Quote:
Originally Posted by calgaryfox
If he's hurt, then for the good of the team, sit him. I've mentioned before that if he IS healthy and he is given space, he is a great one-way C /sniper. Unfortunately, he is now being tied up by tight checking and unfortunately he doesn't have the speed, grit or defensive awareness to bring anything else to the game. That's the main reason the top line has struggled of late. 23 = Mononymous.
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Lindholm has struggled way more than Monahan in the last while IMO. He's not been as dogged on the puck and created turnovers like he used to. He has also not carried the puck as much to give defenders something other than Johnnie to worry about.
To say Monahan lacks defensive awareness is silly. He's really not that bad, and until Lindholm arrived, he was always the best defensive forward on that line. Dopes he blow an assignment sometimes? Sure. But he's the centre and has a lot more to do. He doesn't get to float near the blue line like Johnny. And un less Peters plays a lot of hard changes, he gets the other team's top line when he doesn't get their top checkers.