Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdonkey
He’s a top line guy for a team looking to just make the playoffs, sure. But he’s decidedly middle of the pack across the league. Is the goal to be a middle of the pack team?
To win it all in this league you absolutely need to have at least one centre capable of taking over a game when it matters. Monahan is not that player, and the Flames have not had that kind of center since Nieuwendyk.
The Langkow comparison is probably closer than many are willing to admit. He’ll put up points when paired with a real difference maker, but for the most part he’s a complementary player who’s just along for the ride.
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Let’s say this is true. What’s the solution? If you need that kind of centre and Monahan being as good as he is, isn’t at that level, what’s the solution?
Outside of drafting, there aren’t many solutions available. Maybe you sign or trade for a guy, but how many are available and which of them want to come to Calgary? How many teams actually have a guy like that and how many of them would be willing to part with him?
Personally, you don’t really know you have a player like that until they prove it. For some guys that’s really early, for others it’s a little later in their career. Because of that, I think it’s too early to say a guy like Monahan isn’t that. Plenty of top guys find a new gear later in their 20s when they realise offence alone isn’t enough. Monahan is 24.