Do the Flames have strong depth at the position, though? I like Bennett, and Monahan, and Jankowski, and Backlund. But can you realistically project any of them as a top ~15 center in the league? I can't (Bennett maybe).
Yea, we really do.
And I can very much realistically project Monahan as a top 15 centre in the league, since - arguably - he already is.
That's in his 3rd season at 21 years old.
Now of course it's not as simple as just showing that he's top 15 in points among NHL centres at present. A lot more intangibles go into it... but again: 21 years old. That's astounding. He has a lot of room to grow, and for you to ask if we might possibly have a guy who projects in that territory and then mention maybe just Bennett does is really, really selling Monahan short.
I see your point and I would 100% take Matthews if he was available, but I thought you grossly sold Monahan short in that post.
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On top of that, this year he has been used in a lot of defensive zone situations, and is definitely growing. His faceoffs have gotten quite a bit better. He gets matched up with other teams top lines, and rarely ever looks out of place.
I would argue that Monahan is narrowing in on top 15. At 21.
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I want a top 3, partially so we don't have to guess for two more bloody months.
Flames have a recent history of getting the last pick of a pretty clear a top tier - Monahan at 6 in 2013, and Bennett at 4 in 2014. So we're gonna get Puljujarvi at 3.
Going back to 03 where we picked at 9, there were three defencemen ranked at 7,8, and 9, Sutter, Coburn and Phaneuf. I think it was pretty much an open secret that we wanted a defenceman and I think Phaneuf was at the top of our list (mine anyways) and that's of course who we got.
It will get a lot clearer this evening.
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Do u all think Monahan could be successful as winger ?
If we land first and pick AM do we trade Mony or move him to the wing but Iwould love Laine instead he fits our needs and I trust the team will pick who they think is the best available player
Do u all think Monahan could be successful as winger ?
If we land first and pick AM do we trade Mony or move him to the wing but Iwould love Laine instead he fits our needs and I trust the team will pick who they think is the best available player
I doubt we'd move Monahan to the wing. Matthews hasn't proven anything yet but maybe Bennett would get moved over.
Wasn't Bennett pretty much held in check last season until he was moved back to center, and that's when he caught fire? I think Bennett is a center. His instincts are best used in the middle and his style of play is best used in the middle. Moving him to the wing likely diminishes his efficacy and exposes him to a greater risk of injury. I don't think Bennett's frame will stand up to his mental desire to play a physical grinding game along the wall.
I hope we win the first pick, but Phoenix wins 2nd or 3rd and we elect to trade down for an additional asset. I like our center depth and would prefer we grabbed one of the big Finns. Walking away with an additional asset or two would be a massive bonus! Would the Coyotes be willing to swap their 1st rounders (2nd or 3rd, and then 22nd) plus Christian Fischer for the rights to hometown superstar to be, Auston Matthews? How sweet would that be! Get Laine or Pul-hardtospell, Fischer, and possibly two other players out of the first round? Could be the draft that sets this club up for the next decade.
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And I can very much realistically project Monahan as a top 15 centre in the league, since - arguably - he already is.
That's in his 3rd season at 21 years old.
Now of course it's not as simple as just showing that he's top 15 in points among NHL centres at present. A lot more intangibles go into it... but again: 21 years old. That's astounding. He has a lot of room to grow, and for you to ask if we might possibly have a guy who projects in that territory and then mention maybe just Bennett does is really, really selling Monahan short.
I see your point and I would 100% take Matthews if he was available, but I thought you grossly sold Monahan short in that post.
Looks like it doesn't hurt to have two top 15 centers
Wasn't Bennett pretty much held in check last season until he was moved back to center, and that's when he caught fire? I think Bennett is a center. His instincts are best used in the middle and his style of play is best used in the middle. Moving him to the wing likely diminishes his efficacy and exposes him to a greater risk of injury. I don't think Bennett's frame will stand up to his mental desire to play a physical grinding game along the wall.
I hope we win the first pick, but Phoenix wins 2nd or 3rd and we elect to trade down for an additional asset. I like our center depth and would prefer we grabbed one of the big Finns. Walking away with an additional asset or two would be a massive bonus! Would the Coyotes be willing to swap their 1st rounders (2nd or 3rd, and then 22nd) plus Christian Fischer for the rights to hometown superstar to be, Auston Matthews? How sweet would that be! Get Laine or Pul-hardtospell, Fischer, and possibly two other players out of the first round? Could be the draft that sets this club up for the next decade.
For me (and I may be out to lunch here) if it's:
CGY 1st overall
ARI 2nd overall
Then as Flames GM, my ask is about what you said.
Fischer, 2nd overall, 22nd overall for 1st overall
However, if it's:
CGY 1st overall
ARI 3rd overall
Then I'm going for the throat and Fischer turns into Strome.
Strome, 3rd overall, 22nd overall
If the Yotes don't like it? Fine, Flames just take Matthews.
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And I can very much realistically project Monahan as a top 15 centre in the league, since - arguably - he already is.
...
.
Maybe I'm selling him short, but I still err on the side of caution. I hope you're right but I look at that top 15 center scoring list you posted and there are more than just a names missing from that list who are much more useful contributors either as individual playmakers or strong two-way players... guys like Getzlaf, Toews, Johansen, O'Rielly, Carter, Couture etc. And among those guys on that list only Thornton, Seguin, and Backstrom also played with a top 15 scoring player (Pavelski / Burns / Benn / Ovechkin) like Monahan did with Gaudreau.
And while Monahan is only 21, Eichel is only 19, Barkov is only 20, McDavid is only 19, Draisaitl is only 20, Bennett is only 19, Reinhart is only 20, Larkin is only 19, McKinnon is only 20, Matthews is only 18 etc so for anybody he might displace, there are guys behind him looking to displace him too.
I would gladly take another center that has similar or better upside to Monahan and have another chance at a top center. You're never set at a position like center until you're actually set.
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Last edited by GranteedEV; 04-30-2016 at 11:56 AM.
