will come as he gets more experience.