Quote:
Originally Posted by Always Earned Never Given
For the past 2 years under Sutter it seemed to me that Monahan's skating was better, he was more physical but his shot was not what it used to be.
I remember when he used to just flick the puck without leaning or bearing down and the puck would just go.
Now knowing all the injuries he suffered, it explains to some degree why his shooting "style " was different.
Hopefully all these injuries will be behind him and flicking the puck becomes a thing again.
if so, it will be like the Flames added a top 6 forward without giving out any assets.
P.S. Someone has mentioned that Nichushkin had some similar issues, that he needed to re learn to skate and look at the player he was last year. Hopefully Monny tracks the same way.
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Nichuskin has always been a good skater. His skating, speed, size, shot, etc. have been his strengths at every level he's played at. His issues have more of a toolbox issue than the actual tools.
On the otherhand, Monahan has always had a good toolbox with not-so-optimal tools. Even when he was drafted, his calling card was great hockey sense and intangibles rather than skill and finesse.
With the amount of injuries he's had, there is no way that Monahan gets back to being a consistent 20 goal scorer. If he can get back physically to where he was at the first third of last season and straighten out some of the other parts of his game, he could salvage the rest his career as an effective bottom 6er. In a best-case scenario, I see the rest of Monahan's career playing out like the post-knee surgery back-half of Trevor Linden's career.