Sean FRICKIN Monahan

[kermitology]

The one thing that he'll need to improve on is his scoring area. Despite having some nice goals over the season (and 20 of em), something like 18 or 19 of them have been isolated to what I refer to as the "Money-Zone." This is the box formed between the faceoff dots and the goal line. I can see him struggling to score next season if teams figure out how to keep him out of that part of the ice.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by kermitology

The one thing that he'll need to improve on is his scoring area. Despite having some nice goals over the season (and 20 of em), something like 18 or 19 of them have been isolated to what I refer to as the "Money-Zone." This is the box formed between the faceoff dots and the goal line. I can see him struggling to score next season if teams figure out how to keep him out of that part of the ice.

The thing with Monahan is that he's just so good at ninjaing his way into that spot. He'll be battling along the boards one moment and somehow wind up with the puck on his tape in that area - a lot of those goals had us going "How the heck did he get there?".

Even now, in the late season - he might not be scoring, but he's still getting great chances from the 'Money Zone', he's just being robbed by goaltending. As he adds bulk and muscle, even if he doesn't pull a Sam Fisher and decides to just stand there he won't be pushed out too easy.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by kermitology

The one thing that he'll need to improve on is his scoring area. Despite having some nice goals over the season (and 20 of em), something like 18 or 19 of them have been isolated to what I refer to as the "Money-Zone." This is the box formed between the faceoff dots and the goal line. I can see him struggling to score next season if teams figure out how to keep him out of that part of the ice.

Breaking

Sean Monahan scores goals in the best place on the ice to score goals from. This needs to stop.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

The thing with Monahan is that he's just so good at ninjaing his way into that spot. He'll be battling along the boards one moment and somehow wind up with the puck on his tape in that area - a lot of those goals had us going "How the heck did he get there?".

Even now, in the late season - he might not be scoring, but he's still getting great chances from the 'Money Zone', he's just being robbed by goaltending. As he adds bulk and muscle, even if he doesn't pull a Sam Fisher and decides to just stand there he won't be pushed out too easy.

Agreed. It's not that teams having been letting him in there, NO team just lets players get into that spot. Monahan finds away.

It's not like Ovechkin's early career dominance where eventually teams figured out how to shut him down and he had to adjust his game. Nothing about what Monahan has done this season can be "shut down" by opposing strategy, because Monahan hasn't been playing his own strategy, he's been capitalising on other teams'. That's his hockey smarts and vision on display, he sees cracks and utilises them. Players that do that simply never get outright shut down. Take away one thing, they'll find something else.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by strombad

That's his hockey smarts and vision on display, he sees cracks and utilises them. Players that do that simply never get outright shut down. Take away one thing, they'll find something else.

Excellent way to put it.

FlamesNation did a great breakdown of the early-season GWG. It was a combination of smart play by Monahan as he took advantage of a situation and bad positioning on a jersey D-man.

1.) Monahan starts behind the net on the play. He jumps in to win the battle on the boards and chips the puck to Wideman at the blueline.

2.) Monahan recognizes that the d-man is not heavily committing to Sven on the side wall(who was likely expecting Sven to go back along the boards into the corner) and quietly glides to the far side of the net while the d-men's eyes are glued on Sven and the puck.

3.) Sven makes the beauty pass and Monahan taps it in.

Total elapsed time: 10 seconds.

I can't find the article but here's the video:

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Breaking

Sean Monahan scores goals in the best place on the ice to score goals from. This needs to stop.

Is that what I said? No, I said that he need to be able to score from outside that area if he's going to continue to have success, or at least build on this season.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Is that what I said? No, I said that he need to be able to score from outside that area if he's going to continue to have success, or at least build on this season.

Breaking

19 year old rookie Sean Monahan needs to continue to develop if play is going to improve.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by strombad

Breaking

19 year old rookie Sean Monahan needs to continue to develop if play is going to improve.

Jesus.. no pleasing you guys.

I'll bet you he struggles next year, and doesn't match his goal total from this season. $20 donation to CP by the loser?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Jesus.. no pleasing you guys.

