What will Monahan's next contract be?

[Bunk]

3 yr $5.5 million

Johnny goes for 7 year $7 million.

[dying4acup]

It would be nice to see him at 24 to decide his next contract, but we don't have that luxury.

Easily the Flames best centre since Nieuwendyk! Pay him 8x7M

[Crumpy-Gunt]

LOL at the Kane example of a player breaking out at 27. Yeah.. Patrick Kane - it was a big secret that he would do something like he is now. It was almost impossible to see when he was in the OHL and in his first few seasons..I mean where on earth did all this individual offensive skill come from.

Monahans agent will know his client is due to make about 6m. The term will be the real talking point. I think we will lock up Johnny max term. But I could really see us bridging Sean to see if, as others have said - is he a creator of chances and offense or is he an elite finisher. I think he offers a lot, 2 way play, face offs, team guy. I personally don't think he is the career 1st line centre many do.

To me he is a Langkow type player. Super clutch, super smart, good finisher, always sniffing around in the right areas of the ice, and also good face off guy, but average at most other things. On a decent team, he is a 1C, on a great team he is obviously a 2C. Who knows how he will develop though.

Some would see that as an insult and prefer to compare him to Toews. I think that's an insult to toews.

That being said I'd be super super wary of bridging him because he could absolutely tear it up playing with Johnny the next few years and be deserving of a much bigger contract than if we lock him up now for say 6 million.

6x8 for me.
Johnny gets a 7 or 7.5x8

I'd be over the frickin moon with identical 6x8 contracts but if I'm Johnnys agent I scoff at that.

[Tinordi]

Johnny is getting Tarasenko money.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

To me he is a Langkow type player. Super clutch, super smart, good finisher, always sniffing around in the right areas of the ice, and also good face off guy, but average at most other things. On a decent team, he is a 1C, on a great team he is obviously a 2C. Who knows how he will develop though.

Some would see that as an insult and prefer to compare him to Toews. I think that's an insult to toews.

He is closer to Toews than he is to Langkow. We are talking about a 21 year old here that scored 31 goals as a 20 year old. How in your mind is it insulting to Toews to compare Monahan to him? Langkow didn't score 30 goals until he was over 30 years of age. Monahan has size that is more comparable to Toews than Langkow as well.

I do agree with your contract predictions. To me I hope we lock up Monahan for the full 8 but under Gio's cap number likely $6-$6.5M per

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

He is closer to Toews than he is to Langkow. We are talking about a 21 year old here that scored 31 goals as a 20 year old. How in your mind is it insulting to Toews to compare Monahan to him?

Things I associate Toews with:

- 30 goal / 30 assists a season
- Clutch
- Unparalleled compete level/ability on the boards (or at least paralleled by only guys like Crosby and Bergeron) especially when forechecking
- A perfect stick defensively to tie up the opposition's high quality chances
- Speed with the puck carrying it out of the defensive zone or into the offensive zone
- A dominant cycle game
- 54.7% on faceoffs when he was Monahan's age

Things I associate Monahan with
- 30 goal / 30 assists a season
- Clutch
- Below average compete level/ability on the boards
- Below average stick to tie up the opposition's high quality chances
- Usually just glass-and-out of the defensive zone unless Johnny or Brodie spring him with a perfect pass
- Used to just dump the puck into the offensive zone, this season just carries it in and then turns it over into traffic
- An okay, but underdeveloped cycle game.
- 49.5% on faceoffs

That's why it's an insult to Jonathan Toews to compare Monahan to him. Just my opinion. On the other hand here's what I associate Bennett with:

- Scoring isn't there yet but the signs of a great scorer are.
- Signs of clutchness (Ducks GTG, Screen on Russell GWG)
- Strong compete level/ability on the boards
- A strong stick defensively to tie up the opposition's high quality chances
- Speed with the puck carrying it out of the defensive zone or into the offensive zone
- A notable cycle game
- 44.2% on draws, but only 19 and missed his 18 year old season altogether.

So other than draws and scoring, I see a lot more Toews in Bennett than I do in Monahan. And you certainly wouldn't say Monahan and Bennett are similar, would you?

Langkow didn't score 30 goals until he was over 30 years of age.

Langkow scored 30 goals when he had Iginla and Tanguay in their prime on either wing. Similarily, Monahan scored 30 when he had Hudler throwing up the by far best season of his career on one wing and Gaudreau on the other wing.

