Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Bigger, stronger, longer reach, more physical. I think Barkov is going to be nearly impossible to check when he's hit his peak. He's an absolute beast. Extremely skilled, good two way. He's a prototypical #1 huge franchise centre IMO. Absolutely lethal on the shootout as well.
I love Monahan and his last half this season has erased concerns I had about his first half but I think Barkov has the chance to be a Getzlaf type dominant, #1 power centre but I think he can be even better than Getzlaf. Monahan I think is just a slight notch behind. MacKinnon I feel has fallen behind both of them.
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This is how I feel as well. I love Monahan, but Barkov is the prototypical ''full toolbox'' type of player. When he fills out and reaches his peak, he'll be one of the top Cs in the league. Of that I have no doubt.
Monahan is good no doubt, but he's always left me feelings that he has more to give. Not the most physical guy (although he's getting better at it) and I wouldn't say he uses his size to his advantage a lot. Barkov leans on guys like Jagr does and is near impossible to remove from the puck. One thing I think Monahan will always be better at is scoring. Monahan has the best shot on the team since Iggy's and he'll score 40+ one day with the right linemates. As rare as Barkov's toolbox is, goal scoring centres are just as rare. No one is going to mistake Monahan for a playmaker. But there are few Cs in the league who have a lethal shot like him and the Flames desperately need snipers like him on the team.
It's a fun debate between Monahan and Barkov. Just the fact that have a Flames' player in the discussion for ''best of his draft class'' is pretty awesome. Hasn't happened with very many Flames' players over the years. Mackinnon I think still has the highest offensive potential. But he's really fallen behind. Those who place him 1st on their list are really banking on potential more so then proven game play, which Monahan and Barkov have proven in spades.
And nothing against Lindholm, but I'm extremely glad we didn't pick him. I don't want to imagine how the Flames would look with Lindholm swapped with Monahan.