[GranteedEV]

For the record, I don't think Monahan "can't" play down the lineup.

But I'm pretty convinced he's not the kind of center you need. It doesn't matter if it's a big center of the Thornton/Malkin mould or a tiny fast center of the Datsyuk/Point mould, the center position requires players who are able to lug the play out of the defensive zone with the puck on their stick. Monahan's go-to breakout is
a stationary, ~40 foot stretch pass to his wingers. It worked when we had Brodie essentially doing those puck rushing duties as a defenseman, but now we need a traditional center.