Time To Break Up Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm...?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Why not just switch up the C. Have Lindholm play the middle, Monahan on wing.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Love

Wasting the prime of a promising core and Mark Giordano trying so desperately to force Sean Monahan hockeydb success. It's pretty sad. I almost wish we'd just never drafted him at all. We'd probably have butterfly effected ourselves into McDavid or Eichel. He's not really a good fit anywhere down your lineup due to his atrocious defensive game for a center. Maybe as a soft sniping left winger in the Jeff Carter mold. Our 1C can't skate and handle the puck at the same time. I expect nothing from this team as long as this fact remains true.

How does this troll still post here? Your Monahan takes don’t even vaguely resemble reality. Talk about bringing down the discussion.

[bubbsy]

I think they just need to work their way out of it. I think we need to keep them together (Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm) and let them play it out.

I think the lines to try at this point should be:
Gaudreau - Monahan - lindholm
Tkachuk - backlund - bennett/czarnik
Bennett - jankowski - frolik/czarnik
mangiapane - Ryan - lazar

the top line are going to have to figure out a way to be effective as games are getting way more physical and tight checking.

Last night was a solid example of the opposition basically ensuring they got a body on Gaudreau almost every time he was on the ice, and ensuring absolutely perfect gap control from the defender plus a back checker to ensure he had no time or space to generate anything.

It's no real secret, Gaudreau runs that line. if the opposition can keep him away from the puck, the amount that line can generate goes down substantially.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Love

Meow meow meow, meow meow. Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow. Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow. Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow, meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow.

There. Now you're way more tolerable.

[Oil Stain]

Well the first line did score last night.

Seemed like a pretty soft call back to me.

[DallasFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

It seems that Gaudreau and Monahan rarely ever get split up. I wouldn't mind seeing these lines for one game:

Gaudreau-Jankowski-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Ryan-Hathaway
Mangiapane-Monahan-Bennett
Czarnik-Backlund-Frolik

I'm not sure about lines 2-4 of this, but I was thinking the same thing about giving Janko a slot on the top line for a game. He has played well lately.

Gaudreau - Janko - Tkachuk
Bennett - Monahan - Lindholm
Czarnik - Backlund - Frolik
Mangiapane - Ryan - Hathaway

The Coyotes might be a good team to try it against too!

[Harry Lime]

A jankowski experiment would be interesting, if only for the reason that I'm beginning to wonder if he is being used correctly. Why is he better on the penalty kill, and then become less aggressive with another player on the ice?

[868904]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

A jankowski experiment would be interesting, if only for the reason that I'm beginning to wonder if he is being used correctly. Why is he better on the penalty kill, and then become less aggressive with another player on the ice?

I think he's better on the PK because he has one less option to make a stupid pass to. He has a hell of a shot, he should not be passing off to Bennett and his muffin shot or Czarnik who always shoots right at the goalie.

Jankowski is the same as Neal, both guys should take the mindset of making sure they get 5 shots per game. With the way they shoot, they should never be deferring to a linemate or looking to pass.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by 868904

I think he's better on the PK because he has one less option to make a stupid pass to. He has a hell of a shot, he should not be passing off to Bennett and his muffin shot or Czarnik who always shoots right at the goalie.

Jankowski is the same as Neal, both guys should take the mindset of making sure they get 5 shots per game. With the way they shoot, they should never be deferring to a linemate or looking to pass.

He's just way more tenacious on the PK.

On the PK he's always engaged and has better puck pursuit, skates really well, and drives the net hard.

Completely different player at 5 on 5 where he sometimes looks slow and likes he's not that interested in the play. Plays more of a perimeter game.

Honestly if he played with the same fire and tenacity at 5v5 as he did on the PK he'd be a great top 6 center.

[SeanCharles]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Bennett-Backlund-Lindholm
Mangiapane-Jankowski-Czarnik
Frolik-Ryan-Hathaway

[NomadAJ]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

He's just way more tenacious on the PK.



On the PK he's always engaged and has better puck pursuit, skates really well, and drives the net hard.



Completely different player at 5 on 5 where he sometimes looks slow and likes he's not that interested in the play. Plays more of a perimeter game.



Honestly if he played with the same fire and tenacity at 5v5 as he did on the PK he'd be a great top 6 center.

He really is a different player out there on the PK, but it shows what he is capable of. I’m thinking that giving him some time on the top line might light that fire a bit. Plus having Chucky dragging him into a tougher/higher pace play couldn’t hurt. He seems to feed off of Bennett a bit for that. Plus Gaudreau could feed him some pucks for that great short he has.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Bennett
Tkachuk-Monahan-Czarnik/Jankowski
Frolik-Backlund-Czarnik/Jankowski
Mangiapane-Ryan-Hathaway

Lindholm will lock up the Selke on that line covering for his wingers turnovers

[Azure]

I agree with moving Lindholm to center. There is some off about Monahan's game right now.

At the end of the day better they struggle now than struggle going into the playoffs.

My bigger issue is the lack of physicality being brought by anyone on the bottom 6 besides Mangiapane. They won't get far in the playoffs if literally nobody is going to hit anyone and they rely on skill alone. A 7 game series against a formidable opponent requires you to actually TRY to wear down your opponent rather than avoiding touching him.

Bennett will have games where he will run over everyone, and games where he won't. And lately he has more games where he won't.

[Split98]

^ 1 thing that stood out to me last night was Czarnik in the 1st

I saw a heavy hit in the corner, and I had to see 27 clear as day before I believed it was Czarnik. Him and the rest of the team last that edge from the 2nd onwards, but they came out in the 1st with those marching orders.

Hopefully they pick that back up, and yeah... Bennett needs to be a part of that.

[dabrit]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I'd like to see Lindholm at center for a whole game too.

I like that 13-28-19 line enough to give it a try.


13-28-19
77-23-93
67-11-27
88-10-21


Is Neal out until the playoffs?

This. Monahan essentially plays like a winger anyways not like a center so would only make sense for the most complete player on that line to take over center duties.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

How does this troll still post here? Your Monahan takes don’t even vaguely resemble reality. Talk about bringing down the discussion.

Fun fact ...

Sean Monahan has the 17th best shot attempts against per 60 minutes in the NHL.

Backlund is 9th.

[David Struch]

These would be fun lines to experiment with...

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Tkachuk
Mangiapane - Monahan - Czarnik
Dubé - Backlund - Neal
Bennett - Jankowski - Ryan