Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
Again, just because we have young centers in the pipeline doesn't mean they should come into the NHL at a young age and be forced to play un-sheltered minutes.
Do people still not get what the Oilers are doing wrong? I love Monahan, but he should NOT be playing all those minutes against top-line opposition every single night. We need another center that can do that. Is it any surprise that Monahan has played so much better since Backlund came back?
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The Oilers problem is that they have players who demonstrate difficulty in handling that assignment and continually ask them to do it.
Chicago asked Jonathan Toews to handle tough assignments at a young age and he was able to do it.
Monahan in my opinion has handled it. If the player steps up to the challenge and meets it than great. Right now Monahan is handling this far better than Mike Richards would. So why stifle a guy like Monahan because you want to protect him. Protect the guys who need protecting, otherwise let the Eagle fly and don't tell him to run on the ground with the other Turkeys.