Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
I get what you’re trying to get at, but I don’t agree with it. The top line in 18-19 scored the majority of their points on the forecheck. They turned pucks over on a regular basis and created the majority of their scoring chances this way.
If anybody wants proof, check AC’s highlights of just Johnny Gaudreau and count how many goals or scoring chances were created by their forecheck. It’s certainly in line with Ward’s tagline of “check for your chances.”
Honestly, I’ve never seen Monahan drive this line. He’s always been the guy who waits for Gaudreau to draw defenders, while he stalks in the weeds or in front of the net. Without a guy who can do that for him, he’s basically incapable of doing it himself. I don’t know how many actual dangerous scoring chances Monahan had in 10 games this playoffs, but I could probably count on 1 hand how many. The same pretty much goes for Lindholm and Gaudreau as well to a lesser extent.
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As you just pointed out, in 2018-2019, when all 3 forwards forechecked, and played the puck, they all saw a huge increase in production.
Does that not essentially drive home the point, that when Monahan makes plays, the entire line reaps the rewards, where as when he is stuck waiting on Johnny to make something happen, less and less actually happens.
This is why a Line of Hall-Monahan-Tkachuk could be incredible.
All 3 have size, some snarl, and a tonne of skill.
Any one of those 3, at any given time could win a battle below the goal line, and know full well, that if they threw the puck to the slot, someone will be there. As it stands now, Lindholm is the only one on the top line that can battle below the line, because if Monahan does, there is no one in the slot.
Having Johnny float along the boards creates a huge disadvantage for the line because it means his teammates are limited to what they can do. This is why Monahan plants himself in the slot, and nothing else.