Sean FRICKIN Monahan

[ForeverFlameFan]

Toews' first NHL season was 54 points in 64 games (24G-30A). However, he played an additional season in the WCHA before he went to the NHL for good.

As of now, Sean is 26 points in 53 games (18G-8A). Came into the NHL right away, and arguably the best decision we've made this season thus far. Our top goal scorer as well. He's developed into a good hockey player in his NHL season already. I think Sean can get 25A-10A at the end of the season, maybe 15 assists if we starts rackin' them up.

Can't wait to see what he does next year. I think he can hit 50-60 points with 30 or 35 goals, hopefully.

Flames have a bright future with this kid, and hope to draft another good prospect this year.

[djsFlames]

^ Both strong points.

If Monahan were brought in next year instead as a rookie, I bet he'd be producing north of .5 PPG. 18 to 19/20 is a big difference in development. For him to lead the team in goals in a season right out of the draft shows he's better than most kids. He's also second to only MacKinnon amongst rookies in that regard.

The assists are due to a lack of finishers and the team being bottom 5 in the league in goals for. If Monahan came onto the Flames team we had 2-3 years ago, he'd be up at the top, as he would have guys to dish to that could actually finish the play.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Can't wait to see what he does next year. I think he can hit 50-60 points with 30 or 35 goals, hopefully.

Optimistic, but don't forget the sophmore slump

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

...Looking around the league at some top centres rookie seasons, you find out where Monahan sits among players.

Toews - 54 pts in 64 games (.84 pts per game) 19 years-old
Crosby - 102 pts in 81 games (1.26 pts per game) 18 years-old
Kopitar - 61 pts in 72 games (.85 pts per game) 19 years-old
Getzlaf - 39 pts in 57 games (.68 pts per game) 20 years-old
Duchene - 55 pts in 81 games (.68 pts per game) 18 years-old
Stamkos - 46 pts in 79 games (.58 pts per game) 18 years-old
Bergeron - 39 pts in 71 games (.55 pts per game) 18 years-old
Stepan - 45 pts in 82 games (.55 pts per game) 20 years-old

Monahan (.49 pts per game) 19 years-old

M. Koivu - 21 pts in 64 games (.33 pts per game) 22 years-old
Krejci - 27 pts in 56 games (.38 pts per game) 20 years-old
Plekanec - 29 pts in 67 games (.43 pts per game) 21 years-old

So while he's having a damn solid rookie season, if you were to draw comparison on career-trajectories based only on rookie season results - Monahan looks to be best suited as a #2 centre, or a 1A/1B centre.

It's too difficult to say, really. Monahan was younger than Getzlaf, and a little younger than Toews and Kopitar, but like others have pointed out, there are other differences that factor into how each of these players' trajectory has unfolded. With regards to Toews in particular, Monahan has had NOBODY like Kane playing on his wing, and I'm quite certain that a bonafide top-line winger with elite level skill would absolutely have made a considerable positive difference in his production this year.

[jg13]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Monahan is on pace for 40 pts in an 82 game schedule this season (.49 pts per game) - which is solid, but not the makings of a superstar. Looking around the league at some top centres rookie seasons, you find out where Monahan sits among players.

Toews - 54 pts in 64 games (.84 pts per game)
Crosby - 102 pts in 81 games (1.26 pts per game)
Kopitar - 61 pts in 72 games (.85 pts per game)
Getzlaf - 39 pts in 57 games (.68 pts per game)
Duchene - 55 pts in 81 games (.68 pts per game)
Stamkos - 46 pts in 79 games (.58 pts per game)
Bergeron - 39 pts in 71 games (.55 pts per game)
Stepan - 45 pts in 82 games (.55 pts per game)

Monahan (.49 pts per game)

M. Koivu - 21 pts in 64 games (.33 pts per game)
Krejci - 27 pts in 56 games (.38 pts per game)
Plekanec - 29 pts in 67 games (.43 pts per game)

So while he's having a damn solid rookie season, if you were to draw comparison on career-trajectories based only on rookie season results - Monahan looks to be best suited as a #2 centre, or a 1A/1B centre.

I bet none of them we're playing with Joe Colborne on the wing.

[AcGold]

Monahan's ceiling is very high. What he lacks in stick handling and explosive speed he makes up for in poise and intelligence.

He might be the only guy on the team to get 20 goals, with a rookie season like that a .50ppg is meaningless. He's single handedly won us a bunch of games and we could be competing for dead last without his 18 goals. Comparing him to McKinnon just isn't fair, Colorado is 6th in the entire league, Calgary is 27th. He probably won't reach Crosby, Toews or Stamkos levels but his ceiling is way higher than koivu or plekanec

[saillias]

And there's still games to play. Let's pull out that list again after the regular season is done.

