Sean Monahan’s biggest offseason

[camm13]

Monahan absolutely lacks intensity, to me he doesn't deserve to wear the A. He's a good player, and he finishes and puts up points yet. But he always disappears. Yes, he played with a broke thumb, but Ryan O Reily played with cracked rib during the cup run, was an absolute beast and won the Conn Smithe. That to me, is a guy who is a warrior.

Last game of the playoffs, Johnny getting manhandled by two guys and Monahan just gingerly skates over and tugs on a guys shirt? No wonder Johnny plays scared, he has no team mates to back him up. Especially in an elimination game, Monahan showed no bite, and no emotions whatsoever, how is this guy considered a leader for this team?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by camm13

Monahan absolutely lacks intensity, to me he doesn't deserve to wear the A. He's a good player, and he finishes and puts up points yet. But he always disappears. Yes, he played with a broke thumb, but Ryan O Reily played with cracked rib during the cup run, was an absolute beast and won the Conn Smithe. That to me, is a guy who is a warrior.

Last game of the playoffs, Johnny getting manhandled by two guys and Monahan just gingerly skates over and tugs on a guys shirt? No wonder Johnny plays scared, he has no team mates to back him up. Especially in an elimination game, Monahan showed no bite, and no emotions whatsoever, how is this guy considered a leader for this team?

Only because you’re drawing this comparison. In what way is ROR a beast that Monahan isn’t? He was dead last in hits on the Blues last year. 39.

ROR is a great player, but just reading between the lines here I don’t think he brings the ‘intensity’ you’re claiming.

[dino7c]

Six months ago people were saying ROR was a loser and a guy you can't win with

[Fan in Exile]

I hope Monahan's late season and playoff issues can be significantly attributed to his broken thumb. I'm certainly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I really can't stand the armchair criticisms of players "not tough enough" to play through injuries. Doubt you guys have ever played sports. There are some injuries you can play through because they just cause some pain or discomfort, and there are others that dramatically affect your ability to utilize the skills that make you a useful player. A broken thumb counts as the latter. More significant and painful issues, even something like a herniated disc could be played through with less impact on performance but make you miserable off ice post-game and may diminish your quality of life once your career is finished.

From everything I have read and heard about the matter, it seems like Monahan has the same Neanderthal approach as some of you advocate. To the detriment of himself and the team, he has tried to play through injuries, accumulated more injuries and his injuries have got to the point where he required surgery to recover from them.

I get why he isn't a fan favourite in terms of showing energy, passion and hard-nosed play, and I wish he'd engage a little more too, but I don't think he's soft. If he plays at the same pace he played the first two-thirds of last season and through the playoffs, I think it puts to bed the notion that he isn't a first-line centre.

[CroFlames]

For a guy who spends as much time as he does in the slot getting molested, he has shown tons of intensity by going back there time after time and potting 25 to 30 goals a season.

I've never seen him shy away from the goal mouth.

[Harry Lime]

The second he broke his thumb, he should have been pulled and rehabbed.

This happened last year, too. I'm not sure how much of this is on the player and how much is on the organization.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

The second he broke his thumb, he should have been pulled and rehabbed.

This happened last year, too. I'm not sure how much of this is on the player and how much is on the organization.

My guess is it's the player. There were reports last year that he got very upset last year when they shut him down

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by camm13

Monahan absolutely lacks intensity, to me he doesn't deserve to wear the A. He's a good player, and he finishes and puts up points yet. But he always disappears. Yes, he played with a broke thumb, but Ryan O Reily played with cracked rib during the cup run, was an absolute beast and won the Conn Smithe. That to me, is a guy who is a warrior.

Last game of the playoffs, Johnny getting manhandled by two guys and Monahan just gingerly skates over and tugs on a guys shirt? No wonder Johnny plays scared, he has no team mates to back him up. Especially in an elimination game, Monahan showed no bite, and no emotions whatsoever, how is this guy considered a leader for this team?

So out of four other skaters, you single out Monahan for that? It strikes me that a broken thumb is probably not something you fight a lot with.

