Should Monahan be released to the WJC

[dammage79]

Wagering a guess that Monahan will not be attending the WJC this year.

Still kind of hoping enough guys don't go so Jankowski, who needs the experience far more, will make the team instead.

I can live with Monahan staying with the Flames and getting a solid Calder run going. While Poirier, Klimchuk (maybe) and Jankowski earn spots on the national team.

[Vinny01]

If you listen to Sven's excuse as to why he struggled at the prospects tournament he stated playing the slower style of junior hockey was part of the reason he struggled. I think Monahan is a NHL player and is best suited to stay in the NHL.

[Johnny Rotten]

Wouldn't mind seeing him centre a line of Poirier and Klimchuk (if they make the team), but at the same time, how beneficial was the tournament for RNH last year?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

What is the history of NHL guys that left their NHL teams to go play in the WJC?

One specific example is Rico Fata left the Flames to play in the WJC. He didn't have a great tournament (1 goal) and then they assigned him back to the OHL. His NHL career really never got on track after that.

I agree with the posters who say that this tournament isn't really that significant, TSN has just made it that way. A look through the years at tournament all-stars (note, this is the best of the best) and it's a crapshoot whether they even made any impact at all in the NHL.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Wagering a guess that Monahan will not be attending the WJC this year.

Still kind of hoping enough guys don't go so Jankowski, who needs the experience far more, will make the team instead.

I can live with Monahan staying with the Flames and getting a solid Calder run going. While Poirier, Klimchuk (maybe) and Jankowski earn spots on the national team.

Agreed. Monahan seems to have proven that he belongs in the NHL. It would be great to see jankowski at the tournament especially.

[Fan in Exile]

[QUOTE

I agree with the posters who say that this tournament isn't really that significant, TSN has just made it that way. A look through the years at tournament all-stars (note, this is the best of the best) and it's a crapshoot whether they even made any impact at all in the NHL.[/QUOTE]

Yep, if WJC was a defining moment in development, Backlund would have been a star long ago and why aren't we more excited about Granlund?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

...Most importantly, I think this is the closest he will get to playing meaningful playoff hockey for a few years.

I think it is highly debatable just how "meaningful" the WJHC championship really is. Virtually no other hockey playing nation cares about the tournament, and the only reason Canada does is a direct result of how well TSN has marketed and produced the event. I expect that it is only very meaningful for those players who top-out at that level, and Monahan has most certainly surpassed it.

[Five-hole]

My personal feeling is the WJCs are part of TSN's "young player" hype machine. Between that tourney, the draft, and McKenzie's top prospects lists, and all the related coverage in between, TSN derives a lot of viewership from the hero worship of young talent.

This bleeds into the rest of their coverage and explains why the Oilers get perpetual love despite being the kings of ineptitude while the "old, slow" Flames -- who, until recently, had few if no remarkable prospects -- are treated like the redheaded stepchild.

It's not much of a surprise that, at least to my ears, TSN has been far kinder to us this year.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

I think he has enough character that if he was released it wouldn't hurt him. Playing with his peers and having a great chance at winning it all would be good for him in the long run.

How so will it "be good for him in the long run"?

I agree that it wouldn't be bad for him, but I also don't think that there is any long-term benefit to be had from sending him to play in the WJHC.

[automaton 3]

He already has gold medals from the U-17 (Team Ontario) and U-18 (Team Canada) tournaments.

Only Canadians care about much the U-20 tournament, and IMO in large part because of the TSN hype machine.

There is nothing for him to be gained here IMO.

[RM14]

I can see value in having the opportunity to win a gold medal in this tournament. I have so many memories of watching players in this tournament, the celebrations and overall emotion of the tourny. Jonathan Toews is a constant comparision to Monahan, and Toews went legend in that semi final shootout. Obviously it is a long shot for anything like that to happen but, Monahan will be Calgary flames for a very long time, and this is Monahans only opportunity add a WJC gold to his collection.

[Joborule]

The pro is he gets to have the experience of playing in a pressure tournament situation. That experience can be useful.

But he won't be playing against the best in the world anymore, where he has been doing a good job holding his own up against. I think it's better for him to compete against the best of the best for December rather than a few games against players that aren't NHL calibur. It's a uneccessary step down.

[dammage79]

And Monahan is injured week to week . Doesn't fare well for WJC if they were going to let him go .

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by superfarmer

I think it would be great for his development

No, I don't think he should go. It won't do a thing for his development.

[Buff]

Well, in light of this morning's news. I guess the decision has been made. He'll go to the IR instead.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

Would winning a medal at the WJC mean more to him than the Calder trophy that he would be taking himself out of consideration for?

That depends if he is a Team Success kind of guy or an Individual Glory kind of guy.

[Tinordi]

He develops better playing in the NHL. There's no reason to send him to the WJC.

[Beatle17]

Even if he wasn't injured I don't think he had anything to gain by going. The WJHC is littered with names of guys who never became much and others that went on to great things, but the guys who went on were stars before they ever played in the tournament. Monahan is learning way more playing where he is.

[hixxes]

It's probably a moo point now with the injury, but I don't think he should go. He's proven he's an NHL player and his and the organizations only goal should be in improving at the NHL level. The world juniors is beneath him now.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by hixxes

It's probably a moo point now with the injury, but I don't think he should go.

Leave the cows out of this.