[ForeverFlameFan]

^ Maybe we should guess at how much points do you think he'll get this month? Before March, he was 16G-8A equaling 24 points.

16 games in March, already has 2 goals. How many points do you think he'll get this month?

EDIT: 15 games now.

[Iggy Snipe]

Monahan will finish the season with about 25 goals.
The guy is going to be a solid center for Calgary, one who can obviously find the back of the net. At 18 years old, he is playing lights out for Calgary. I could not have expected any more from the guy. Lets just hope he keeps developing into a complete player. His assists are going to need to come up, because as a center man, you need to be able to dish to your wingers. The big plus with Monahan is he is young and he CAN sore goals. Working on the passing game is the easy part.

[Cowboy89]

If his assists totals were even with his goals scored he'd be inline on a points basis with those good players. Saturday was a perfect example of why his assist total is so low. How can he get assists when he's the only damn guy who can actually score?

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by jg13

I bet none of them we're playing with Joe Colborne on the wing.

No,that is a good point. And if Monahan was playing with a winger who could score then his assist totals would be much higher.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Aside from say, Crosby, did any of those rookies lead their team in scoring?

Remember..Monahan's team sucks

On the other hand, he's probably gotten a lot more ice time than a rookie on a good team. It's not clear whether playing on a bad team hurts a players stats, or helps them.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

On the other hand, he's probably gotten a lot more ice time than a rookie on a good team. It's not clear whether playing on a bad team hurts a players stats, or helps them.

In Monahan's case, I'm sure it hurts him. If he had better linemates, he'd have more assists for sure.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Honestly is the only one that knows how to finish.

[GoFlamesGo1989]

To make Monahan an elite center he needs an elite winger. May draft one this year or trade for one.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

On the other hand, he's probably gotten a lot more ice time than a rookie on a good team. It's not clear whether playing on a bad team hurts a players stats, or helps them.

He has a lower TOI than all of the other rookies in the top 15 in scoring, with the exception of Nichushkin who has 3 seconds less than him.

He is also 13th in total PP TOI.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by GoFlamesGo1989

To make Monahan an elite center he needs an elite winger. May draft one this year or trade for one.

If Sven gets his game together at the NHL level, he can be that play maker.

I don't think Granlund is a good choice as his winger as they play too much the same. Both are good at finding open ice and have quick releases but aren't known for setting up plays. Colborne is okay as he wins puck battles down low but a skilled set up man as you say, is needed.

[Day Tripper]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Monahan is on pace for 40 pts in an 82 game schedule this season (.49 pts per game) - which is solid, but not the makings of a superstar. Looking around the league at some top centres rookie seasons, you find out where Monahan sits among players.

Toews - 54 pts in 64 games (.84 pts per game)
Crosby - 102 pts in 81 games (1.26 pts per game)
Kopitar - 61 pts in 72 games (.85 pts per game)
Getzlaf - 39 pts in 57 games (.68 pts per game)
Duchene - 55 pts in 81 games (.68 pts per game)
Stamkos - 46 pts in 79 games (.58 pts per game)
Bergeron - 39 pts in 71 games (.55 pts per game)
Stepan - 45 pts in 82 games (.55 pts per game)

Monahan (.49 pts per game)

M. Koivu - 21 pts in 64 games (.33 pts per game)
Krejci - 27 pts in 56 games (.38 pts per game)
Plekanec - 29 pts in 67 games (.43 pts per game)

So while he's having a damn solid rookie season, if you were to draw comparison on career-trajectories based only on rookie season results - Monahan looks to be best suited as a #2 centre, or a 1A/1B centre.

Eric Staal - 31 pts in 81 games (.38 pts per game)

[wretched34]

Monahan's assist totals are definitely hurting because of his linemates. Can't blame it at all on his play making abilities, seeing as 7 of his 8 assists are first assists, meaning he set up the goal directly. The kid can make a perfect pass, and his smarts tend to have those passes lead to goals, if the shooter can hit the net. In his first Game, he set up Jones, his next assist was a feed to Baertschi, next 2, to Hudler. He set up Russel on the PP, Cammi on the PP, and Brodie and Backlund in OT. Outside of Jones, those are all guys who can score, and set themselves up to score. His current Linemates do not play that style. Its not necessarily a bad thing though, because of it, Monahan is playing a stronger 2 way game, rather than being primarily offensive (yet he is still the teams primary offense). It's a great way to develop, and when he finally has wingers that can put the puck in the net on a regular basis, I think his stats will speak for themselves.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He has a lower TOI than all of the other rookies in the top 15 in scoring, with the exception of Nichushkin who has 3 seconds less than him.

He is also 13th in total PP TOI.

And Nichushkin spends a lot of his time with Benn & Seguin, while Monahan plays with Joe Clborne, Lee Stempnak, etc. If Monahan had those kind of line mates he would be a 50+ pt rookie.