Where R U Sean Monahan?

[tvp2003]

By all accounts he has been invisible this season. Some of that may be attributable to Hudler's drop-off (and vice versa), but even when they are separated the consensus is that he looks slow, lost, and even disinterested. Faceoffs have been abysmal.

In the preseason there was the unsubstantiated report of him injuring his back:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=148907

There is also the playoffs last year, where his play was a step below the regular season (afterwards he initially denied being injured but later did finally admit to being less than 100%).

Is our number one centre dinged up again? The faceoffs are a telling stat for me -- can't really blame that on linemates or systems. Some have called for him to sit in the press box for a game -- with Bennett making strides I also wonder if putting him on a third line with more favourable matchups might get him going confidence-wise.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

If he's injured, it sure isn't from anything he's done in a game. Haven't seen him use his body at all this year.

I can't put my finger on it, but clearly the confidence isn't there. He's hesitating with the puck and doesn't seem to know where to go without the puck. His ability to be in the right position was the reason he transitioned to the NHL so quickly, but for whatever reason it's escaping him right now.

But, it's probably nothing more than a slump. It's just more pronounced since the rest of the team is still struggling so much. If we were winning more or if everyone else was firing on all cylinders we wouldn't be worried. Fact is, this team NEEDS Monahan playing well to be successful. Perhaps that pressure is getting to him a little.

He certainly didn't forget how to play hockey overnight, so it's one of two things:
1) His confidence is shot and he's trying to do too much since the rest of the team is struggling.
2) He's got a nagging injury that he can play through, but it really effects the quality of his play.

Up until last night, I thought the exact same scenario about Backlund. Looks like it was just confidence. I suspect it's the same thing with Monahan, so you can expect him to turn it around soon.

[adc]

I don't think he has been invisible I think he just hasn't lived up to the high expectations most of us have for him.

He has still been the best center on the team, by far, so far this year.

[Geeoff]

I know points aren't everything but he has 8, which isn't that bad considering how bad this team has been overall.

[Finger Cookin]

I've really noticed his struggles in the faceoff circle.

2013-2014: 46.1 EVW%, 47.6 PPW%
2014-2015: 49.0 EVW%, 50.6 PPW%
2015-2016: 43.4 EVW%, 45.1 PPW%

He's hit some posts here and there (was that his in the opening seconds of the fame last night), and I'm sure the points will come as his game and the team rebounds. But the FO situation has been really noticeable to me, especially since it's been a point of pride for him early in his career.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by adc

I don't think he has been invisible I think he just hasn't lived up to the high expectations most of us have for him.

He has still been the best center on the team, by far, so far this year.

Sam Bennett says hello

[adc]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Sam Bennett says hello

That's good, Bennett hasn't been better than Monahan this year, and I don't think it is even that close.

I love Bennett and think he has really started to show his potential the last 5 games or so but he has been moved to the wing (even though I hate that move) for a reason at times this year.

[playmaker]

The main question is whether Monahan and Bennett are being rushed by playing the top-line minutes or not.
I see them as our future 1-2 punch combo (similar to what Bruins have in Bergeron and Krejci) and I'm really getting worried that this situation will hurt their confidence and slow down their development. They are carrying the heavy burden of struggling team - as 19 and 21 year old players. I'm not sure if this is the right way of developing our centre core.

I'd seriously consider promoting Stajan to the top line at this point.

Colborne - Stajan - Hudler
Gaudreau - Monahan - Jones
Jooris - Bennet - Frolik
Bollig - Backlund - Raymond/Grant

looks good to me

[8sPOT]

He's a 21 year old centre that matches up against the top centre on every team we play. Giroux has the best faceoff stats in the entire league so far this year, Monahan is still learning and growing as an NHL player. I'm not worried about this kid at all.

As a side note, did anyone notice Giroux chirping Monahan throughout the 3rd period last night? Seemed like before each faceoff he was on him and then would easily win the draw. I bet Monahan goes bakc and studies the video on those.

Anyways, dont worry about this kid. He's a damn stud.

[Armchair Quarterback]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

By all accounts he has been invisible this season. Some of that may be attributable to Hudler's drop-off (and vice versa), but even when they are separated the consensus is that he looks slow, lost, and even disinterested.

Can we stop with the hyperbole about Monahan. And Hudler as well. Monahan is not a flashy player like Gaudreau, for example. However, he IS contributing to this team and his stats show it.

What I find very interesting about this forum is that nobody seems to have anything to say about the numerous veteran forwards on this team that contribute next to nothing for platinum salaries.

