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

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Really it makes no sense that they broke up Mangiapane-Monahan-Dube

Mangiapane-Monahan-Dube:

TOI: 15:46
Corsi For: 72.4%
GF: 1
GA: 0
xGF: 82.7%

Dube-Mangiapane (No Monahan)

TOI: 21:21
Corsi For: 20%
GF: 1
GA: 3
xGF%: 15.8%

Monahan w/o Dube or Mangiapane

TOI: 28: 13
Corsi For: 40.9%
GF: 0
GA: 1
xGF: 38.7%

Put those three back together.

I wonder if Monahan’s fitness (due to no cardio) wasn’t enough to hang with the two younger guys all game. But I agree, they didn’t give it enough of a chance. I think it’s a hell of a good mix of styles, actually. And if they want Dube at centre, fine. Monahan isn’t going to be worse than Ritchie on wing.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I think we'll see Dube back to the wing with Monahan. Coleman and Mangi could interchange depending on match ups and chemistry.

Mangi+Dube is something I want to see more of, as I do think they have complimentary skills and could be a potentially dynamite line, but these past few games have not been good.

[Flame On]

Could pair him with a line with Dan Vladar who has more points. Maybe that'll get him going.


I actually haven't hated a lot of what I've seen from him this year he's just not at all what we wanted him to be or frankly pay him to be.

[genetic_phreek]

I've never been a Monahan supporter since day 1, I always hated that his skating was suspect when he was drafted, he was the leading scorer on an Ottawa 67s team that was the worse, and I've been wanting him to be traded from when I thought he was "overacheiving". I've always thought people were crazy when comparing him to Toews.

However, it amazes me that people all of a sudden think this guy is a bottom 6 player. I still think he's at the least a 2nd line centre. He still has the IQ and a good shot and his skating has improved somewhat. He looked pretty good with Mangiapane and Dube but a few screwups relegated him to play with Lucic and Lewis.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Monahan gets paid very good money. For the money he signed his contract, in today's world with what players are being paid, it would be around $8 MM a year.

You would hope for that type of a contract, you can get a player who can at least dominate on the fourth line instead of needing studs on his line to get anything done (especially considering he will be playing against bottom six players)...

This is kind of my underlying point. Monahan isn't a defensive specialist, he's paid a handsome sum to not only produce but to also be one of the better players whenever he's on the ice and whoever he's matched up against.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Really it makes no sense that they broke up Mangiapane-Monahan-Dube

Mangiapane-Monahan-Dube:

TOI: 15:46
Corsi For: 72.4%
GF: 1
GA: 0
xGF: 82.7%

Dube-Mangiapane (No Monahan)

TOI: 21:21
Corsi For: 20%
GF: 1
GA: 3
xGF%: 15.8%

Monahan w/o Dube or Mangiapane

TOI: 28: 13
Corsi For: 40.9%
GF: 0
GA: 1
xGF: 38.7%

Put those three back together.

I hear you. Seems the last two games they are wanting to see if Dube can be a center for them...potentially in a world post-Monahan?

[ThatsRobbery]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I hear you. Seems the last two games they are wanting to see if Dube can be a center for them...potentially in a world post-Monahan?

Well Dube is gonna be back on wing when Eichel is acquired.....

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Monahan’s problem from day one has been his skating. The league gets faster every year which doesn’t help him.

He’s not an NHL calibre skater and he’s not agressive. His one big skill was as a trigger man. He’s great at scoring from the slot. Now that he’s not in the top 6 anymore his chances to do that will be fewer and farther between.

So essentially he has become invisible. They most likely will not be able to trade him either. Not sure what’s going to happen with him.

Monahan's skating is absolutely his biggest detriment. The biggest problem for him (especially as a centerman) is that he lacks the ability to hold on to the puck and gain separation. He can't shield the puck like other big #1 centers, so he needs to be quicker. But since he's a below average skater, he almost requires a winger who can push the pace for him, which is why I believe Blake Coleman would probably be the ideal candidate to play with him.

At this point, the Flames are stuck with him. So they might as well try to get the most out of him. Wouldn't mind seeing Mangiapane-Backlund-Dube together as well. They played a really nice game together in the preseason and 11 + 88 have been a really good pairing for years now.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

4gp
0g
0a
-3

On pace for a record year, Sean.

Flame fans are the mirror opposite of Oiler media.

[Vinny01]

Friedman mentioning Calgary and Vegas. Says hearing Anaheim less. Says the Rangers but tough to see since Zibenijad signed.

The sense is no one is close

Edit: this was meant for the trade thread

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Friedman mentioning Calgary and Vegas. Says hearing Anaheim less. Says the Rangers but tough to see since Zibenijad signed.

The sense is no one is close

Wrong thread. Unless we are trading Monahan to Vegas.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I do not agree with Bingo’s statement that Monahan has not been a play driver

Paired with Gaudreau, I think he changed his game to complement the guy on his line who was more of a play driver

He was able to put up over 20 goals and 40 points as a rookie with linemates like Baertschi, Hudler, Cammalleri and even the man, Joe Colborne

I just don't see that.

