Our 6th Overall Pick: Elias Lindholm or Sean Monahan?

[megatron]

My only information on both of the players has come from CP and youtube, but in the end I chose Lindholm, for the potentially higher offensive game he may have.

But I would be happy if either is chosen.

I also think that we should keep all of our first rounders to try to get our Perry/Weber later in the first round to go along with Lindholm/Monahan since it's being compared to the 2003 draft.

[T@T]

I decided to do some research on these two kids and try to break it down as best as I could

Lindholm:

Skating - 9
Passing - 8
Shot - 8
Game IQ - 9
Faceoffs -7
Defense - 7
Size/Strenght - 7
Leadership - 8

Total - 63/80


Monahan:

Skating - 8
Passing - 8
Shot - 9
Game IQ - 8
Faceoffs - 9
Defense - 9
Size/Strenght - 9
Leadership - 9

Total - 69/80

My best upside comparables that both only wish for:

Lindholm = Nazem Kadri/David Krejci
Monahan = Jonathan Toews/Jamie Benn

Monahan gets my vote!

[doctajones428]

Monahan's hockey IQ is off the charts. You can't teach that

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by T@T

I decided to do some research on these two kids and try to break it down as best as I could

Lindholm:

Skating - 9
Passing - 8
Shot - 8
Game IQ - 9
Faceoffs -7
Defense - 7
Size/Strenght - 7
Leadership - 8

Total - 63/80


Monahan:

Skating - 8
Passing - 8
Shot - 9
Game IQ - 8
Faceoffs - 9
Defense - 9
Size/Strenght - 9
Leadership - 9

Total - 69/80

My best upside comparables that both only wish for:

Lindholm = Nazem Kadri/David Krejci
Monahan = Jonathan Toews/Jamie Benn

Monahan gets my vote!

can you please explain where these numbers came from?

and monahan = fat benneth?

as long as he likes to get polished off buckets at rooftop like jamie does im sold. full on rooting we get monahan now.

[djsFlames]

Yep..

After sitting down and doing some legit 'home' research on both, including scout's takes, highlights, grades, rankings.. It's clear that I'm torn half way between the two. Monahan impressed me after looking into him a bit further and I'll admit I think he's more well rounded, a bit bigger, and the reportedly top notch IQ is enticing, though I don't think he has quite the slickness and hands that Lindholm has. Watching Lindholm he's got hands like Drouin to basically deeke defenders at will but does so in an aggressive way, where if he takes a hard knock to get past them he will, but then also the grit and tenacity to be effective without the puck. He's also got that wider than normal stride when skating that scouts talk about as awkward looking but makes him harder to move off the puck etc.

Krejci / Backes with more offense - vs - Kopitar / Ribeiro with more size.

[dissentowner]

I would rate Monahan's hockey IQ above Lindholm's.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would rate Monahan's hockey IQ above Lindholm's.

And a bonus point for playing North American hockey.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by T@T

I decided to do some research on these two kids and try to break it down as best as I could

Lindholm:

Skating - 9
Passing - 8
Shot - 8
Game IQ - 9
Faceoffs -7
Defense - 7
Size/Strenght - 7
Leadership - 8

Total - 63/80


Monahan:

Skating - 8
Passing - 8
Shot - 9
Game IQ - 8
Faceoffs - 9
Defense - 9
Size/Strenght - 9
Leadership - 9

Total - 69/80

My best upside comparables that both only wish for:

Lindholm = Nazem Kadri/David Krejci
Monahan = Jonathan Toews/Jamie Benn

Monahan gets my vote!

Monahan may be bigger than Lindholm, but he really doesn't use it like Lindholm does. Lindholm is quite a bit grittier than he is.

I also think Monahan's skating is more like a 7 or a 6. His top speed is quite slow.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by T@T

My best upside comparables that both only wish for:

Lindholm = Nazem Kadri/David Krejci

I've seen other places give Lindholm's upside comparable as Zetterberg.