Raymond - 2 points in 9 games
Stajan - 1 point in 14 games
Bollig - 1 point in 12 games
Jones - 3 points in 14 games (2 of which were in one game alone)
Backlund - 3 points in 14 games

The problems on this team are not with our top players (although I do agree that Monahan might be fighting some kind of injury which has dulled his style of play). The problem with this team is that there is almost no secondary scoring. Sportsnet even mentioned it last night, the key to winning the game was "no passengers". What does that tell you about our team?

Not worried about Monahan, except for a hidden injury there. His production will improve when the rest of the team stops sucking.

Originally Posted by playmaker

I'd seriously consider promoting Stajan to the top line at this point.

This seriously made me question your sanity. I can't wait to see that guy off of the team. Ever since he came over here from Toronto in that disastrous trade, he has been no good.

[ComixZone]

Yeah, no reason to be worried about Monahan at this stage.

Player development isn't a straight shot upwards. It takes time, it takes some curvy roads, there are ups and downs - be patient with him.

Fact remains, our future is ridiculously bright with a 1-2 punch of Bennett and Monahan down the middle.

I don't have a worry in the world when it comes to our young core. Brodie, Bennett, Monahan, Gaudreau and Hamilton is a hockey fans wet dream. If we continue to struggle this year and end up with another high end pick? I'm okay with that. We'll add another key piece, and Treliving will put even more importance on improving the overall roster.

We good, we good. Just gotta have some faith.

[PeteMoss]

None of those guys listed ^^^ are expected to do anything compared to Monahan so why bother comparing them.

[Vinny01]

Biggest difference this year is teams are game planning around him which is part of the reason I think he and Gaudreau were split up so one or the other would be kept away from the top centers/Defense from the opposition.

He is still on pace for 47pts and I think he will pick it up as the season goes on. He is going to be paid like a top line centre after this year so they should be putting him in the tough situations.

[Badgers Nose]

Ignore user not enough in this case. Wish CP had a ignore thread feature.

[Camronius]

"I'm here, in Calgary. Mostly I'm at my house, but sometimes I play hockey at the rink, with ice."

~Boring Sean Monahan

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Biggest difference this year is teams are game planning around him which is part of the reason I think he and Gaudreau were split up so one or the other would be kept away from the top centers/Defense from the opposition.

He is still on pace for 47pts and I think he will pick it up as the season goes on. He is going to be paid like a top line centre after this year so they should be putting him in the tough situations.

They weren't gameplanning for them last year when he was on the only dangerous line on the team?

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

Can we stop with the hyperbole...

What I find very interesting about this forum is that nobody seems to have anything to say about the numerous veteran forwards on this team that contribute next to nothing for platinum salaries.

Bollig - 1 point in 12 games

So, decry hyperbole and then call $1.25M a platinum salary in the same breath? K.

I agree with most of the rest of your post. But if Bollig is earning a "platinum salary", so is Jooris and Colborne. In addition to the others you called out.

[tvp2003]

To be clear, this isn't a "throw Monahan under the bus" thread. Yes, it is a bit of a hyperbole to say that he has been invisible. But I think everyone can agree that he is performing well below expectations right now. In his rookie season he had 22 goals, and last season he had 31. He's currently on pace for 12.

People were saying the same things during the playoffs last year -- something doesn't quite look "right". It appears part of that (last year) was due to an injury.

I have no issues if this is just a little slump he's going through. I do think he is/will be a solid #1 NHL centre, if not a spectacular #2. I also think, especially given his age, that he has been EXTREMELY good in his first two years. Just not seeing it at the start of year #3 though.

[adc]

Originally Posted by Armchair Quarterback

What I find very interesting about this forum is that nobody seems to have anything to say about the numerous veteran forwards on this team that contribute next to nothing for platinum salaries.

Raymond - 2 points in 9 games
Stajan - 1 point in 14 games
Bollig - 1 point in 12 games
Jones - 3 points in 14 games (2 of which were in one game alone)
Backlund - 3 points in 14 games

You think people have nothing to say about Raymond and Bollig?

I would say those are two of the most negatively talked about players on this board.

Backlund has also had a ton of talk about his poor play, although I will give you that people seem to give him way more credit than he deserves, especially when he is meh like last night.

I am not sure what the issue with Stajan is. I think he has played great for what his role is as a 4th line, sometimes 3rd line guy. Lines that he is on are rarely the worst on the team and the poorer forwards on the team seem to play better with him than others. Stajan definitely gets a passing grade from me this year.

[Ashartus]

Didn't he get a fairly slow start scoring-wise last year too? His line just went on a tear at the end of the season to give him impressive stats. All he needs is a bit of a hot streak to get back on track there.