Quote:
Originally Posted by Cole436
I think frustrations around Monahan are valid. He's a very smart, very young player, but he doesn't seem to be growing his game to be a #1 centre. I don't see any progress in his game from last year to now, and that worries me.
What he does well, he does better than most in the league. He has a deadly shot in tight and can finish plays with the best of the best. But I don't see a progression in the areas he's weak in, which is playing the body and possession of the puck. I've rarely seen him drive possession into the zone, or make a play off the rush. That seems to be exclusively Gaudreau's role on the line and that makes me worried about the progression of his game in the likely chance that him and Johnny won't be linemates forever, (or even in the near future if Bennett becomes the player we hope he'll be).
The larger red flag I see with Monahan is his lack of physicality on the puck and the boards. He has a very active stick and he plays hard, but he's a big kid and he should be outmuscling opponents and I've been pulling my hair out too many times watching him shrug off the contact and seeing the play go past him.
I really like Monahan and I think he'll be a big part of the Flames going forward, but their success is going to rely on how he addresses some important holes in his game.
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I posted this 3 years ago at my peak of Monahan doubt.
I honestly can't believe how well he's responded and grown since that point. While his role never grew into driving the play, his tenacity and compete level have taken his game to the next level.
We really do have an absolute beauty here.