Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
I also see Monahan playing harder and being more engaged in puck battles which is something refreshing to see from him as opposed to his early years.
But the real question is, is that enough from your highest paid center? The team can easily find a league minimum center who can work hard and be hard on pucks. But the Flames aren’t talented enough to have a $6M center who’s only producing at a replacement level clip. His expectations sheerly based on salary alone means needs to not only be more productive, but needs to make his line mates better as well.
Sure, we can dump on his linemates and disregard them as being offensive blackholes. But Lucic had a 0.41 ppg last season. That equates to roughly 34 points in an 82 game season. So to me, Monahan, being paid what he is coupled with his track record, theoretically should make Lucic even better than that or really, any line mate for that matter.
If Monahan wants to be a top line center ever again, he needs to start being productive with whoever he plays with. Maybe not ppg level good, but at the very least, look occasionally dangerous. He can’t just skate around mindlessly wasting minutes; he needs to create and make his linemates better. That’s what top 6 centers do.
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I think it is by design, Sutter wants him to work on other parts of his game until he gets his stamina back. If Sutter wanted him to score goals he would move him back up. I think we are looking too much into it. If he is doing little things well he is going to be a "different" better player. Sutter can teach these guys what to expect in the playoffs because he has been there. For all the offense we have had during the recent playoffs we couldn't get to the next round.
These guys have to buy into the 200-foot game. Low-scoring teams need to be stronger away from the puck.