The comparision, is that both guys fed heavily off their linemates rather than being the best player on their line despite being a good centre.

Monahan is much closer to Eric Staal than Jonathan Toews, and Staal I would say is much closer to Langkow than he is to Toews himself. And Staal wasn't the #1 Center that one time he won the cup, Rod Brind-Amour was, although Staal got a lot of hype due to being so young and such a great goal scorer.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Things I associate Toews with:

- 30 goal / 30 assists a season
- Clutch
- Unparalleled compete level/ability on the boards (or at least paralleled by only guys like Crosby and Bergeron) especially when forechecking
- A perfect stick defensively to tie up the opposition's high quality chances
- Speed with the puck carrying it out of the defensive zone or into the offensive zone
- A dominant cycle game
- 54.7% on faceoffs when he was Monahan's age

Things I associate Monahan with
- 30 goal / 30 assists a season
- Clutch
- Below average compete level/ability on the boards
- Below average stick to tie up the opposition's high quality chances
- Usually just glass-and-out of the defensive zone unless Johnny or Brodie spring him with a perfect pass
- Used to just dump the puck into the offensive zone, this season just carries it in and then turns it over into traffic
- An okay, but underdeveloped cycle game.
- 49.5% on faceoffs

That's why it's an insult to Jonathan Toews to compare Monahan to him.

This isn't really fair because you're comparing a 27 year old Toews to a 21 year old Monahan. How good was Toews defensively at age 21? I bet he wasn't much better than Monahan is right now.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by codynw

How good was Toews defensively at age 21? I bet he wasn't much better than Monahan is right now.

21 year old Toews was:

The #1 Center on a WCF Team that beat the last Flames playoff team of the Iginla era
4th in Selke voting
Named the Best Forward for Team Canada on the Gold Medal Team where Crosby scored the golden goal at the 2010 Vancouver Oympics
56.9% Corsi-For (We would all be ecstatic for Monahan to be 50% break-even this season like Mikael Backlund is)
The #1 Center on a 52 win, 112 point team.
(The #1 Center on the team that won the Stanley Cup and himself won the Conn Smythe Trophy (okay, he turned 22 in April so he wasn't 21 anymore).)

IIRC You and I are usually in fair agreement that guys like Bergeron, Kopitar, and Crosby are as good or better than Toews. But Toews is still in a completely different tier from Monahan and was when he was Monahan's age.

[N-E-B]

I love Monahan but he's no Toews.

I think he'll get anywhere from $5-$6mil/year long term. He's not getting Johnny money.

[dammage79]

Voted between 5m a year and 5.5. 4 year deal.

[Max Cow Disease]

Monahan's my favourite Flame (and I wanted Lindholm originally). I want him locked up for a long time for however much we can lock him up for. He's a cornerstone piece and will be an important cog here for a long time. He hasn't peaked yet but his traits and descriptors are numerous. Worker, budding leader, great learner, composed, decently sized, finisher, and the list goes on. Seems like a humble guy that coaches and teammates will always love, and will probably assume the captaincy when Gio has surrendered it.

Even though he was reasonably sheltered in his first season, Monahan's done incredibly well for such a young centerman that's had so much on his plate at this stage of his career. A 25 year old Monahan who's more savvy and wise to the ways of the league will be a platinum piece, I reckon.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Voted between 5m a year and 5.5. 4 year deal.

I think it will either be less than 3 years or 6+ as a 4 year deal takes him straight to UFA.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

21 year old Toews was:

The #1 Center on a WCF Team that beat the last Flames playoff team of the Iginla era
4th in Selke voting
Named the Best Forward for Team Canada on the Gold Medal Team where Crosby scored the golden goal at the 2010 Vancouver Oympics
56.9% Corsi-For (We would all be ecstatic for Monahan to be 50% break-even this season like Mikael Backlund is)
The #1 Center on a 52 win, 112 point team.
(The #1 Center on the team that won the Stanley Cup and himself won the Conn Smythe Trophy (okay, he turned 22 in April so he wasn't 21 anymore).)

IIRC You and I are usually in fair agreement that guys like Bergeron, Kopitar, and Crosby are as good or better than Toews. But Toews is still in a completely different tier from Monahan and was when he was Monahan's age.

No one is saying that Monahan is better than Toews but a lot of the reasons you give above have more to do with the fact Chicago had a far superior team to Calgary when Toews was 21 compared to Monahan.