I'll bet you he struggles next year, and doesn't match his goal total from this season. $20 donation to CP by the loser?

I tend to agree with Kermitology. If you really take out the first few months of the season he's been pretty unspectacular as the season has progressed which isn't a cause for concern because it happens with rookies and it's not like MacKinnon in Colorado where he's been playing with near elite talent nightly. He's been playing largely with a veteran and another developing winger most of the time so he's not going to get a lot of gift assists or goals. He will get better as the talent around him does but I wouldn't be surprised if he's a little flat next season placed with higher expectations.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Jesus.. no pleasing you guys.

I'll bet you he struggles next year, and doesn't match his goal total from this season. $20 donation to CP by the loser?

I would be pleasantly surprised if he matches his goal total next year to be honest. He's surpassed my expectations of him this year considering I would've been happy with 15 goals.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I tend to agree with Kermitology. If you really take out the first few months of the season he's been pretty unspectacular as the season has progressed which isn't a cause for concern because it happens with rookies and it's not like MacKinnon in Colorado where he's been playing with near elite talent nightly. He's been playing largely with a veteran and another developing winger most of the time so he's not going to get a lot of gift assists or goals. He will get better as the talent around him does but I wouldn't be surprised if he's a little flat next season placed with higher expectations.

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I would be pleasantly surprised if he matches his goal total next year to be honest. He's surpassed my expectations of him this year considering I would've been happy with 15 goals.

Exactly my point. I'm tempering my expectations for the kid next year. He's been very good this season, but I suspect he'll struggle a bit more next season.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I tend to agree with Kermitology. If you really take out the first few months of the season he's been pretty unspectacular as the season has progressed which isn't a cause for concern because it happens with rookies and it's not like MacKinnon in Colorado where he's been playing with near elite talent nightly. He's been playing largely with a veteran and another developing winger most of the time so he's not going to get a lot of gift assists or goals. He will get better as the talent around him does but I wouldn't be surprised if he's a little flat next season placed with higher expectations.

There's no cause for concern at all. Here's why:

1. Yes, Monahan looks unspectacular for long stretches. He's learning the pro game. It's also very apparent that he isn't used to his body; often times he looks like a newborn giraffe on skates. When he fills out, he's going to be dominant.

2. 'He's either playing with a vet or a developing player' - logically, if he'd been playing with Hudler all year, he probably would have had more assists, but I see where you're coming from here. I would say you'll see his assists go up next year when a) he''s given more responsibility and b) he plays with a dynamic player. Sven, Johnny, a more developed Colborne, whoever.

3. He hasn't scored many pretty goals. But he's scored a few. His 20th was as deadly a shot as you'll see in this league. His release is terrific; it's compact, hard, and accurate. Remember that he's scored 22 goals in a role that sees him as the fourth or fifth PP option at the absolute best. Nothing about this offense is built around getting Sean Monahan his touches. Which also helps to explain why he looks unspectacular at times. Because he's 19 and he has to make his own breaks. Which he's done 22 times. I'm not going to begrudge him if it doesn't happen, but I'd be absolutely astonished if he doesn't have a 50 goal season under his belt by age 25.

4. This can't be stressed enough. Despite having a deeper voice at 19 than I do at 25, Monahan still isn't close to physically mature. When he's 23 years old and 205 lbs of solid muscle, there's going to be five or six guys in the whole league who can handle him.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

... but I'd be absolutely astonished if he doesn't have a 50 goal season under his belt by age 25.

...

When he's 23 years old and 205 lbs of solid muscle, there's going to be five or six guys in the whole league who can handle him.

While I agree with your poitns generally, you might be a little over-optimistic. There's maybe 4 or 5 guys in the entire league who can realistically challenge for 50 goals a season, and they have game that Monahan doesn't (at least, yet). That is, the ability to wire the puck from outside the hashmarks. (Ovy, Stamkos). They also typically play with other elite players (Perry plays with Getz, Ovy with Backstrom, Stamkos was with St Louis, etc.)