Originally Posted by nfotiu

And a bonus point for playing North American hockey.

I'd give the bonus point to Lindholm for playing adult league hockey personally.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Yep..


Krejci / Backes with more offense - vs - Kopitar / Ribeiro with more size.

Two of the strangest player combinations I've seen. Still trying to wrap my mind around those. Still, they would be awesome players!

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would rate Monahan's hockey IQ above Lindholm's.

Please define this term. How is it measured? Quantitative or qualititative? What's the control? Where exactly does Monahan exceed Lindholm in this measure?

I don't buy this claim in any shape or form. From what I have seen of Monahan, and I admit it is limited, he plays a very north-south game and uses his size to his advantage. I don't see much anticipation or plays that make you scratch your head and say, how did he know that guy was going to be there? Lindholm, again in limited exposure, is exceptional in is regard. He anticipates the play and knows where players are going to be as well as anyone in the draft. If you're looking for examples of guys just knowing the game and understanding what is going on all around him, Lindholm is superior in this regard in my opinion. I would like to see some examples of Monahan's superior hockey IQ on display, because at this point it is based on a claim that has just been repeated over and over by the data aggregators out there in the blogosphere.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would rate Monahan's hockey IQ above Lindholm's.

I'm not picking on you, you just happened to be the last person to make this comment, but can you, or someone who has stated this as a fact tell me a) what this actually means; and b) what you are basing this on?

I watch a tonne of flames hockey and feel that I can legitimately comment on each players skillset, but beyond that I'm basing my opinions on such a limited sample size.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Monahan may be bigger than Lindholm, but he really doesn't use it like Lindholm does. Lindholm is quite a bit grittier than he is.

I agree. Lindholm goes way harder and uses his body a lot. Watching his shifts is awesome. He hits a guy in a corner, knocks the puck loose, ties up the next guy, kicks the puck out, throws a random shot on net, etc.

Monahan seems more poised and his style is much calmer. He has a very high hockey IQ.

[AltaGuy]

I have this feeling we're going to end up with Barkov. Don't know why, or how, but just a feeling.

Possibly connected to my feeling that Nurse is going to go very high in this draft.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

I have this feeling we're going to end up with Barkov. Don't know why, or how, but just a feeling.

Possibly connected to my feeling that Nurse is going to go very high in this draft.

Just one of those thoughts that usually a sure top 5 picks always seems to fall down the draft a bit and usually at least one team goes off the board in the top 10.

I think the top 3 are locked:
COL: Jones
FLA: Mackinnon
TBAY: Drouin

Nashville is a team I could see going off the board a little bit. I could really see them liking Lindholm, as he seems to fit their style of play and they have drafted out of Sweden frequently in the last two/three years.

Carolina is a team I could see taking Nurse/Monahan, they tend to draft within North America more then even Darryl Sutter did. (2001 was the last time they took a non-North American player in the first round, since then Victor rask is the only european second rounder even).

Would not be shocked if Barkov fell to Calgary TBQH.

[CGY12]

At the start I would have said Lindholm but if Monohan's best attributes are his skating abililty and hockey sense I would go with him.

I think those 2 attributes are the key criteria to being a great hockey player in todays game.

[bubbsy]

are lindholm/monahan slotted to have high 1st line center potential?

If not, is it worthwhile looking at Nurse?

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by CGY12

At the start I would have said Lindholm but if Monohan's best attributes are his skating abililty and hockey sense I would go with him.

I think those 2 attributes are the key criteria to being a great hockey player in todays game.

?

Monahan's skating is one of his biggest weaknesses.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

are lindholm/monahan slotted to have high 1st line center potential?

Yes. Not "franchise" player potential but #1 center potential for both.

[LouCypher]

I voted for Monahan, I like the fact that he seems solid all around. We really need to build up our center ice position. Having a potential faceoff ace and tough guy to play against who can put up numbers could really change the complexion of the team.