Quote:
Originally Posted by FlameZilla
Each of those lines has a solid defensive-minded centreman (especially if Stajan centered the 4th line). Having Monahan between Gaudreau and Hudler not only puts our best trigger man between our best playmakers, but it also puts a defensive minded player on that line to cover for the occasional giveaway from high risk passes which don't come off.
If this team is going to compete in the West then its 1st line needs to be able to function as a shutdown line when it's inevitably paired up against the other team's top lines on the road. A Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler line ticks a lot of the boxes for me, and it's only a matter of time before we see it. Maybe once Backlund is back...
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I know Monahan is good defensively. But present he's not good enough to make up for the rest of the line. Johnny doesn't need to be on the top line yet. That's what the Oilers like to do - put rookies in positions they aren't ready for yet. But more than that, the top lines of other teams are usually big. Look at Benn.