[Crumpy-Gunt]

It's funny how people react when someone says Monahan has basically hit his ceiling or he is not the straw that stirs the drink. I called in to talk to pat stienberg about this on overtime a few games ago and he almost cried. Accused me of having a personal issue against Monahan as well by asking what Sean Monahan did to me. There have been some really good posts in here. Some super childish ones as well accusing flames fans of hating Monahan or saying he sucks.

He obviously doesn't suck. Nobody is saying that.

Nobody ever said he was the best in the draft class. McKinnons skating and skill make him one of the best young players in the league from any recent draft class I'd put Sean 2nd or 3rd in that draft class but that's totally subjective and it's too early as the whole draft class is basically still on their elc. Some players yet to even finish college and some still in ahl.

Anyway I think Sean will be a great 2nd line center for us and would love to see him be a flame forever. I just don't think people should be so quick with the oh we've found our next 10 years 1st line center who will be a perennial all star and on team canada. Basically we've got a toews type.

I think a lot of his goals have been tap ins and easy goals that come from reading the play and going to the net on a line that creates a lot of high quality opportunities, where the defencemen attack and you may find yourself wide open with your stick on the ice and release a great shot. That's not a knock on Sean. It's good. He will score hundreds of goals in the NHL like that. However it doesn't make him a dynamic player or a 1st line center. The poster who said he could be a Daymond Langkow has an interesting point. But that name makes people think it's an insult. Well Daymond had 672points in 1090games. That's a great career. Multiple 30 goal seasons and high 50s or 60s in points. I would be ecstatic if Monahan has a career like Daymond did. it's such a great comparison because langkow had a great shot, was responsible and played 2ways, wasn't the most physical and drove the net with his stick on the ice and good things happened for him.

However one wouldn't say a team with langkow as their 1st line center will be dynamic enough to contend for a number of years. But he would be a great #2. A fantastic one in fact. That's how I feel about Monahan. I hope Bennett can develop and dominate so we effectively have one of the best 1-2 punches up the middle in the whole NHL.

I don't like how emotional people get when someone brings up the idea that maybe Sean was a beneficiary of his line mates or what if he's not dynamic enough to be our 1c on a contending team etc etc. I think Sean is going to be amazing for us but he likely won't lead us to success as our 1st line go to center. He could put up 30 goals and 65 points every season on the 2nd line of a really good, deep team though imo.

I don't think he's hurt. I think he is a player who finishes high quality chances really well and gets into the position to do so. The problem is he doesn't create high quality chances and right now the team isn't getting a lot of those asides from a few players like Gaudreau gio hamilton who have been getting into fantastic scoring positions by moving their feet and rushing in alone.

I think he's really frustrated. Maybe the most frustrated player on the team outside wideman and Russell and perhaps the goalies. He's on pace for 12 goals in a contract year. He is a very serious and competitive guy. He wants to prove he can create offense and be consistent and produce without the other 2. He wants to be that go to guy to score clutch goals. He hasn't and he's noticeably playing different imo because of that. He thrived with no pressure in his rookie season asides from what he put on himself. I think not only is he not a creator offensively he is a streaky player who is affected mentally by things like this. I also think Bennett is not, I think Bennett plays every shift the same and is extremely strong mentally. You could see that when he was denied 2 goals in one period by the refs and then dangled duchene to finally score. All the more reason I hope Bennett works hard and develops into a number one so Sean can be more comfortable and have less stress, worse opponents and lower expectations so he can thrive on the 2nd line.