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Originally Posted by Love
mm, I guess we could argue semantics. yeah, he's a number one center, but a lower-ended one.
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Monahan ranks 14th in production among all NHL centres over the span of the past three seasons. I would accept that he is an average top line centre, but by every metric he is certainly better than "a lower-ended one."
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[I]I guess I could have used the word elite instead of bonafide, but what I meant was skating is a large part of his game which is holding him back from reaching that upper echelon of centers. he can't create his own offense nor is he a play driver...
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I reject this assertion. While Monahan has had the benefit of on ice chemistry with Gaudreau (a relationship in which Gaudreau has most definitely also benefitted), he too frequently is short-changed by observers for his in game contributions. Speed never has been part of his game, nor will it ever be so. Monahan succeeds by his on-ice vision and IQ, and while he is not flashy he is more than capable of carrying and distributing the puck to create offense—he has been doing it since he broke into this league.
He has played on several occasions away from Gaudreau and has been just fine. Two seasons ago when Gaudreau missed three games Monahan registered four points. Last year he really didn't get going until Gaudreau returned from injury, but he actually improved on a very poor start in Gaudreau's absence prior to the first week of Dec while he was still recovering from back strain. He was arguably the Flames best forward in the playoffs last year.
Monahan belongs in the conversation of the best player from the 2013 draft. He has always been a better player than Horvat and I don't expect that will ever change.