Sean FRICKIN Monahan

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Agreed. He's an NHLer. No need to put him in the AHL.

As awesome as it would be to have him around, I think the Heat will be deep enough for their run.

I'd like to see him continue hockey, if possible. Four months off is a long stretch and if he can extend his playing time by a couple weeks even I'm all for that. Maybe the World Championship if the AHL playoffs isn't a possibility.

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've said it in game stories but I've been really impressed with the player since the week before the olympic break.

I'm not a scout, so my view on the guy from reading and development camp was a passer that has good poise in the offensive zone, and a great understanding 200 feet back to his net.

He's surprised me this year with his ability to find open ice (you can't teach that), and his quick release.

His shoot out performance shows he's one of those guys that can hit a very small hole on a goalie accurately which is really impressive for his age.

I wasn't concerned that he wasn't physical and was getting pushed around down low, because you expect that at his age (weight)

My biggest concern was his puck handling skills as he looked almost have stone hands when he get the puck. He wasn't a guy to carry it at all, so because of that you never saw him set anyone up (save for that Baertschi goal against Montreal).

Now however he's changed again.

He's adjusted to the foot injury, got a break, and came back way more confident with the puck. He's creating more, but yet again on Saturday there he is finding the seam and scoring a big goal.

His stock is rising in my mind. Great young player, and I'm now 100% convinced it was a good move to keep him and not send him back after 9 games (will always wonder about his WJC experience impact though)

I agree with all of this, plus with the bolded it seems like after the break he's making a conscious effort to be more physical. He's going into the corners, taking hits, finishing hits, and sticking up for his teammates. He's 19, yet he's not letting anyone push him around.

With regards to his assists. It's not so much the wingers he's been playing with, it's youth. The passes that worked in junior don't work in the NHL. Players are way to good in the NHL with reading plays, and have good, really active sticks. As he gets more experience, and his vision improves those passes will start connecting a lot more.

Case in point my cousin plays for UBC and during the lockout the Canucks practiced with them and he was in awe with how well they picked off passes and had sticks in lanes all the time.... Also mentioned how easy it was to score on an NHL goalie, Schneider, when Sedin is passing the puck.

Or you can look at the Oilers. They are struggling more so cause they keep trying to play in the NHL like they did in Junior. Doesn't work. Better defenders, better players.

So again, it's not so much the linemates... it's experience.

I fully expect Johnny hockey to struggle the first little bit as well since the passes that connected in College won't be working in the NHL, but he'll adjust quicker more so because passing is his strongest asset.

I think the biggest thing is that Monahan can score, he can finish. The assists will come as he gets more experience.

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by T@T

Personally I don't think they should send him to Abby, the kid has played a lot of hockey the last calender year. give him a break and let him train his body for next year.

I kind of agree with this. Although, he's 19. The kid wants to play hockey. Even during the break while others were resting, he was at home practicing, and playing hockey. I say if it's a possibility do it.

Plus, he gets to spend time with the team that he will soon be leading as, Captain

[stemit14]

It would be so awesome if gaudreau, Monahan, baertschi, granlund, and poirier all make the team next year... I know it's a long shot but that would be so cool to see.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by stemit14

It would be so awesome if gaudreau, Monahan, baertschi, granlund, and poirier all make the team next year... I know it's a long shot but that would be so cool to see.

Well Monahan we all know is a lock but after that I won't be surprised to see Granlund as a mainstay guy by seasons end, he's playing a really good 200 foot game and injuries have opened up spots for these guys. Gaudreau is an interesting option, I almost feel that 1 year in the AHL would be a good test for him but I could see him sticking up, definitely a 50/50. Baertschi is playing much better hockey and his NHL resume isn't terrible on paper, he's starting to be a go to guy for his team right now and I think he does start opening day next year. Poirier needs a year in the AHL IMO, he's a budding prospect and he's playing great hockey, but you don't want to start too many rookies and you need talent to keep the farm team competitive which helps influence a winning attitude. I could easily see Monahan/Granlund/Gaudreau/Baertschi all starting next year though.

