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Originally Posted by Brick
Matthew Tkachuk is the only real untouchable on the Flames.
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I would add Gaudreau to that list. Without him the offence dries up even more, and it will trickle down the lineup. Probably Gio I add too. He's a rock back there, and we need players like him. Those 3 I think are the only completely 100% untouchables unless it's massive over-payment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rtown
I’m prolly gonna get ripped for this but I don’t get how people think a culture change will come from dumping Brouwer and Stajan? If those 2 are the bloodline of this team then the problems are deeper than we think.
I think you have to look at moving out Monahan. Obviously not selling low and only if you get a comparable return but there’s a couple things about his game that bug me.
Everyone talks about these “hate to lose” guys. He is not one of these guys he is as emotionless as I’ve ever seen in a player. How come he’s NEVER stood up for a teammate? I actually had to look it up. He’s had ONE fight 6 years ago in the O. Never in the big leagues. I’m not saying he has to fight every second game or take on Reaves the other day but to not stick up for Johnny, his supposed BFF on the team, even once? Even just once. You can’t tell me that Monahan couldn’t have stood up to Staal last year?
He’s well below average defensively, I know, I know, 30+ goal scorers don’t come around every day but is he truly a great goal scorer? Or is he a by product of Johnny? He’s not a “sniper” by no means (see:Iggy/OV/Laine). I would gladly take a 1C who pots 25 but is much stronger in his own end.
Don’t get me wrong I like the kid, I’m not a “Monahan-hater” by no means but he seems to escape a lot of criticism for a very one dimensional player. I think if you’re looking at a tough decision to change to core it might have to be him.
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I won't even include Monahan on my untouchable list. I love him as a player and he produces like a decent #1 C. But he does NOT strike me as a guy who hates to lose. As good as he's been this season, he's been pretty disappointing down the stretch for a player who usually 'brings it' the 2nd half.
4 goals his last 20 games. A bunch of games with only 1/no shots. He was on pace for 50 goals/PPG...then 40 goals and just under PPG...and now he's settled right in near his career high and likely won't go up that much further.
30+ goals/60+ pts is nothing to slouch at. But he was on pace to smash those totals. And now he's slowed down and settled in where he usually is. TBH I view him as one of the disappointments down the stretch. He's not a line driver and isn't nearly as physical as he should be. Sure it's fun to make 'boring Sean Monahan' memes and have hearty chuckles about it. But is that really what you want your #1 C to be? He's got a long ways to be before he's at the tier guys like Kopitar or even Toews are at when you look at them being complete players.
I'm not saying I want to move him. The team is obviously better with him than without. But he's not nearly as untouchable as Gaudreau or Tkachuk.