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

[SuperMatt18]

I honestly think the hope with Monahan is that he has some lingering injury and he can go on LTIR around the trade deadline opening the space to make another move.

Then maybe he can return as like 13th forward in the playoffs when you're going to need bodies.

Everyone else is taking advantage of the LTIR rule, Flames might as well too. Instead we always just seem to make all our players play through their injuries.

[traptor]

I think the biggest issue with Monahan is not specifically skating speed (he never had high end speed or acceleration) or power of his shot (seems like he can still rip it given time/space) but it is his ability to execute quickly.

It doesn't seem like he's able to get into the right positions and then control/move the puck as quickly. This is apparent when looking at his turnover the other night that led to the goal. He wasn't able to get full control of the puck and move it as fast as he used to be. It's why he's not scoring as much either. He just can't seem to make those quick adjustments in his positioning then quickly gain control and quickly release the puck.

Time/space is limited in the NHL and I think his injuries have hindered his ability (agility) to execute with the limited time/space. He requires that split second more and unfortunately in the NHL you don't have that time.

I think this was a big aspect of his success before and unfortunately given his injuries, he is unable to execute with the puck like he used to. This is why he has still been decent at faceoffs and without the puck.

Unfortunately, I don't think he will ever be able to be the player he once was. He may still be able to redefine his playstyle however to rely less on quickly executing and more on puck possession through strength. However i'm not convinced he has that skill set or his body can handle that style.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Some guys have the skillset, but their bodies just aren't built for playing hockey long term. I think Monahan fits into that category

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by traptor

I think the biggest issue with Monahan is not specifically skating speed (he never had high end speed or acceleration) or power of his shot (seems like he can still rip it given time/space) but it is his ability to execute quickly.

It doesn't seem like he's able to get into the right positions and then control/move the puck as quickly. This is apparent when looking at his turnover the other night that led to the goal. He wasn't able to get full control of the puck and move it as fast as he used to be. It's why he's not scoring as much either. He just can't seem to make those quick adjustments in his positioning then quickly gain control and quickly release the puck.

Time/space is limited in the NHL and I think his injuries have hindered his ability (agility) to execute with the limited time/space. He requires that split second more and unfortunately in the NHL you don't have that time.

I think this was a big aspect of his success before and unfortunately given his injuries, he is unable to execute with the puck like he used to. This is why he has still been decent at faceoffs and without the puck.

Unfortunately, I don't think he will ever be able to be the player he once was. He may still be able to redefine his playstyle however to rely less on quickly executing and more on puck possession through strength. However i'm not convinced he has that skill set or his body can handle that style.

Yes, this sounds pretty close to me. Also I think he's been playing closer into the net the last couple years. Before he was scoring from where Lindholm has been - just a little further out. His last nice goal was with lots of time and space and the whiff from a couple games ago was with no time and no space.

[Sylvanfan]

Hearing Sutter talking about getting players to play the game the right way and have to relearn how they play. That sounds like a direct shot at Sean Monahan to me.

[Stormchaser]

Monahan just isn't playing the game with any sense of urgency and its like watching a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He just doesn't look like he's having any fun playing the game. Maybe it's all between the ears.

[Tacoman]

Originally Posted by Stormchaser

Monahan just isn't playing the game with any sense of urgency and its like watching a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He just doesn't look like he's having any fun playing the game. Maybe it's all between the ears.

This is where the injuries have really played into it in my opinion. I think the injuries have continued to chip away at his confidence over the last three years to the point where he's lost all confidence now. That's what makes you struggle in spontaneous situations. You need a confident, free mind to play at the highest level. Unfortunately Monny is a long ways away from that.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Hearing Sutter talking about getting players to play the game the right way and have to relearn how they play. That sounds like a direct shot at Sean Monahan to me.

He’s been giving subtle jabs at Mony the last couple weeks. I find it fascinating the media doesn’t ask more about him. Almost avoiding the topic like they’ve avoided the Gaudreau/tkachuk contract questions, which we know the flames PR team is almost certainly behind.

[camm13]

The subtle jabs at monahan by DS is useless. BENCH him. He's not providing anything right now, and in fact has costs us a few goals the last few games. If DS wants to make a point, then make the point.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Stormchaser

Monahan just isn't playing the game with any sense of urgency and its like watching a guy with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He just doesn't look like he's having any fun playing the game. Maybe it's all between the ears.

Has Monahan ever played with much urgency? One of the reasons he doesn’t look great in playoff games is everyone else on the ice cranks up the tempo but he only has one gear.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Hearing Sutter talking about getting players to play the game the right way and have to relearn how they play. That sounds like a direct shot at Sean Monahan to me.

To me it sounded like he was talking about all the top guys. Then having that trickle down throughout the lineup. He was talking about Gaudreau and Tkachuk more in my opinion.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Has Monahan ever played with much urgency? One of the reasons he doesn’t look great in playoff games is everyone else on the ice cranks up the tempo but he only has one gear.

Out of the limited PO production across the team Monahan is among the top guys.

[powderjunkie]

When things are going well, it looks like poise/composure.

When things are going bad, it looks like a lack of urgency.


You need a mix of personalities (and 'hockey personalities'). Did Nick Lidstrom ever need to present a sense of urgency?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Did Nick Lidstrom ever need to present a sense of urgency?

Cue the response from people who don't know what analogies are for: ‘Oh, so now you're saying useless stupid Monahan is as good as Lidstrom, are ya? Hur hur hur hur.’

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Out of the limited PO production across the team Monahan is among the top guys.

Almost all of his PO goals were PP or empty netters. His 200 ft playoff game is bad. Which anyone who watched the games could tell you.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Almost all of his PO goals were PP or empty netters. His 200 ft playoff game is bad. Which anyone who watched the games could tell you.

I always find it hilarious when people try and downplay a power play goal like it is some kind of lesser goal. Such a weak argument

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Almost all of his PO goals were PP or empty netters. His 200 ft playoff game is bad. Which anyone who watched the games could tell you.

I watched all the games. No one was very good. But let’s not pretend Monahan was some weak link on those POs. No one stood out.

His ES and PP stats in the POs are roughly about even, not lopsided. He has maybe one ENG. And in the POs powerplay points are huge.

Monahan is deserving enough criticism without exaggerating his PO performance compared to the rest of the team.

[CliffFletcher]

I put a very high value on how a player plays without the puck. One of the common traits of NHL teams that have playoff success is everyone on the roster - including the star players - elevates their game without the puck and are on opponents every shift, forechecking and backchecking like a dog on a bone. A big reason the Flames have not had playoff success in recent seasons is because the core did not or could not elevate their game. And a #1C being ineffective without the puck and easy to play against is especially damaging in playoff hockey.

[Stanley]

Mony would definitely benefit from getting some rest once we clinch...

[Teroy]

Some of the opinions expressed on the topic of Monahan leave me wondering if fans have any loyalty towards players. I also find some of them to be ridiculous.