Sean Monahan & Johnny Gaudreau Duo

[Heavy Jack]

With a slow start and all this early negativity I thought I would start a positive thread on two of the many new exciting young players on the Flames. Specifically these two because already early on they have made my jaw drop a few times - especially last night - With Monahan displaying his vision with a couple of insane passes Gaudreau couldn't finish. AC is there anyway you could get gifs of those two plays from last night??

Where does this Duo rank in the league right now?? I mean you have Perry/Getzlag, Seguin/Benn, Crosby/Kunitz, and so on, where do they sit??

[Tyler]

Usually next to each other

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Usually next to each other

[Crumpy-Gunt]

In my opinion Gaudreau isn't far off the wingers mentioned at all but Monahan really isn't comparable offensively or in terms of physicality or speed with any of those other centers mentioned. But this is just his 3rd season. He could become more of an independent offensive force as his career goes on.

I've always believed Bennett will end up being our 1C and eventually play with Gaudreau. Monahan is a fantastic 2 if someone can push him down. But I've always believed we need to put a gifted offensive firecracker with Gaudreau to open up ice for him and I think that's Bennett. They played well together in penticton and I hope we get a chance to see them together sooner rather than later.

[_Q_]

Gaudrahan

Monaheau

[Ryoma C]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Where does this Duo rank in the league right now?? I mean you have Perry/Getzlag, Seguin/Benn, Crosby/Kunitz, and so on, where do they sit??

I think they're starting to make a name for themselves as a duo but they have quite a long way to go before they can be compared to the names mentioned above. It'll be fun to have this conversation again 3-4 years from now!

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Ryoma C

I think they're starting to make a name for themselves as a duo but they have quite a long way to go before they can be compared to the names mentioned above. It'll be fun to have this conversation again 3-4 years from now!

Disagree, Gaudreau launches them right into the conversation and Monahan is the perfect counter style. Johnny was 7 points shy of Getzlaf in his rookie year, he'll probably surpass nearly all the players mentioned this year. Johnny is a top 10 talent in the league and will make any teammate better, he'd give Bollig a huge boost in points.

Benn, Seguin, Perry, Getzlaf all are only around 70-80 point players. Won't be surprising if Johnny passes all but a few this year.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

In my opinion Gaudreau isn't far off the wingers mentioned at all but Monahan really isn't comparable offensively or in terms of physicality or speed with any of those other centers mentioned. But this is just his 3rd season. He could become more of an independent offensive force as his career goes on.

I've always believed Bennett will end up being our 1C and eventually play with Gaudreau. Monahan is a fantastic 2 if someone can push him down. But I've always believed we need to put a gifted offensive firecracker with Gaudreau to open up ice for him and I think that's Bennett. They played well together in penticton and I hope we get a chance to see them together sooner rather than later.

I totally agree with the bolded. I remember the first time watching Bennett and Gaudreau paired up at the Young Stars and they seemed so complementary. I never thought Monahan had the speed or quickness to match Gaudreau and have been really surprised the duo has worked as well as it has.

That's why I've been a bit concerned watching Bennett so far this season and preseason. I haven't seen the same flashes of creativity and game-breaking skill (much less finishing) that I had hoped to see. I wasn't expecting him to be a game-changer, but usually with the really skilled young guys you see about a play a game where their potential shines through.

If he can get himself up to NHL size/speed though, I still like him as Gaudreau's future linemate. A big-bodied sniper on the other wing and you could have a phenomenal first line, leaving Monahan as a very potent second line center. But, based on what I've seen so far, I think that's at least 2 full seasons away.

[dammage79]

They've been the best line in hockey Since March the 5th.

50% of all Flames points so far this season belong to the top line of Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler.

Let that sink in for a second.

Info courtesy of the Flames game day report.

[Finger Cookin]

Player      G      A      P      +-      S       SAT%      SAT%Rel
Getzlaf     0      0      0      -3      12      62.07      6.06
Perry       0      0      0      -2      5       64.10      8.09

Seguin      1      3      4       0      19      54.01      2.46
Bennn       3      2      5      -1      9       57.60      6.05

Crosby      0      0      0       0      7       43.65     -5.04
Kunitz      0      0      0       2      9       45.90     -2.79

Monahan     1      1      2      -5      5       40.65     -6.34
Gaudreau    1      4      5      -2      13      43.44     -3.50

Well, Gaudreau, Seguin, and Benn are scoring at least. Seguin, Getzlaf, and Gaudreau are shooting. Getzlaf, Perry, Seguin, and Benn seem to be driving possession. Not a lot happening otherwise. Extremely early to conclude anything, of course.

[Hackey]

In all honesty pretty much every team in the league has an impressive offensive duo.

