[manwiches]

I think Monahan will be okay this next year. By metrics alone, he's a solid number 1 center. He has his deficiencies, but I would think the fact that he's wears an A, means he is a good influence in the room and has a high give a crap meter. The sting of how they went out will likely sit with him, and hopefully provide some fire. He won't turn into Jonathan Toews, but if he can improve one thing this summer, and that's his skating, I think we'll see the transition game return and less defensive gaffes. Everybody, including me, seem to wonder why he can't find a mean streak to be physical, but I honestly think he's just not that guy, which is fine. If he gets faster, he won't need to be more physical. He can be smarter and get position instead.

One thing that kind of boggles my mind, and I'm sure it's been said before, is why he's not nasty or mean, considering he played high level lacrosse. Lacrosse is such a mean sport, I'm surprised that hasn't translated to his hockey game.