Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
I get why you think this, but this notion doesn't really make a lot of sense, given that Gaudreau's previous centre has consistently been the Flames top playoff producer over the last several years, and he has out-produced Gaudreau by a not insignificant margin since their first appearance. Monahan is clearly not the player he once was, but he was also not holding Gaudreau back in his previous playoff appearances. Gaudreau did that on his own. I, too, feel more confident that Gaudreau will have a better showing this year in tbe post season, but this will be because of the work he has put in to changing and adapting his game. If Gaudreau is going to succeed in the playoffs, that is on him—not anyone else.
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Monahan’s stats show that he has 4 points in 30 playoff games at 5 on 5. So, he has certainly produced well on the powerplay and with the empty net, but overall, that duo has been equally dreadful playing at even strength in the post season.
The biggest problem IMO was that Monahan doesn’t pull his own weight, he was very content just passing the puck to Gaudreau and letting him do all the heavy lifting even though Monahan is the center. So defenders could just focus solely on Gaudreau, forcing him to turn pucks over and ultimately shutting that line down.
But with Lindholm and Tkachuk now, the dynamic has changed completely. I’ve always said that Gaudreau would be so much better playing off the puck more and Tkachuk/Lindholm do their fair share of heavy lifting in that department, which gives Gaudreau more time and space. Monahan didn’t help Gaudreau at all in that department which lead to that duo being very predictable.
Im my opinion, Monahan has always been like this. He’s very similar to James Neal and I predicted in the summer that Monahan would be having the season that he’s having right now. Gaudreau made Monahan’s job much easier and now that he doesn’t have an elite playmaker at his side him, Monahan’s weaknesses and lack of weapons are being exposed.