I think he's an elite finisher with great hands.

But how do you drive play when you literally never carry the puck?

Could just be I don't remember pre-Gaudreau very well too of course.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just don't see that.

I think he's an elite finisher with great hands.

But how do you drive play when you literally never carry the puck?

Could just be I don't remember pre-Gaudreau very well too of course.

I think you're right. Monahan has never been a play driver especially with the puck on his stick. In actuality, he was probably better than what he is now because the game has changed so much since his rookie year.

Players are so much faster then they were and every team back checks ferociously which is not a good recipe for Monahan's game. He's the type of player who needs a speedy winger who can play with pace.

Not unlike James Neal who many said needed a center who could play with pace. That's probably why James Neal failed so hard as a Flame. He and Monahan are both slow and lack the required puck skills to create for themselves, so they need linemates that can do that for them.

[Bonded]

Yeah, the only thing that makes sense is that Monahan is still working on his fitness and that is why he is on the 4th line. I thought the Dube, Monahan, and Mangiapane lined looked decent

[CsInMyBlood]

Monahan has turned into a play killer. Always a step behind the transition. Hes had some shifts where it looks like hes doing the right thing but his hockey IQ and his skating leave a lot to be desired.

Playing with Johnny makes things easy. Not so much anymore.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Playing with Johnny makes things easy. Not so much anymore.

Is he playing with Johnny still? I thought they moved him away from Johnny on a regular basis and that's what led to him falling off.


If he's still with JG on a regular basis and is still playing like this... yeah.


For the record: Monahan playing well with JG, Flames are the best team in the Western Conference. Monahan playing like this: Flames are.... less good.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

That's not saying all is well and good. He's working hard and doing some good things, but not producing yet.

And sure he should at his paygrade, but he's just not on a line where that's going to happen. Lucic at 0.41 is the very epitome of putting a decent two way complimentary player with good players and you get some points (he played a lot last year with Dube and Ryan, Backlund, but certainly not fourth line). Monahan is a finisher playing with two guys that can't distribute the puck. Anyone blaming that on the finisher may have an axe to grind with the player.

At this point I think it's fair to say it will be hard to recoup full cap value for his salary vs expected production when it comes to Monahan. Is he a misfit part on this team in that they don't have another good setup guy who's not skating on the top line to try him out with. Coleman and Mangiapane are both really good players, but neither guy is that setup specialist that Gaudrea or even Tkachuck are. To me they seem like good candidates to be a new 3M type line with Backlund that plays the hardest matchups but holds their own.

But that leaves Monahan to play with Dube and who else as a decent third line the coach can keep them away from other teams top 6 players. Is Pitlick that player...I'm not sure. Still unless Monahan can find a way into the top 2 lines, which I have less confidence in each passing day, it does seem to get tougher to find a role for him that he can do well at.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Is he playing with Johnny still? I thought they moved him away from Johnny on a regular basis and that's what led to him falling off.


If he's still with JG on a regular basis and is still playing like this... yeah.


For the record: Monahan playing well with JG, Flames are the best team in the Western Conference. Monahan playing like this: Flames are.... less good.

Hes away from Johnny. Hes been falling off for awhile now even with Gaudreau beside him. It's the big reason Johnny has new linemates.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Monahan has turned into a play killer. Always a step behind the transition. Hes had some shifts where it looks like hes doing the right thing but his hockey IQ and his skating leave a lot to be desired.

Playing with Johnny makes things easy. Not so much anymore.

I think this undervalues what makes skill players effective together

(Note: Crosby is the exception and not the rule (ex. where he tells his winger not to worry when crossing the blue line as he will make sure the play is onside))

Not everybody can play with a player like Johnny.

Monahan in a not very flashy way is very good at finding quiet spots. It’s the right job in the o zone if Johnny is carrying and distributing

Even Ferland who somehow a lot of people really liked, I think more from the Vancouver series than subsequent regular seasons) was a 20 goal 40 point guy. That is really not very special on a top line.

Monahan by contrast has averaged 28 goals per 82 games over his entire career now

Nice problem to have

I will trust Sutter in both his appraisal of Monahan and his ability to manage the player

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Hes away from Johnny. Hes been falling off for awhile now even with Gaudreau beside him. It's the big reason Johnny has new linemates.

Playing with him was a big reason Johnny was not looking good for 1-1.5 seasons. Monahan was already seriously limited in his ability and now, being slower, and so one-dimensional has caught up to him in a big way.

I would be shocked if his next deal in the NHL is anything beyond a 1 year prove it contract considering how bad he is at everything else besides cashing in on tight to the net plays. Now that he can't even get to these areas on time he's utterly useless.

The guy is beyond done. Really poor job in analyzing a player by Treliving. Even the casual fans could see it coming.