[News] Flames will keep Monahan for the rest of the season

[playmaker]

Flames will keep Monahan for the rest of the season

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the Flames burning a year on Monahan's ELC in a year that we (realistically) will not compete vs the Oilers doing the same and 'ruining' their prospects?

We should be playing the Detroit system and letting prospects ripen in Junior before bringing them in when they're ready. Playing in the NHL for a complete year can shatter a 19 year old's confidence and stall/ruin their development.

Taylor Hall's stats, first 9 games of his rookie year:

2 goals / 3 assists / -4

Hall really did nothing to earn staying up past 9 games, but the Oilers needed to have their shiny new toy on display so the fanbase had something to talk about despite being the worse team in the league. Hall likely would've been better served with one more year of junior.

RNH's stats, first 9 games of rooke season:

5 goals / 4 assists / +3

RNH definitely earned his roster spot but I'm not sure that his injury history isn't due to his slight frame (6'1" 175 lbs) playing against much bigger men. He hasn't shown that he is "shifty" enough to avoid getting hit like Martin St. Louis. Probably could've used another year in junior to bulk up.

Yakupov, first 9 games of rookie season:

5 goals / 2 assists / -6

Don't really have a problem with Yakupov staying up last year despite his poor defensive work. Also, the Oilers thought they would compete for a playoff spot (haha) and liked having another offensive weapon.

Team record for Hall's first 9 games: 3-4-2
Team record for RNH's first 9 games: 5-2-2
Team record for Yakupov's first nine games: 4-3-2

So essentially the only pick that should've probably been sent down was Hall and possibly RNH to add size, but he was getting points and the Oilers had a good record.

Monohan already has decent NHL size, is our goal scoring leader and 2nd in points. TOI has increased significantly since game 1 and he hasn't really missed a beat. Only real weakness is faceoffs. Also we have a surprisingly good record this far but if we (or him) fall off a cliff, still have the option to send him to the WJC's or back to CHL.

I think the main difference is that the Oilers are just flat out terrible no matter what they do.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Another good point, but Monahan has averaged 20 minutes a night in the last two games and on a team that is sorely lacking offense the expectations for him are starting to rise. It's one thing to come in with no pressure and score 6 goals, and it's completely another when a team that is lacking offensive power to rely on you, which I'd suggest compares to the Oilers.

Physically he has seemed larger and more prepared than some of the smaller Oilers prospects, but he's only going to get focused on more as the year progresses. Nothing wrong with another year in Junior to peak.

What are the negatives to sending him down? He's going to dominate in junior, and have a chance to perfect his game. When have you heard of a player that gets sent down and stops caring because it's "too easy"?

The Flames are not sorely lacking in offense. If Monahan is struggling we have Cammy, Hudler, Stempniak, Jones, Glencross, Stajan, all guys who have and can put up decent points. Hudler and Stempniak are off to good starts, Cammy and Jones have both missed the majority of the opening part of the season but have looked good in their limited time. Stajan was arguably the teams best player last year. Glencross is inconsistent, but he will get his points. The Oilers youngsters were supplimented with even more youngsters not realizing that developing a two-way game (required of most if not all forwards) generally takes more time to shore up, but none of them have been given that chance because they kept getting driven into the ground and driven past by NHL calibre players. Monahan already has the two-way game.

And to the second point, plenty of examples I would think, two off the top of my head are Getzlaf (got a lot of flack for his lack of effort in his last year of junior), and Colten Teubert who I got to see completely turn it off post-draft first hand as I knew someone on the Pats at the time. In fact I remember saying to the player I know that if Teubert thought his NHL team wasn't keeping a close eye on that he was out of his mind and he won't be in the NHL if that's the way he's going to push. And low and behold, has the guy played a single NHL game?

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Monohan already has decent NHL size, is our goal scoring leader and 2nd in points.

He will be even better sized when he becomes Stereo-han

[Stay Golden]

What has impressed me the most about Monahan is that i frimly believe that Hartley and Feaster were fully prepared to send him down if he looked a little shaky at all once the reg season began and the tempo ramped up from what he was seeing in the preseason.
But Monahan challenged the HC and Brass back by winning his spot by hard work, on his own merit and being in the right spot at the right time.
I'm ecstatic for this kid, the organization and the fans we finally have what is looking like a future #1 Center.
Now please over the next few seasons build with Monahan and around him.

