Should we bench Monahan for a game or 2?

[direwolf]

I don't see anything wrong with sitting him for at least one game.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by flamesforcup

Ya thats where i sit on it. Gaudreau really picked it up after he was benched same with Thatchuk

Do we have Thatchuk? I thought we had Thischuk?

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Video to point out that he has to skate through the puck carrier from time to time to make the other team less certain of what he's doing would also help.

I agree this would help his game and help "wake him up" so to speak, although he really does not play this style. Definitely agree that it would help him strip pucks as well.

I think the coaches should make it a goal that on Monahan's first shift of the game, he finds a check to finish and crunches someone.

[shermanator]

Only on this board would some posters suggest we trade our currently struggling 22 year old #1 centre after begging for a quality centre for almost 20 years. Everyone has struggles in their career, hell Sidney Crosby only had points in 1 of his first 9 games and was on pace to be a 40 point player at this time last year.

Not saying that's a majority sentiment, but just a baffling one.

[Bingo]

Always get a chuckle when people view things differently and get mad when the other guy won't do the same.

Viewing points per game in the standings is valid and can't be argued. Being buoyed by playing well in 5 of the last 6 is also valid and shouldn't be argued.

If the latter turns into 12 of 15 games chances are the points per game side will be happy too.

[IgiTang]

So..there's a Center in the league who's career started out eerily similar to Monahan's.

This player scored 31 goals in his 2nd season and then floated around an average of 20 goals a season until about year 10, they hit the 30 plateau again.

He only broke 25 goals three times in over 15 yrs and averages between 50-60 points a season (for arguments sake) and has won 3 Selke trophies and a Stanley Cup.

In my mind I consider this player an Elite Center for what he does in all 3 zones, not just on the score sheet.

This player I think is a much better comparable than Toews and Monny has a very similar trajectory.

Who is he?

[JurassicTunga12]

^Bergeron?

[devo22]

my guess would have been Bergeron, but he hasn't been around for 15 years. Datsyuk?

edit: wow I guess you really meant Bergeron. He's been in the league since 03?! Wow. I'm getting old.

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

^Bergeron?

Originally Posted by devo22

my guess would have been Bergeron, but he hasn't been around for 15 years. Datsyuk?

edit: wow I guess you really meant Bergeron. He's been in the league since 03?! Wow. I'm getting old.

Too easy right..?

So would any one consider Berger being a disappointment or not suitable as a #1 Center?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Too easy right..?

So would any one consider Berger being a disappointment or not suitable as a #1 Center?

obviously not, but while he hasn't been a crazy scorer, he's simply elite in other parts of the game. Not sure I see that kind of upside in Monahans defensive game. It could well come at some point, but I've also envisioned him more as a goslscoring #1/#2 center, not an outstanding 2 way forward.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Too easy right..?



So would any one consider Berger being a disappointment or not suitable as a #1 Center?

I think the only difference is hat Bergeron came into the league putting defence first and playing really smart, responsible hockey.

Monahan isn't at the same level Bergeron was defensively, but he's better offensively.

Either way I think it's still a great comparable. A lot of these guys (Bergeron, Toews, Kopitar) took steps back or struggled for stretches. The young versions of these guys are who Monahan compares to talent-wise. He's still got lots of growing to do and lots of time to do it.

[cofias]

Bergeron is a perennial Selke candidate. To compare Monahan to him, after watching him play for a long time now, is just so fundamentally absurd. Bergeron dominates opponents on a shift-by-shift basis and carries his line. Monahan does nothing of the sort. In fact, most of the time, he does the opposite.

Please note that there is nothing that would please me more than if Monahan played like or turned into Patrice Bergeron. But unfortunately the facts don't support that at the moment, and we need to live with that reality. The hope is that Gulutzan or another coach will be able to do for him what Butter did for Backlund.

[Erick Estrada]

This thread title insinuates we have a role in the decision to which we don't. I agree that Monahan has been underwhelming to poor this season but I will leave that to the head coach to decide and I'm okay with his decision either way as I can see the pro's and con's from afar. What I can't see is how he's practicing daily, his health, the locker room dynamics of benching him, etc and those variables are important. If it was only about play on the ice I can make a case for Gio, Brody, or Hamilton spending a night in the press box as well.

[cannon7]

Monahan isn't comparable to Bergeron at all, IMO. Totally different players. The player I often think of when watching Monahan (this season notwithstanding) is Joe Sakic. Joe Sakic at 22 lived and died off his wicket wrist shot. His two-way play didn't really emerge until he turned 25 or so, post-Nordiques. Sakic wasn't a physical player either, he had to learn how to be effective away from the puck without much of a physical element to his game. I'm not saying Monahan has Sakic's offensive upside, Sakic at 22 was a much better playmaker, but still think they play a similar style. Moreso than Bergeron anyway.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by cannon7

Monahan isn't comparable to Bergeron at all, IMO. Totally different players. The player I often think of when watching Monahan (this season notwithstanding) is Joe Sakic. Joe Sakic at 22 lived and died off his wicket wrist shot. His two-way play didn't really emerge until he turned 25 or so, post-Nordiques. Sakic wasn't a physical player either, he had to learn how to be effective away from the puck without much of a physical element to his game. I'm not saying Monahan has Sakic's offensive upside, Sakic at 22 was a much better playmaker, but still think they play a similar style. Moreso than Bergeron anyway.

I don't think similar styles was the point. Pace of development was.

[getoverit]

short answer no, let him play thru it. But I would sure like to bench some of the whining posters on this board lately

[IgiTang]

Thank you GFP, that is exactly the point.

For people wanting to jettison Monahan, that is what is truly absurd.

3 years into his career, no one knew Berger was going to turn into a perennial Selke Candidate. In fact, after his 31 goal season, some had thought he had plateaud and that's when his defensive game really started to turn into what we see out of him today.

Bergeron was not a defensive dynamo by his third season by any means. Hence the -28 in his 3rd year.

It is really frustrating to have some people reply without actually doing any research but just throwing crap around.

Bergeron did not become the defensive stalwart he has until his 6 or 7th season in the NHL.

The real difference between the two at the same point in their careers is Bergeron was playing 2nd line duties at Maximum behind guys like Joseph Stumpel and Joe Thornton.

Bergeron was far from being the #1 Center as Monahan instantly became ours and Monahan didn't have the luxury of sheltered minutes to develop his game, like Bergeron did.

Monny has had to do it on the fly, logging top line minutes against other teams top lines.

If you ask me, that puts Monny well ahead of where Bergeron was when he was at the same point in his career.

[Yamer]

I think Monahan has the acumen to become an elite 2nd line 2-way centre, if that's really where we think he might fit.

Coming out of Junior, I figured Monahan to emulate a Jonathan Toews type of player. However, after a few seasons in the league he's starting to remind me more of a Jeff Carter type.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Yamer

I think Monahan has the acumen to become an elite 2nd line 2-way centre, if that's really where we think he might fit.

Coming out of Junior, I figured Monahan to emulate a Jonathan Toews type of player. However, after a few seasons in the league he's starting to remind me more of a Jeff Carter type.

I wish he skated like Jeff Carter.

[djsFlames]

He's very much still developing.

Has to overcome this adversity though. That's part of the growth. Have to be able to bounce back from bad months and lacklustre seasons.

Benching Gaudreau never hurt him though, and neither would it Monahan. If watching from another perspective for a game or two can help him rethink his game this season a bit, then there's nothing to lose.