Guadreau & Monahan missing Hudler

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by gunnner

Ferland time!!!

They need someone who can finish.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by mdubz

They need someone who can finish.

Agreed. Ferland is excelling at his current assignment. Taking him away from that and asking him to play above his ability to try to get your two biggest guys going is very flawed logic.


In all honesty, Johnny and Mony need to get it going themselves. Period. They should be they type of guys who make whoever is playing on the RW a better player.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by mdubz

They need someone who can finish.

Not especially. They need someone who can drive play and get them the puck so they can finish.

That would be someone with

1) Puck skills to enter the zone cleanly (which Ferland has to a very underrated extent)

2) Speed, size, and forechecking skill for when they are forced to dump the puck to enter the zone (Which Ferland is the best player on this roster at, as his foot speed is quite a few levels ahead of the likes of Chiasson and Versteeg)

3) The ability to support the breakout along the walls and get Monny, Johnny, or Brodie the puck to start the rush (Which Ferland has shown capable of doing, thanks to his strength in wall battles and his awareness to find the open man down the middle)

4) Tight passing skills out of corners on the cycle (Which Ferland showed is a strength of his) so that Gaudreau and Monahan can get in better areas to create plays.

Ferland, barring the acquisition of actual star wingers like Ondrej Palat, Mark Stone, Tyler Toffoli, or Blake Wheeler, is the best winger for them.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Not especially. They need someone who can drive play and get them the puck so they can finish.

That would be someone with

1) Puck skills to enter the zone cleanly (which Ferland has to a very underrated extent)

2) Speed, size, and forechecking skill for when they are forced to dump the puck to enter the zone (Which Ferland is the best player on this roster at, as his foot speed is quite a few levels ahead of the likes of Chiasson and Versteeg)

3) The ability to support the breakout along the walls and get Monny, Johnny, or Brodie the puck to start the rush (Which Ferland has shown capable of doing, thanks to his strength in wall battles and his awareness to find the open man down the middle)

4) Tight passing skills out of corners on the cycle (Which Ferland showed is a strength of his) so that Gaudreau and Monahan can get in better areas to create plays.

Ferland, barring the acquisition of actual star wingers like Ondrej Palat, Mark Stone, Tyler Toffoli, or Blake Wheeler, is the best winger for them.

IMO Brouwer is better at most, if not all, of those things.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by FlamesFan68

In Dallas, yes he is struggling with new linemates and his new team.

Well to be fair he's only played 3 games

[dino7c]

Hudler was terrible last year

[Calgary4LIfe]

Hudler's first year with those two was fantastic - I really think Hudler helped both of them an incredible amount on and off the ice. That line was really good.

Hudler's 2nd year on that line - not so good. Got worse as time went by it seemed. One can argue that Hudler dragged that line down a bit at times, though I think he was just 'ok' and didn't add much nor detract much.

Also, that line was simply great (at least the duo was) when Hudler was moved off the line, when Hudler was hurt, and even after Hudler was traded away. There is simply no evidence to support the theory that Gaudreau and Monahan 'miss' Hudler. I think Monahan misses a healthy back, and Gaudreau misses a less structured offensive system (my best guess).

Monahan will heal up (if he hasn't already) and when those two adjust to the new system, there will be a lot less passes to nobody and being out of position. They look awkward out there a lot, and to me, that is either a lack of chemistry or lack of system familiarity. I would think it is the systems since Gaudreau played with Monahan for 2 straight seasons now, and the two undoubtedly have chemistry together.

[Alpine Fisher]

Bennito Samuelini is on their line tonight as a Right Winger!
I like this

[Parallex]

I don't think they miss Hudler... I do think they miss having a legitimate scoring threat on that line.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Poor theory IMO. Hudler was terrible last year and didn't play with Johnny and Monahan for the majority of the year and they did just fine last year without him.

[polak]

I think it's just Johnny. Monahans play is a reflection of Johnny. He's never been the driver, always the finisher. He's buried most of his chances this season he just isn't getting as many and is being exposed a bit having to bear more of the load when Gaudreau is playing like crap.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by mdubz

They need someone who can finish.

Hoffman would have been a nice fit if johnny could slide to RW. $5.2m is tough to fit in

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Alpine Fisher

Bennito Samuelini is on their line tonight as a Right Winger!
I like this

Il Duce?

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I don't think they miss Hudler... I do think they miss having a legitimate scoring threat on that line.

They are/should be legitimate scoring threats on their own

[Vulcan]

What I see is the whole team has trouble putting two passes together, including our first line. They are playing more up tempo to compete but their game still needs to improve. With their new system I take it that players aren't where they usually are, so it may take some more time.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

They are/should be legitimate scoring threats on their own

And they were for all of last season.

Even when Hudler was on their line it was mostly a 2-man show. Hudler with his injury was scared to take even the slightest bit of contact last season. The puck would be instantly off his stick the second he took control. He had nothing to do with 3/4 of the points he got last year.

[belsarius]

Right now I'd like to see Frolik with Monahan and Johnny.

I haven't minded Chaisson on that line but I have noticed that he seems to be driving deep and being the player tied to Gaudreau. Monahan has been the responsible center man and kept farther back, played angles and hasn't been getting into the danger areas as much.

I think Frolik has the speed to get into the corners and get back out. He has the defensive awareness to be the guy getting back and it will allow Monahan to be a little less responsible and more comfortable getting himself into scoring positions. I like how Chaisson or Ferland crashes the net but this line needs Money sniping and finding the holes for Johnny to abuse.

Frolik has the high skill level like Hudler and the awareness on the ice. If you are going to split him and Backlund up that's where I would put him. Plus maybe it would mean getting top line matches won't be as devastating.

[GioforPM]

IIRC Ferland is much more comfortable on the left side. His RW time hasn't been very good.

I'd try Brouwer, Frolik or Bennett, in that order.

[FlamesFan68]

I would give it a couple more weeks. If Gaudreau and Monny aren't producing like a #1 line, then give the Backs, Gaudreau, and Frolik line a try. Backs and Frolike have high end speed, and would give Gaudreau more room out there.

I like Monahan with Bennet and Tkachuck. 2 grinding talented players that have the ability to setup Monahan our best sniper. It would add a bit more grit to both of our top 2 lines.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Alpine Fisher

Bennito Samuelini is on their line tonight as a Right Winger!
I like this

I'm not sure I like that, particularly if it's a long term thing if it shows some early success.

This team needs two strong lines and a Monahan/Bennett combination up the middle is going to be/needs to be a big part of that