Quote:
Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix
If we want Monahan to put up 80+ ponts, we will need the western conference to start being ####ty just like the old southeast was back then. You have to remember that teams played inside their own division for almost half the schedule in those days....and Jokinen feasted. There aren't as many easy nights for the Flames playing against the Cali teams and the central so much, so we can't expect that kind of production from Monahan. Production aside, I think Sean already provides a much more well rounded and cerebral game than Jokinen ever did.
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They played 32 divisional games. Jokinen would score 40 of his points against divisional rivals at his peak. Some of Iginla's best seasons he was putting up comparable numbers against some weak NW division teams, 35+ points. You're not going to asterisk Iginla's numbers, I don't see the need to do it with Jokinen's. Even if you remove his divisional points, he was still putting up over a point-per-game against the rest of the league, while often time playing with wingers who were lucky to be in the league.
Especially not when you can look at his teammates and see how little they were able to "feast" off the weak divisional opponents. Jokinen had 91 points one year, Horton had 62, Stumpel had 57. No one else beat 50. Jokinen was often playing with scrubs like Peltonen on his wing. Yet he still putting up beastly numbers. He was big, strong, skilled and dangerous. The pro-typical perfect center at the time.
Anyone arguing that Monahan, today, is better than Jokinen in 2005-2007, simply doesn't know what they are talking about. I don't use absolutes often, but they aren't comparable. And I love Monahan. I'd love for him to close the gap, which I think he will do, but right now that gap is huge.