Taking abuse in the slot, IMO, is the toughest aspect of the game. Monahan continually fought through it letting off absolute snipe after snipe and scoring goals.
Taking a body check (or giving one) is no where as punishing as being hacked, chopped, slashed, and otherwise brutalized in the front of the net and slot.
I still maintain Holmstrom (Wings dynasty for you youngins) is one of the toughest men to ever play the game in an age when defensemen were especially violent.
Monahan will always have my respect, and I am not counting him out yet. It would not shock me if he has a resurgence next year and people are talking about him as a key cog and extension discussions abound.
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