Seeing a ton of Gaudreau-Monahan splitting talk and I’m not completely opposed to it. But I think the problem is a lot more obvious then it’s being made out to be. These 2 are sort of specialists, they score the majority of their goals off the rush, so they need someone who can help facilitate that. Ritchie is not that guy.
Anyone remember how 13 & 23 looked with guys like Chiasson, Brouwer, Neal and etc? Well that’s what they currently look like. What Gaudreau and Monahan really need is another Hudler, Ferland or Lindholm; someone who can think the game at their wavelength, hide their flaws and accentuate their strengths.
It’s pretty amazing how feast or famine Gaudreau and Monahan are, but it’s true. They’re extremely linemate dependent and linemate sensitive. They can look like a top 5 dynamic duo in the league or a top 5 dynamic dud depending on who their RW is.
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