And Monahan doesn't "always disappear". The previous time in the POs he was just fine. 4 goals and an assist in 4 games, to lead the team. And those weren't just feeding off of Gaudreau, who had only 2 assists and no goals.

[chummer]

Originally Posted by btimbit

My guess is it's the player. There were reports last year that he got very upset last year when they shut him down

Wish he'd get upset on the ice.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

The second he broke his thumb, he should have been pulled and rehabbed.

This happened last year, too. I'm not sure how much of this is on the player and how much is on the organization.

They were in the POs. As much as he can be excused for not being 100% effective, the POs is not when you pull and rehab guys who are able to play.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If he can improve his skating and intensity level he could totally be in that group. The problem is that Monahan by nature is not an intense guy so I just can't ever see him bringing that to his game. He can learn to skate better, he can't really change his natural makeup.

I don't think Steve Yzerman has had an emotion in his entire life.


Stanley Cup? Act like you've been there.

Wedding day? Act like you've been there.

First born? Act like you've been there.



Point is, you don't have to get fired up to lead a team in the playoffs and win cups. Monahan is even-keeled, so in theory you should get consistency out of him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I don't think Steve Yzerman has had an emotion in his entire life.


Stanley Cup? Act like you've been there.

Wedding day? Act like you've been there.

First born? Act like you've been there.



Point is, you don't have to get fired up to lead a team in the playoffs and win cups. Monahan is even-keeled, so in theory you should get consistency out of him.

Yzerman is also an example of a guy who was pure offence when he started, and really developed a 2 way game as he got older. Monahan can do this too - he has defensive instincts. Hartley complained he paid too much attention to D at times.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I don't think Steve Yzerman has had an emotion in his entire life.


Stanley Cup? Act like you've been there.

Wedding day? Act like you've been there.

First born? Act like you've been there.



Point is, you don't have to get fired up to lead a team in the playoffs and win cups. Monahan is even-keeled, so in theory you should get consistency out of him.

Except when he took the greatest slap shot of all time over Casey’s shoulder.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by chummer

Wish he'd get upset on the ice.

I kinda like his cold approach, it works for him

[Monahammer]

I'm still of the opinion that it was something in his personal life we are not privy to. He went from having his best ever season to being worse than his rookie season over the all-star break.

[genetic_phreek]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So out of four other skaters, you single out Monahan for that? It strikes me that a broken thumb is probably not something you fight a lot with.

And Monahan doesn't "always disappear". The previous time in the POs he was just fine. 4 goals and an assist in 4 games, to lead the team. And those weren't just feeding off of Gaudreau, who had only 2 assists and no goals.

Mony was the only player right there. Barrie was all over Johnny and it looked like Mony was asking Barrie so politely to let Johnny go.

That was the straw that broke it for me. No intensity at all.

[Toonage]

Not like Monahan is a big fighter to begin with, also if he was dragged into a scuffle he couldn't throw a punch if he wanted to with one hand

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yzerman is also an example of a guy who was pure offence when he started, and really developed a 2 way game as he got older. Monahan can do this too - he has defensive instincts. Hartley complained he paid too much attention to D at times.

Yzerman is also one of the greatest to ever play the game. I think Monahan gets unfairly criticized around here, but he has physical limitations too.

I have no issues with his demeanor. And the guy consistently pays the price on the ice to get to scoring areas.

[Strange Brew]

dp

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

The second he broke his thumb, he should have been pulled and rehabbed.

This happened last year, too. I'm not sure how much of this is on the player and how much is on the organization.

Agreed! ... I don't get why there's such an attachment to playing through injury... in most cases, a 2nd-liner is better than an injured first-liner, etc... a player like Monahan would much better serve the team by healing up and being as close to 100% as possible for the playoffs.

Anyway, I know NOTHING about the specifics of this case, so I'm NOT suggesting anyone did anything wrong, I'm just speaking in general terms.

I hate the end-of-season reveal about a player's subpar performance being injury related. My thought is always, " then why the hell were they out there??"