I loathe the Monahan isn't a number 1 centre argument. Gaudreau carries the puck enough to make up for Monahan's lack of doing so, Monahan holding the puck more often might just hamper that. If we had an ROR or someone to bump Backlund down to third line centre we wouldn't have an issue at all. The real problem we have is that we really only have 2 lines that can produce on any given night, and most nights only one of those 2 actually does. Lately only the top line is producing with M. Tkachuk lugging along the 2nd. The book is out though, if you can mitigate our top line you likely beat this team.
We need to target another play driver to either prop up the third line entirely or to significantly augment the second line. Someone like ROR or Mark Stone.
Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland -- leave as is, we know they can produce 90% of games they play.
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik -- perfect as a third line, but just doesn't produce offense consistently enough to be a solid 2nd line.
Bennett-Jankowski-Hathaway -- shows flashes and spurts but nowhere near consistent enough production.
You either augment line 2 with a winger (I.e. Mark Stone) to create a consistent scoring threat 2nd line, and bump frolik down to try and stabilize line 3. Or, you bring in someone like ROR and change it up completely:
Tkachuk-ROR-Jankowski/Bennett
Bennett/Jankowski-Backlund-Frolik
That would give you a really solid 2nd line that is likely to produce on most nights and still matches up great defensively, and a very sound 3rd line that can chip in occasionally. That's the type of balance we need.
It's not our top centre that's the problem, it's our depth. Sean Monahan is fantastic and we are lucky to have him.
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