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Originally Posted by Textcritic
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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While he does score at an average first line centers rate, he definitely doesn't defend like one. Factoring in both ends of the rink, I would (arbitrarily) think he ranks in at somewhere around 20 (with still room to grow as a player consider he's only 22)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
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..
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For sure, Monahan is a great player in his own right, nobody is saying otherwise. I actually think playing with Gaudreau is holding him back from being more assertive as he often likes to defer to Gaudreau when they play together. Monahan has his moments like that goal he scored against the Oilers last season where he carried the puck from his own zone all the way to the slot to score, but we just don't see it happen consistently enough like the Getzlaf's and Tavares' make happen. He is routinely good and a premier finisher when he gets the chance, but not very often do we see that Herculean like shift from him where he dominates his opposition and wills that puck across the line. That's what I think separates him from the truly elite. Who knows if he ever gets there, and there isn't anything wrong if he doesn't because that's the company of the top 5% of centerman in the league.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
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.
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I mean I'm sure this same sentiment would have been echo'd in 2015 if one tried to argue that they liked Schiefele over Nugent-Hopkins going forward. We all know that cliche saying about a marathon vs. a sprint. Monahan outproducing Horvat in 2014 does not guarantee him to be the better player in 2018 or any future years going forward.