There are not a ton of players that score 30+ goals before they turn 21 and the ones that do are superstars. Most people also think Monahan should get less than $7M per. Toews made $6.1 out of his elc when the cap was lower than it is today. Again Monahan is not as good as Toews but your argument is it is insulting to Toews to compare the 2 and I disagree. They are both big body, Canadian centers that scored 30+ goals before they were 21, and have similar "serious/boring" demeanor.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Voted between 5m a year and 5.5. 4 year deal.

Four years would be the worst case scenario for the Flames. Takes him straight to UFA status.

[Geeoff]

Long-term contracts that buy UFA years are the new trend for elite players. You can really get burned with bridge deals. Especially since after the bridge deal is when we're expected to be a contender. Don't wanna have to try and build around a $9m Monahan if we can have him at $6m.

[dino7c]

I think a lot depends on how the rest of the year goes...he is still the top goal scorer of his draft class which is impressive to say the least

[Hackey]

I like the idea of a cheaper bridge deal in the range of 4-5 million for 2-3 years or a long term deal in the 6-6.5 range.

[To Be Quite Honest]

3 years @ 4.5

[cross16]

If Monahan and agent are asking for something silly on a long term deal, 6.5 or above for example I would understand the bridge. However, if you can get him around 6 mill on a long term deal I think that's a slam dunk. Whether or not you feel he is a number 1 center, just look at what any above avg center gets in FA, then look at Monahan and can you honestly say you wouldn't be happy with him around 6 mill for the next 7 or 8 years? Even if he just keep playing the way he has I would argue that solid value especially when someone like Ryan O'Reilly can get 7.5 per.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

He is closer to Toews than he is to Langkow. We are talking about a 21 year old here that scored 31 goals as a 20 year old. How in your mind is it insulting to Toews to compare Monahan to him? Langkow didn't score 30 goals until he was over 30 years of age. Monahan has size that is more comparable to Toews than Langkow as well.

I do agree with your contract predictions. To me I hope we lock up Monahan for the full 8 but under Gio's cap number likely $6-$6.5M per

We are talking about playing style, not stats though brotha.

Fine...lets compare Monahan to every player who's scored 20plus and 30 plus in their first two seasons. On draft day, do they compare young prospects based on their stats in juniors or how they play or project to play in the NHL?

SERIOUSLY? Lol. Is Monahan your cousin or something (jk, I know a lot of poster who make this comparison, it's not just you).

You are absolutely biased, my friend, if you think Monahan is more comparable to Toews than Langkow playing style wise. Nobody said anything about Langkow scoring 33 at year 2 of his career. We're talking about abilities, playing style, short comings etc.

Why are people so personally insulted by that comparison ? To me it's a good example of a player like Monahan - who we all know and have watched if you've been a flames fan for any period of time. You should know Langkow.

Even if we compare stats and not playing style.. If Monahan ends his career with 1000 games, 672 points and 270 goals.. What on earth is wrong with that? I'd be delighted with that kind of a career. Why do people want to compare Monahan to Toews, arguably the best player since the lockout.

So it's Toews or bust? What if this is pretty close to Monahans ceiling, 30goals and about 60ish points. Being the finisher and not racking up too many assists or setting up too many plays. Do you guys expect every young centre drafted in the top 6 to become a Toews caliber or style player? Surely what makes Toews, Crosby, Kopitar, Bergeron types so awesome is that there's only about 5 of them in the league.

Monahan doesn't drive the offence. It's obvious. Does that make him a bad player? No. Does that mean we don't like him? No. Does that mean we don't think he can develop into a more individually effective offensive player? No.

At this point, everything we've seen from Sean points closer to Daymond Langkow than Jonathan frikin Toews.

Honestly. I'm just shocked by how people let themselves think this awesome young player we have can be compared to arguable the best player drafted in the last decade. Gaudreau Kane, sure I really see it. It's been said for a long long time.

Maybe if Sean had better athleticism, individual skill and a much much higher compete level, we could begin to compare him to Toews.

And NO I'm not a Blackhawks fan, just someone who has seen both Toews and Monahan play a lot. Toews isn't even my favourite player, that would be Ovechkin - but I recognise the driving force of a team when I see it. I can also recognise a secondary player who is a beneficiary and riding the offensive/statistical coat tails of other much more offensively talented players.

I hope vinny01 understands I'm not upset at him or meaning any offence, but I completely disagree and that's OK. I still really enjoy your posts Vinny mate. The issue is I just don't think the comparison is realistic, or fair to Sean, or Jonathan.