Quote:
Originally Posted by IgiTang
So what exactly is Monahan bad at?
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First of all let's drop the idea that you have to be "bad" at something if you're not good at it. It's a false premise. Max Reinhart was not "bad" at anything. Matt Stajan is not "bad" at anything. However you're talking about comparing the best athletes in the world, they have to be better than mediocre to be difference making star players. A #1 centre is a star player -
a difference maker on more shifts than not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by heep223
Ok so are you going to elaborate then? What is so horrible about Monahan's game that negates his elite goal scoring ability to the extent that he's a third line centre? Some anecdote about how his defensive game needs work, and how he's not the best skater?
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"Horrible" is hyperbole. Monahan however does have an inability to contribute positively
when his "elite"* goal scoring doesn't show up (which is, expectedly 69% of games since Oct 2014) The following is going to come across as scathing or "haterade", but it's just my observations on Monahan's all-around game:
- He is not a difference maker in front of the net defensively. He may not be dumb or weak, but generally if a team wants to score on us, they work the puck near Monahan's coverage and he rarely if ever ties up a stick or makes a timely block or hit. He does read cross-ice passes decently. Due to his poor foot speed he has difficulty covering the cycle in the D-zone especially breaking up plays behind the net before they become dangerous. This leads to prolonged D-Zone time. Does that mean he is terrible at staying in front of his man or generally reading the play? No but there is no
endgame to his defensive play.
- He has difficulty skating the puck out of the defensive zone in traffic. He generally settles for a "safe" clear into a
hopefully open area. However this more often simply leads to prolonged D-zone time. Without the puck, he rarely supports his defensemen as a puck carrier the way most top centres do. The difference is stark as he plays on a team with Backlund and Bennett in particular who always help their blueliners out.
- He doesn't have much of a neutral zone presence away from the puck. When he has the puck in NZ, he has difficulty coordinating controlled entries and generally defers to his wingers (even when that winger is not Gaudreau). Part of this is because he is not a difference maker on the forecheck. This neuters the dump-in or chip-and-chase as a viable option.
- He is overly static in the offensive zone allowing opponents to key in on his linemates. He is not a difference maker on the cycle offensively as a result. This also causes our power play to get stagnant with him on the ice as he doesn't leave his bumper position often.
- He is an overly passive penalty killer resulting in point shots getting through on him, ultimately turning into tips and rebounds.
- He more often than not loses short area foot races, which results in lost zone time.
- He also isn't especially dominant in physical puck battles, although he's not terrible he's also not coming out of corners with the puck often.
Before you label me as a Monahater, remember I am a Flames fan who wants Monahan to be an elite #1 centre just as much as anyone. I am simply saying that if you made a check list of these things, most 1st/2nd line centres in the league, even younger ones than Monahan, check off these boxes. Guys like Draisaitl, Barkov, MacKinnon, and yes, Sam Bennett. You sort of
have to have your #1 centre ice man (and to a lesser extent #2) check off enough these boxes to be a dominant team.
*I wouldn't call him an elite goal scorer. That tier is reserved for guys like Stamkos/Crosby/Malkin/Seguin/(Benn/Ovechkin/Tarasenko). He's an upper-tier goal scorer, but not elite..