Quote:
Originally Posted by JTech780
The first Edmonton goal is where I have a lot of concern. Monahan was leisurely skating through the neutral zone going back to get the puck, when Draisaitl skated passed and beat him to the puck. Monahan then instead of making a hard play and taking the body, he stopped short and weakly waved his stick at the puck.
It's that lack of urgency from one of the team leaders and the number 1 center on this that is concerning. If it was a one off, then I could over look it, but this is becoming Monahan's MO. It's plays like that the prohibit him from being a true number 1 center and will keep the team from contending.
Monahan is a very good goal scoring center in the same mold as Jeff Carter, they are number one centers on a lot of teams, but shouldn't be the number center on team with aspirations of contending.
As far as goaltending goes, I just can't see a way that starting Rittich is the right move. He just isn't a number 1 goalie. I think you have to go with Talbot as he gives the team the better chance to win.
The fact that if Talbot does become the starter in the playoffs and that Rittich will be passed over for playoff starts two years in a row, means that Rittich isn't the guy going forward and that Treliving will need to find a new starting goalie (Lehner, Murray, Holtby...) for next season.
|
I saw the play the same way as well. Even rewinded back to see how Monahan could lose the foot race when he was ahead. But I just think Draisaitl is just that good. His skating has improved leaps and bounds whereas Monahan’s skating has stayed about the same. Draisaitl also combines his surprising speed with playing heavy which is what makes him one of the best centers on the planet.
Not on the same page with you on the goaltending front though. Rittich is still pretty green in regards to North American hockey. He showed #1 ability in the first half of the season where he was the team’s MVP. I wouldn’t give up on Rittich just yet. It looks more mental with BSD, he could still use some maturing in this department. I think the ability is there.