[Enoch Root]

Almost no chance for Poirier. Gaudreau will have to knock everybody's socks off in pre-season, but that very well could happen. I would say there is a very good chance that one of Baertschi or Granlund starts the year here but probably not both.

[Completely]

Gaudreau wont be in the nhl next year burkie will make sure that he has a year of seasoning in the ahl before an nhl job. Maybe a late season call up?

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by Completely

Gaudreau wont be in the nhl next year burkie will make sure that he has a year of seasoning in the ahl before an nhl job. Maybe a late season call up?

Who told you?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Completely

Gaudreau wont be in the nhl next year burkie will make sure that he has a year of seasoning in the ahl before an nhl job. Maybe a late season call up?

That is funny, that was the plan with Monahan as well (albeit back to jr instead of the AHL).

[AcGold]

Gaudreau needs to put on weight or he'll get injured pretty much guaranteed. One hit from a 230 pounder could derail his entire career, it doesn't even need to be a vicious hit. Give him a year to gain 10 pounds. He has the skill to make the NHL but in an 82 game season he will get hit eventually. The kind of hit that would make Camalleri fall down and get back up could break his bones or snap ligaments

[Wood]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Gaudreau needs to put on weight or he'll get injured pretty much guaranteed. One hit from a 230 pounder could derail his entire career, it doesn't even need to be a vicious hit. Give him a year to gain 10 pounds. He has the skill to make the NHL but in an 82 game season he will get hit eventually. The kind of hit that would make Camalleri fall down and get back up could break his bones or snap ligaments

Byron seems to be doing quite well despite his stature. Byron is 5'7 and <155lbs

Gaudreau is 5'8 and 159lbs according to eliteprospect and the BC Eagles

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Gaudreau needs to put on weight or he'll get injured pretty much guaranteed. One hit from a 230 pounder could derail his entire career, it doesn't even need to be a vicious hit. Give him a year to gain 10 pounds. He has the skill to make the NHL but in an 82 game season he will get hit eventually. The kind of hit that would make Camalleri fall down and get back up could break his bones or snap ligaments

So far he's pretty elusive. We'll see if he can elude these 230 pounders, other have.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Gaudreau needs to put on weight or he'll get injured pretty much guaranteed. One hit from a 230 pounder could derail his entire career, it doesn't even need to be a vicious hit. Give him a year to gain 10 pounds. He has the skill to make the NHL but in an 82 game season he will get hit eventually. The kind of hit that would make Camalleri fall down and get back up could break his bones or snap ligaments

Is he adding those ten pounds straight to bone-density? C'mon, the kid has been playing high level hockey for a long time. He's been hit before. If anything he needs to add a bit of weight to not get outmuscled on the puck and in board battles.

Let's face it, his best defense against big hits is always going to be his elusiveness. 10 lbs won't make a bit of difference.

[AcGold]

being elusive is all fine until you factor that into 82 games. Byron's the polar opposite of Gaudreau, 10 pounds was just a number but yeah it will help. It's just not worth it to risk one of the most skilled players in the system, you can gamble with Byron, his upside is minimal whereas Johnny's is exponentially greater.

It's like gambling with all your chips at once, even if you're really good you'll lose eventually. It won't even take someone taking a run at him, he just has to go into the corner with Lucic one time and get leaned on. Having a greater bmi is going to make it harder to injure him

[H2SO4(aq)]

Ridiculous. How many times do you see St. Louis or Kane get blown up with a big hit?

Almost never, because theyve played that way and know how to avoid it. I don't expect that to be an issue for Gaudreau.

And as mentioned above, he needs muscle to be able to not be outmuscled and to win the odd puck battle with good positional play.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by AcGold

being elusive is all fine until you factor that into 82 games. Byron's the polar opposite of Gaudreau, 10 pounds was just a number but yeah it will help. It's just not worth it to risk one the most skilled players in the system, you can gamble with Byron, his upside is minimal whereas Johnny's is exponentially greater.