[codynw]

You have to remember, Monahan is almost a year older than MacKinnon and has played 3 seasons of junior already. Most players only have two seasons finished by their draft year. He's ready and he's more than earned his spot.

[19Yzerman19]

The press release is the funny part...

Monahan, who was selected sixth overall in the 2013 NHL Draft in New Jersey, is leading the Flames in goals scored this year with 6 through 9 games. The 19-year-old also has the best shooting percentage on the roster, connecting on 28.6 per cent of his 21 shots on net this year, and leads the team with 2 power play markers.

Do the Flames just not understand how shooting percentage works? It'd be fantastic if he was scoring goals and shooting 10% or something. At 28+%, you're basically bragging about the fact that his production is doomed to slow by half as a best case scenario if he's lucky.

[Poe969]

It just means that he doesn't shoot a lot, but when he does he usually makes it count.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MattyC

The problem is that this is all that should matter. Contract status should not determine who plays on this team.

You meant to put the bolded part in green, right?

[PeteMoss]

Regarding the shooting percentage. I agree it will go down.. but more because he'll start getting more shots. His goals have all been from right in front of the net. Its not like he's firing wrists shots from the blueline that are sneaking in.

[Fire]

I don't like the idea of the Flames possibly sending him to the World Juniors unless his play dips and they plan on keeping him in the OHL afterwards. Just doesn't make any sense otherwise. You are telling the paying customer that the World Juniors is more important the Flames.

Do you think the Avalanche are considering loaning MacKinnon to the World Juniors? I doubt it.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Rerun

You meant to put the bolded part in green, right?

Absolutely not. If a guy on a 750k two-way contract is outplaying a guy on a 5 mil contract, the guy on the two-way should be ahead. That's just common sense.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Fire

I don't like the idea of the Flames possibly sending him to the World Juniors unless his play dips and they plan on keeping him in the OHL afterwards. Just doesn't make any sense otherwise. You are telling the paying customer that the World Juniors is more important the Flames.

Do you think the Avalanche are considering loaning MacKinnon to the World Juniors? I doubt it.

Depends. If we have a decent record and are competing for a playoff spot come late December, I don't think he'll be loaned for the WJC's (assuming his play doesn't nose dive as well). But if we're out of it by a long shot, might as well let him go be a leader in Sweden.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Fire

I don't like the idea of the Flames possibly sending him to the World Juniors unless his play dips and they plan on keeping him in the OHL afterwards. Just doesn't make any sense otherwise. You are telling the paying customer that the World Juniors is more important the Flames.

Do you think the Avalanche are considering loaning MacKinnon to the World Juniors? I doubt it.

It would depend on how Calgary, and Monahan individually, are playing around the time of the tournament. Colorado is potentially a contender (I know it's early, but they look so good right now) and loaning MacKinnon would make little sense for them. Calgary is in a rebuild, and if they're out of the playoff race by December loaning Monahan would be fine. Of course, if Calgary is still close by December they should probably keep him.

[FBI]

Just a coincidence that today is the 23rd?

[sworkhard]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Regarding the shooting percentage. I agree it will go down.. but more because he'll start getting more shots. His goals have all been from right in front of the net. Its not like he's firing wrists shots from the blueline that are sneaking in.

It will go down regardless. Hopefully he managed to get more shots as he develops over the course of the year to make up for it, but I'll be surprised if he can maintain a >15% shooting percentage.

[calumniate]

Congrats to Monahan! Too bad he can't move into Mario's place

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Kind of interesting that the Flames have already committed Sieloff to the World Juniors. Implies they think it is better for his development to go to the tournament regardless of the Heat's place in the standings and/or Sieloff's role with the team (i.e. they are putting Sieloff's development needs over the needs of organization)

The fact the Flames have not made a decision to Monahan's participation seems to indicate there is a debate or scenario(s) were they think its not beneficial to Monahan.

Or the mostly American upper management is trying to sabotage Team Canada.

Actually, Feaster said they will treat them the same way.

The difference is that Sieloff is in Abby and if he is still in Abby, they would let him go. But if he is in Calgary, playing 15 minutes or more a night, they probably wouldn't let him go.

Same for Monahan, except Monahan will not be in Abby, no matter what.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Absolutely not. If a guy on a 750k two-way contract is outplaying a guy on a 5 mil contract, the guy on the two-way should be ahead. That's just common sense.

Of course it is. Whether its what actually happens is another story.

[Coach]

Well I was saying what should happen, not what actually happens. So no green text isn't necessary. I'm not sure if it should ever be necessary.