Quote:
Originally Posted by AC
I'm a big Monahan fan, but also a big Gaudreau fan. Maybe I'm biased lately because of my frustrations with Gaudreau's play in the playoffs. However my analysis was based on what I've seen, yes. I haven't seen Gaudreau outwork the Stars to put his teammates into good situations in the same way that Monahan has, even if that has been painfully subpar as well. Gaudreau's "good rushes" that have been talked about during the games usually consist of him skating through the neutral zone nicely, but ultimately turning it over.
I flat out said Monahan has been a disappointment, I'm just more willing to forgive a player that seems to be doing a lot of the small things right at both ends of the ice compared to someone who hasn't really been able to do much right at either end of the ice 5v5. Gaudreau had the one nice pass to set Monahan up in Game 4, and Monahan returned the favour with that 2 on 1 play as well as the one-timer from the slot in OT. Are there some prime examples of Gaudreau creating offense you can recall from these games? I'll pull them.
Either way, my point was that I don't think the 2 players work as a pairing in the playoffs based on the games we've seen. Gaudreau isn't the same player in tight checking playoff hockey, so he can't get the puck to Monahan consistently the same way, and Monahan isn't the right type of centre for Gaudreau in the playoffs either obviously.
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I mean it wouldnt be hard to go back into your posts and see you continuously blasting Johnny and pumping up Monahan but really what would the point be? You are trying to sell that Monahan would be doing better offensively if he was away from Johnny where I believe if Johnny had a threat playing with him as his center it would be different. Key on Johnny because his center and other winger are completely lost offensively right now.
Gaudreau has also backchecked and broken up plays in these playoffs. He has also had many shifts where he isnt handling the puck like a live hand grenade and has looked dangerous offensively.
You take a look at what Backlund and Bennett are doing as centers for this team and then look at Sean Monahan. He cannot touch any facet their games with a ten foot pole. To pile on Gaudreau and then try to say Monahan is doing things well despite being saddled with Johnny is disingenuous. Even the examples you dug up to sell that Monahan is playing well are fairly questionable to me but whatever.
They are both totally underwhelming together.
Sean Monahan is the real problem on our first line IMO.
Johnny Gaudreau is the real problem on our first line in your opinion.
We will agree to disagree.
Lets both hope that our first line shows up tomorrow and we can talk about how great they were together.