If Monahan ever scores 40 goals I'll be elated.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Monahan still isn't close to physically mature. When he's 23 years old and 205 lbs of solid muscle, there's going to be five or six guys in the whole league who can handle him.

Quoted for absolute truth

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

While I agree with your poitns generally, you might be a little over-optimistic. There's maybe 4 or 5 guys in the entire league who can realistically challenge for 50 goals a season, and they have game that Monahan doesn't (at least, yet). That is, the ability to wire the puck from outside the hashmarks. (Ovy, Stamkos). They also typically play with other elite players (Perry plays with Getz, Ovy with Backstrom, Stamkos was with St Louis, etc.)

If Monahan ever scores 40 goals I'll be elated.

My prediction of 50 is absolutely contingent on the Flames developing other high end skill guys. Gaudreau. Sven. Whoever we manage to grab this year and next. These have to turn into dynamic pieces for the Flames to be successful, never mind Money scoring 50.

But for this team to be a true Cup contender, I would submit that Monahan pretty much has to be a 40 goal guy.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Holy wowza. Some folks need to take a step back... are we really discussing 40-50 goal seasons from him already?

I dont think Seguin has 40 this year.. and he is playing with Benn

I would be happy with Monahan being a career 20-30 goal guy and adding a lot more assists, which should come as our wing prospects develop. (and I thought that was asking a lot!!)

[Rick M.]

One area in which he needs to improve is his skating. He has good speed once he gets going but he doesn't have an especially good first couple of strides. He's very hard working and I expect this to be an area he works on over the off-season. A little more quickness will enable him to get to pucks faster and buy him a little more time to make a play. I'm very impressed with his smarts and quick hands.

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

Holy wowza. Some folks need to take a step back... are we really discussing 40-50 goal seasons from him already?

I dont think Seguin has 40 this year.. and he is playing with Benn

I would be happy with Monahan being a career 20-30 goal guy and adding a lot more assists, which should come as our wing prospects develop. (and I thought that was asking a lot!!)

I was thinking more Toews... he topped out at 76 so far in his young career, but even he is only a 25 goal, 65+ point guy.

Monahan might surprise me, but I'd be happy with a Toews-like progression.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

Holy wowza. Some folks need to take a step back... are we really discussing 40-50 goal seasons from him already?

I dont think Seguin has 40 this year.. and he is playing with Benn

I would be happy with Monahan being a career 20-30 goal guy and adding a lot more assists, which should come as our wing prospects develop. (and I thought that was asking a lot!!)

Seguin is what, 21? And this is his first year with Benn. Do you think those two are going to get worse next year?

I'm not saying Monahan is getting 50 next year. Or even the year after. I will stand by my statement that by 25, I expect he will have done it at least once. I will also stand by my statement that if this team is to legitimately contend for a Stanley Cup, Sean Monahan will have to be a 40 goal threat. At minimum.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Seguin is what, 21? And this is his first year with Benn. Do you think those two are going to get worse next year?

I'm not saying Monahan is getting 50 next year. Or even the year after. I will stand by my statement that by 25, I expect he will have done it at least once. I will also stand by my statement that if this team is to legitimately contend for a Stanley Cup, Sean Monahan will have to be a 40 goal threat. At minimum.

I HOPE he does. But expect?

Perry
Crosby
Stamkos x2
Iginla
Bure x2
Ovechkin x2
Cheechoo
Lecavalier
Hejduk

This has been done 12 times in about 16 years. And will probably be done even less in the next decade.
Not only that...but most of these players are extremely offensive, sniper type wingers. Monahan is not even comparable to these players in his playing style and only Stamkos, Lecavalier and Crosby on that list play his position and they are completely different types of players.

We knew that even when he was drafted. He is a wise, high hockey IQ, 2-way, top 4 C who is capable of scoring in front of the net. He has never scored more than 33 goals in the OHL.

50 goals..
Really?!?!

I hope so...but to expect that from Sean is not really fair to him or yourself imo.