Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
Do explain what threshold Monahan needs to get to be considered a #1C.
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You know it's subjective, but
until you can confidently say Monahan is in the same rough tier as those players i listed above (from Malkin thru Spezza), you can't say he's a #1C. All of those players are better. Right now putting him in that tier is just being a homer, or Darryl Sutter who also said John Gibson is "the best goalie I’ve ever seen.".
Defensively, he can definitely improve. Just playing defensive minutes doesn't mean he's playing them exceptionally. Watch guys like Backes and ROR and they are tougher to play against than Monny. Statistically it'd be clear by hi being a better shot suppressor. His FA60 RelTM of +3.75 unblocked shot attempts is worst among all Flames centers (well, other than Drew Shore). Stajan's +0.70 and Backlund's -1.83 would be good starting points but ideally you want your #1 center to be your
best shot suppressor because he's getting the most offensive starts and shouldn't be defending as much in the first place, plus because Hartley matches Backlund's line to other team's top lines so Monahan faces easier competition.
Offensively he's already taken a step forward from last year to this year in terms of carry-ins. But now he needs to translate that into successful plays because he's at a stage right now where Gaudreau was at last year where he'll enter the zone and then just toss the puck into traffic for a weak giveaway. He needs to create more behind the net too, we've seen bits and pieces of that game from him but nothing consistently dominant.
On the power play, he needs to be more dangerous outside of the slot area. Right now Monahan is only dangerous in the slot and in front of the crease. That's a narrow angle where teams have to guard him as an individual and it makes him easy-to-shadow. Him and Gaudreau have to be able to play some semblance of a cycle game where both players are a dual-thread to shoot or pass. Watch any top two-man combo on the PP - Toews-Kane, Getzlaf-Perry, Seguin-Benn, Crosby-Malkin, Sedin-Sedin, Giroux-Voracek, Thornton-Pavelski, etc and you'll know that Monahan isn't as varied a threat as true #1 centers are. He's option 3 on the power play after Hudler and Gaudreau.