It's really mystifying to see what's happened to these guys. They definitely used to be capable of lighting up the opposition and driving a high powered offence for the team. We all witnessed them play some fantastic hockey and have some tremendous seasons. They are a million miles from what they used to be, and it's been like this for a long time now. Unless the Flames win this series and go on a run where Monahan/Gaudreau somehow re-ignite their true potential, I think the idea around them being the pillars of the team is over.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
You are trying to sell that Monahan would be doing better offensively if he was away from Johnny where I believe if Johnny had a threat playing with him as his center it would be different.
Well, yeah. Obviously it goes both ways.
I think both players would benefit being on different lines right now because neither seem to help the other so far in these playoffs.
That means that I think Gaudreau would benefit from playing with a centre that is able to give him more time and space on the ice to do what he does best. It also means that I think Monahan would benefit from a player that is able to battle through the tight checking in order to give him the puck to teammates instead of turning it over.
Neither player is benefitting right now, and I think both would improve from different linemates as a result. Is that idea really that controversial?
I've continuously said for years now that I don't think Johnny has the ability to play the same way in the playoffs as he does in the regular season. I also think he's a victim of his own frustrations, which cause him to try to do too much when things already aren't working, which only causes more issues. I also think he's a superstar, which makes his disappearance in the playoffs even more frustrating to me.
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And people wonder why players don't want to play for Canadian teams
I think it's because general managers of Canadian teams in the NHL are incredibly incompetent, so none of the organizations actually build a winning culture.
Freaking Canadian fans of all fans understand the sport. They understand development years.
...yet the GMs rush the process like complete buffoons year after year after year.
Look at the crap Oiler fans have (deservedly) put up with, yet year in and year out they're playing in front of a sold out crowd. You can sell us on the idea of hope pretty easily...yet they rush the process and take short cuts all over the place.
Last edited by ComixZone; 08-19-2020 at 05:00 PM.
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Wtf? I can't post my own articles? Why not? That's dumb.
Is AC self-promoting when he posts his videos?
Look at the poster and search his previous posts and you will no longer care, the guy is an Uber troll who contributes zero to this board except attacking others via bad poems.
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I mean it wouldnt be hard to go back into your posts and see you continuously blasting Johnny and pumping up Monahan but really what would the point be? You are trying to sell that Monahan would be doing better offensively if he was away from Johnny where I believe if Johnny had a threat playing with him as his center it would be different. Key on Johnny because his center and other winger are completely lost offensively right now.
Gaudreau has also backchecked and broken up plays in these playoffs. He has also had many shifts where he isnt handling the puck like a live hand grenade and has looked dangerous offensively.
You take a look at what Backlund and Bennett are doing as centers for this team and then look at Sean Monahan. He cannot touch any facet their games with a ten foot pole. To pile on Gaudreau and then try to say Monahan is doing things well despite being saddled with Johnny is disingenuous. Even the examples you dug up to sell that Monahan is playing well are fairly questionable to me but whatever.
They are both totally underwhelming together.
Sean Monahan is the real problem on our first line IMO.
Johnny Gaudreau is the real problem on our first line in your opinion.
We will agree to disagree.
Lets both hope that our first line shows up tomorrow and we can talk about how great they were together.
You can go back to last year's playoffs when it was obvious Monahan was hot garbage. And my posts reflected that.
Monahan is playing a solid two way game this year's playoffs, especially within the context of having the worst player on the ice on his left wing.
? Retrieve pucks along the boards is basically the only thing Monahan did right last game. IMO.
Really? We must have been watching different games. The Monahan I watched spent most of his time on the ice defending and generating next to nothing offensively for himself or his line-mates.
I love how people gush about how Monahan improved his defensive play and how his compete level is much better this year. If I didn't know anything about the Flames I would assume we were talking about a 3rd line centre.
Blame Johnny all you want, is he soft? Yes. Is he easy to body off the puck? Sure. Is he struggling to produce? No doubt. However the anchor on that line is Monahan, with his lack of ability to do anything besides win a draw or stand in front of the net.
Last edited by CGY12; 08-19-2020 at 05:59 PM.
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Really? We must have been watching different games. The Monahan I watched spent most of his time on the ice defending and generating next to nothing offensively for himself or his line-mates.
I love how people gush about how Monahan improved his defensive play and how his compete level is much better this year. If I didn't know anything about the Flames I would assume we were talking about a 3rd line centre.
Blame Johnny all you want, is he soft? Yes. Is he easy to body off the puck? Sure. Is he struggling to produce? No doubt. However the anchor on that line is Monahan, his lack of ability to do anything besides win a draw or stand in front of the net.
The bar is so incredibly low for Monahan that even basic things like finishing checks and battling for pucks along the board are somehow considered endorsements.
Those are things you would ask of your 4th liners (and this team has several 4th liners who don't even do that). It's not even bare minimum for your #1 centre.
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...spend the full seven and a half minutes watching that
Excellent. I like to throw out the “Box Office Poison” bit on occasion, and its always great when someone gets it
The other episode with the moth joke killed me too
Also the Flames top line used to play with pace and move the puck a lot. They should be shown video of themselves early-mid last season. Too much individual Johnny carrying the puck in to 3 opposing defenders
Last edited by DeluxeMoustache; 08-19-2020 at 06:39 PM.
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People keep talking about Monahan's 200ft game and sure his ability to back-track and play in his own end effectively, isn't up for debate. But the 200ft includes offense which he isn't getting done to the degree of a #1 center.
For goodness sake he has fewer shots on goal than Gustafsson and only one more goal than Forbort.
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