It's like gambling with all your chips at once, even if you're really good you'll lose eventually. It won't even take someone taking a run at him, he just has to go into the corner with Lucic one time and get leaned on.

Too much muscle mass tends to make players a bit slower, and they fatigue faster. Iginla felt he had to drop some weight sometime after the lockout as he felt he needed to be faster. Putting too much weight on Gaudreau can give you exactly the opposite results. I will trust Hesketh as to how much weight Gaudreau needs. Adding 10 or 20lbs to someone like Jankowski is relatively expected and necessary. Adding 10-20lbs on Gaudreau at this stage may be too much. He may really lose his elusiveness, and towards the end of games he might just be too fatigued to be able to side-step that hit, etc.

There will always be question marks and people worrying about him getting 'rocked' by some big players in the NHL. That will never go away. I bet Patrick Kane still makes a few Chicago fans worried now and then. Just the nature of the game. You can't hold back a prospect if he is ready. At some point, you have to put that prospect out there and allow him to try.

St. Louis cracked the NHL at what I am guessing would be relatively the same size and build with the Flames. It took him a number of years to grow that physique. Though he was nowhere close to being as good back then as he eventually came to be in Tampa, it is tough to argue that he was rushed or didn't belong in the NHL just because his body was a bit small. This was at a time when players got away with a lot more - clutching, grabbing, and guys like Stevens were lauded for their devastating hits that would result in huge fines and suspensions today. It has never been easier for guys like Gaudreau to enter into and be able to compete in the NHL than it is now - but regardless if he is 10lbs or even 20lbs heavier, there will always be questions and worries that he could be 'one hit away'.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Completely

Gaudreau wont be in the nhl next year burkie will make sure that he has a year of seasoning in the ahl before an nhl job. Maybe a late season call up?

I wish people would stop using his size as a reason he needs to play in the AHL, players are the exact same size there.

Steve Leach was on HNIC radio last week and said of Gaudreau. "He does stuff and see's things on the ice only about 10% of NHL players can do, I can't see him not turning pro and playing in Calgary next year"

I think Leach is now a coach or scout and he's not the first hockey person to say these kinds of things about him.

This kid has special talent, Burke better not fork this up.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Gaudreau needs to put on weight or he'll get injured pretty much guaranteed. One hit from a 230 pounder could derail his entire career, it doesn't even need to be a vicious hit. Give him a year to gain 10 pounds. He has the skill to make the NHL but in an 82 game season he will get hit eventually. The kind of hit that would make Camalleri fall down and get back up could break his bones or snap ligaments

It's this kind of bull that Gaudreau has had to put up with at every level of hockey. The kid's game is based on his speed and craftiness. In NCAA hockey he is virtually impossible to hit. If he added weight he'd probably lose some of his speed and agility, which would make it easier to crush him. He's playing against grown men, on average 2 to 3 years older and stronger than kids in the CHL. And how many games has he missed due to injury so far?

Anyway, back to Sean Monahan...

[T@T]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

It's this kind of bull that Gaudreau has had to put up with at every level of hockey. The kid's game is based on his speed and craftiness. In NCAA hockey he is virtually impossible to hit. If he added weight he'd probably lose some of his speed and agility, which would make it easier to crush him. He's playing against grown men, on average 2 to 3 years older and stronger than kids in the CHL. And how many games has he missed due to injury so far?

Anyway, back to Sean Monahan...

Can't remember who it was but a defenseman on Canada's WJ team (maybe Griffin Reinhart) nicknamed him "ghost"

And yes lets get back to Sean

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

It's this kind of bull that Gaudreau has had to put up with at every level of hockey. The kid's game is based on his speed and craftiness. In NCAA hockey he is virtually impossible to hit. If he added weight he'd probably lose some of his speed and agility, which would make it easier to crush him. He's playing against grown men, on average 2 to 3 years older and stronger than kids in the CHL. And how many games has he missed due to injury so far?

Anyway, back to Sean Monahan...

see calgary4life's post? that's an intelligent rebuttal, go read it then relax