[News] Monahan knows what's on the line this season: 'I have a lot to prove'

[SuperMatt18]

I think what bugs me with the overboard Monahan hate is that this isn't a guy that just is pouting, not working hard, and has given up which is causing his game to be poor.

He's a guy who was a good player for this team, but who's body has clearly broken down after numerous injuries (that he always tried to play through).

And now he still is trying to help the team in any way he can, even Sutter has praised him for that.

Sucks that he isn't the guy he was for the first 6 years of his career, because this team could really use that, but I'm sure he wishes he could still shoot the puck, and skate like he used to be able to as well.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by neo45

What the hell would Sean Monahan have to complain about?

- over 6 mil in salary
- superglued to the top powerplay unit regardless of performance year after year
- low expectations


Darryl’s given him an easy role and a long leash. He basically just has to break even 5v5 against other teams third and fourth lines, and even if he doesn’t he’s not getting benched or demoted

For underachieving, overpaid player in a Canadian market Sean Monahan has absolutely zero to complain about

No NHLer should complain about anything ever. But it happens, and it's not always rational. But it was pretty evidence how much easier Monahan's production was with just Coleman and Lewis on his wings versus Dube and Pitlick. And rightly or wrongly, this was the same comment about Bennett - "why should he complain about line deployment - he hasn't shown he can produce on lower lines".

Watching Monahan, it's clear his individual game has improved, whether or not his line stats reflect it.

[looooob]

Sean Monahan will tie Gary Suter for 10th all time games played for the Flames tonight

[Northendzone]

so 25 games in:

3g-9a -6 shooting % of 8.1%. so about .5 points per game.

his career average is .732 ppg with a shooting % of 14.4%

wonder what he expects his next contract to look like

[Hockey_Ninja]

Monny is definitely playing better than Dube atm

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

Monny is definitely playing better than Dube atm

Dube's vision and anticipation have been lacking. He's skated into bad positions instead of finding open ice. Hopefully he will come around. TBF he's bounced around three lines and two positions.

[Bingo]

I've said it 100 times on this site ... it's the extremes that have me shake my head.

Monahan isn't the same player. It's obvious.

But he's doing what he can.

Is he worth the money? No.

But the level of drive by hatred for the guy is just ugly. Can't we just agree he's not the same guy and hope he develops a different type of game that will give the Flames some depth scoring and a powerplay specialist that can help make an impact going forward?

The need to bury the guy is frankly a little disturbing.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

so 25 games in:

3g-9a -6 shooting % of 8.1%. so about .5 points per game.

his career average is .732 ppg with a shooting % of 14.4%

wonder what he expects his next contract to look like

He will probably receive a lot of offers of one year deals as I imagine few teams will want to commit long term considering his drop off over the past few years. It will be a massive pay cut for sure. I wouldn't rule out bringing him back for a contract <$2 million a season.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He will probably receive a lot of offers of one year deals as I imagine few teams will want to commit long term considering his drop off over the past few years.

I suspect a lot of one year offers, and he'll snap up a two year one. Hopefully he's invested wisely.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've said it 100 times on this site ... it's the extremes that have me shake my head.

Monahan isn't the same player. It's obvious.

But he's doing what he can.

Is he worth the money? No.

But the level of drive by hatred for the guy is just ugly. Can't we just agree he's not the same guy and hope he develops a different type of game that will give the Flames some depth scoring and a powerplay specialist that can help make an impact going forward?

The need to bury the guy is frankly a little disturbing.

I don’t have hatred for the player. What I don’t understand are the lengths that people have gone to defend him.

Not saying he’s not trying. Not saying it’s his fault.

What he can’t be is a relied upon secondary scoring option and meaningful contributor at this point. I don’t take issue with the player when he’s deployed in the manner he has been. It’s all you can do at this point. But the expectation that he’s going to bounce back? It’s foolhardy IMO.

[EVERLAST]

Sean trying to play hard and stay healthy HAS to be a real issue for him.
Doing what he has done in the past while never being 100% earns nothing but respect from me.

He's getting better . Little by little it's beginning and you see it. He really reminds me of another guy who wore #23 ....who wasn't flashy, wasn't a huge high scorer but did all the little things right.....and saved his biggest performances for games that matter......I see Sean doing the same and it's pretty impressive IMO.

I don't GAF what Sean does statistically. If he is strong for this team playing a 200ft game and this team is winning its all a bonus.
When the real season begins sure he can contribute and well take it but I just wanna see this young man stay healthy . Period.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by neo45

The answer to this is very simple, fans understand player usage at this point and don’t just look at point totals



So Backlund and Coleman are playing harder minutes against better competition and getting better results 5 on 5. Fans care about team results over individual point performances and it’s obvious that those two are doing more to contribute to the teams success regardless of their stat lines

I'm not in the weeds enought to know, but is the Y axis on that graphic actually statistically significant?

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I don’t have hatred for the player. What I don’t understand are the lengths that people have gone to defend him.

Not saying he’s not trying. Not saying it’s his fault.

