Quote:
Originally Posted by Nelson
A key difference is that it would have been difficult to give Sam the sheltered, offensive, top-6 C minutes in Calgary that he is getting in Florida. The reason is that if Sam was playing in that role, Monahan was the other top-6 centre (not Lindholm) because Monahan has always played C and never W. This situation would never have been sustainable because Monahan cannot take on the Barkov-role. He cannot play a true #1 Cs minutes.
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Backlund has always taken on the hard matchups anyway. Monahan gets slaughtered by the Faksas and Colin Wilsons. His usage is 100% on the organization for not recognizing what good and bad centre play is and wasting their highest pick in franchise history.
The Flames have not had a true #1 C in thirty years and have done next to nothing. The proof is in the pudding.