[Samonadreau]

1. Benn/Seguin
2. Toews/Kane
3. Getzlaf/Perry
4. Ovi/Backstrom
5. Giroux/Voracek
6. Crosby/Kunitz
7. Sedins
8. Mony/Gaudreau

Theres probably 4 or 5 other duos that could contend with Monahan/Gaudreau but its what these guys mean to the team that gets them up there (and ive got a bias). Pretty impressive for 21/22 year olds (last year 20/21).

There's some great players like Stamkos, Tarasenko, Pacioretty but they dont really get assiociated with another guy as a duo and are great alone.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Player      G      A      P      +-      S       SAT%      SAT%Rel
Getzlaf     0      0      0      -3      12      62.07      6.06
Perry       0      0      0      -2      5       64.10      8.09

Seguin      1      3      4       0      19      54.01      2.46
Bennn       3      2      5      -1      9       57.60      6.05

Crosby      0      0      0       0      7       43.65     -5.04
Kunitz      0      0      0       2      9       45.90     -2.79

Monahan     1      1      2      -5      5       40.65     -6.34
Gaudreau    1      4      5      -2      13      43.44     -3.50

Well, Gaudreau, Seguin, and Benn are scoring at least. Seguin, Getzlaf, and Gaudreau are shooting. Getzlaf, Perry, Seguin, and Benn seem to be driving possession. Not a lot happening otherwise. Extremely early to conclude anything, of course.

Wow, how did Gaudreau get into Boston College with an SAT that low? Even with a hockey scholarship...

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

1. Benn/Seguin
2. Toews/Kane
3. Getzlaf/Perry
4. Ovi/Backstrom
5. Giroux/Voracek
6. Crosby/Kunitz
7. Sedins
8. Mony/Gaudreau

Theres probably 4 or 5 other duos that could contend with Monahan/Gaudreau but its what these guys mean to the team that gets them up there (and ive got a bias). Pretty impressive for 21/22 year olds (last year 20/21).

There's some great players like Stamkos, Tarasenko, Pacioretty but they dont really get assiociated with another guy as a duo and are great alone.

Tarasenko Stastny Steen pretty good combo. Stamkos I guess doesn't really have a prominent partner but they do have a pretty impressive trio in Tampa. Tavares Okposo has been pretty solid for a while. Oilers unfortuantely can put together some solid combos. Neal and Forsberg play together? Crosby/Kessel or Malkin/Kessel. Stone Turris Hoffman pretty solid.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

1. Benn/Seguin
2. Toews/Kane
3. Getzlaf/Perry
4. Ovi/Backstrom
5. Giroux/Voracek
6. Crosby/Kunitz
7. Sedins
8. Mony/Gaudreau

Theres probably 4 or 5 other duos that could contend with Monahan/Gaudreau but its what these guys mean to the team that gets them up there (and ive got a bias). Pretty impressive for 21/22 year olds (last year 20/21).

There's some great players like Stamkos, Tarasenko, Pacioretty but they dont really get assiociated with another guy as a duo and are great alone.

Toews and Kane very rarely play together. Not sure why everyone assumes they're a duo.

The forward duo on that team is Toews/Hossa.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Exactly. If we include those 2 we might as well throw in Crosby malkin because they play together once in a while as well.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Tarasenko Stastny Steen pretty good combo. Stamkos I guess doesn't really have a prominent partner but they do have a pretty impressive trio in Tampa. Tavares Okposo has been pretty solid for a while. Oilers unfortuantely can put together some solid combos. Neal and Forsberg play together? Crosby/Kessel or Malkin/Kessel. Stone Turris Hoffman pretty solid.

Stamkos has Drouin on his flank this year. They're playing well together so far.

[IgiTang]

Gaudreau needs to shoot the damn puck!

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

In my opinion Gaudreau isn't far off the wingers mentioned at all but Monahan really isn't comparable offensively or in terms of physicality or speed with any of those other centers mentioned. But this is just his 3rd season. He could become more of an independent offensive force as his career goes on.

I've always believed Bennett will end up being our 1C and eventually play with Gaudreau. Monahan is a fantastic 2 if someone can push him down. But I've always believed we need to put a gifted offensive firecracker with Gaudreau to open up ice for him and I think that's Bennett. They played well together in penticton and I hope we get a chance to see them together sooner rather than later.

I'm not sold on Bennett at all for two reasons and it's probably why Monahan will be way better for the Flames than Bennett will:

1) Bennett is smaller and Monahan is what a good typical centerman would be in terms of size
2) Bennett now has a history of a bad shoulder and can be injury prone.

Of all the games I've seen him at the NHL level, I'm not overly impressed. Whereas with Monahan even without Gaudreau, there are flashes of greatness. I don't think Bennett has earned his respect in the NHL yet. Just hope he doesn't become another FATA with his shoulder issues.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Gaudreau needs to shoot the damn puck!

Not that it's saying much with this team so far this season, but Gaudreau is leading the team in shots.