What he can’t be is a relied upon secondary scoring option and meaningful contributor at this point. I don’t take issue with the player when he’s deployed in the manner he has been. It’s all you can do at this point. But the expectation that he’s going to bounce back? It’s foolhardy IMO.

It's a simple hyperbole cycle...people make silly/extreme statements and other respond that it's not that bad.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by neo45

The answer to this is very simple, fans understand player usage at this point and don’t just look at point totals



So Backlund and Coleman are playing harder minutes against better competition and getting better results 5 on 5. Fans care about team results over individual point performances and it’s obvious that those two are doing more to contribute to the teams success regardless of their stat lines

The most notable thing about that chart is that ALL of the forwards have >50% O zone starts. It would be interesting to see whether the differences between players are statistically significant. It looks like a lot more than it is considering how much the axes are magnified.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've said it 100 times on this site ... it's the extremes that have me shake my head.

Monahan isn't the same player. It's obvious.

But he's doing what he can.

Is he worth the money? No.

But the level of drive by hatred for the guy is just ugly. Can't we just agree he's not the same guy and hope he develops a different type of game that will give the Flames some depth scoring and a powerplay specialist that can help make an impact going forward?

The need to bury the guy is frankly a little disturbing.

Cause we keep getting argumentative contrarian posts and comments like "he's doing the little things" and "he's getting better and better" etc. Like what little things, doing up his laces?!
Drive by apologists are just as prevalent with that guy I assure you.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flame On

Cause we keep getting argumentative contrarian posts and comments like "he's doing the little things" and "he's getting better and better" etc. Like what little things, doing up his laces?!
Drive by apologists are just as prevalent with that guy I assure you.

Good lord, do you even hear yourself? You are taking issue with posters noting details that Monahan is doing well and countering with “doing up his laces”. Yeah, someone is argumentative all right.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Good lord, do you even hear yourself? You are taking issue with posters noting details that Monahan is doing well and countering with “doing up his laces”. Yeah, someone is argumentative all right.

Pft you're one of the biggest contrarian apologists for Monahan there is imo.
Do you even hear yourself? And for the record "he's doing well" and "he's improving" are not details. They're opinions. Just as relevant as any other opinion about him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flame On

Pft you're one of the biggest contrarian apologists for Monahan there is imo.
Do you even hear yourself?

A. I don’t think you know what contrarian means.

B. Yes, I hear myself. I note things Monahan does well, like his improved physical game and his board work. It’s obvious he isn’t predicting like he should, though he’s still in the upper half of the team.

C. On the other hand, posters like you can’t accept there’s anything good going on. So who’s unreasonable here?

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A. I don’t think you know what contrarian means.

B. Yes, I hear myself. I note things Monahan does well, like his improved physical game and his board work. It’s obvious he isn’t predicting like he should, though he’s still in the upper half of the team.

C. On the other hand, posters like you can’t accept there’s anything good going on. So who’s unreasonable here?

A. Who said there's nothing good going on? I can dislike some aspects and not think everything is bad.

B. You jumped on my reply to Bingo 'cause I had the audacity to say the same thing he was complaining about happens from "posters like you".

C. Anytime anyone says anything about not liking some aspect (I emphasize aspect) about Monahan there you are with some contrary point. "opposing or rejecting popular opinion" Seems like I am doing fine with that term, but thanks for your patronizing.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flame On

A. Who said there's nothing good going on? I can dislike some aspects and not think everything is bad.

B. You jumped on my reply to Bingo 'cause I had the audacity to say the same thing he was complaining about happens from "posters like you".

C. Anytime anyone says anything about not liking some aspect (I emphasize aspect) about Monahan there you are with some contrary point. "opposing or rejecting popular opinion" Seems like I am doing fine with that term, but thanks for your patronizing.

I’m not rejecting popular opinion, based on the comments in this thread. Most people seem to recognize an increase in work rate and overall play, not reflected in points, for whatever reason. Hence, my belief that you don’t know a contrarian post when you see one. . I simply dislike disingenuous posts that don’t have basis in reality. Your posts are all hyperbole. And you literally said the only thing Monahan was doing well was tying his skates. And I quote:

"he's doing the little things" and "he's getting better and better" etc. Like what little things, doing up his laces?!

Not to mention no one is generalizing like that - they are all pointing to specific things that are looking better.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

A. I don’t think you know what contrarian means.

B. Yes, I hear myself. I note things Monahan does well, like his improved physical game and his board work. It’s obvious he isn’t predicting like he should, though he’s still in the upper half of the team.

C. On the other hand, posters like you can’t accept there’s anything good going on. So who’s unreasonable here?

I think Monahan's been passable, but he gets a lot of credit for virtually the same things Adam Ruzicka did tonight at about the same level, and I don't think Ruzicka's been anything to write home about. If you swapped the centres, would the results (in terms of chances) have changed a whole lot?

The bar for Monahan is really low. Replacing him with a bonafide playdriving centre like Yanni Gourde would improve the play of Monahan's linemates.

I think the most praise you can sincerely give Monahan after three consecutive solid games is that "plays no longer die on his stick".