Watching Mackinnon carry the puck across the blue line is a treat. The guy is so dynamic with the puck. And when you can carry the puck across the blue line as a center you have more options to dish the puck.
Monahan is not a guy who carries the puck across the blue line. He does not possess that kind of puck handling ability, nor does he possess the kind of shifty skating ability needed to "thread the needle".
Johnny is great at gaining an opponents blue line. But as a winger he has less options to dish the puck. The avs have picked up on the fact that our entire offence is based off Johnny gaining the blue line. They double and triple team him, taking away his time and space. They are able to do this because the flames don't have any other legitimate puck carrying threats on that line.
Incase anyone hasn't noticed, our second best player at gaining the blue line is Doc Ryan. That's a problem.
There is no doubt in my mind that having Johnny and Monahan as your 2 best forwards is not a cup winning formula. Johnny and someone else maybe, but not Monahan. Problem is those "someone elses" are few and far between.
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