Sean Monahan has been struggling; that is an understatement. But before we all jump all over Monahan, realize he has lost a long-time buddy Gaudreau as a linemate. Monahan needs a playmaker to feed him.
The Flames feel that Monahan needs to step it up. But when you lose a top linemate like Gaudreau, it is hard to adjust. For Monahan to succeed, he has to dig in the corner, fight for the puck, and be a leader. Sutter seems to think Monahan is just going through the motions. A direct quote from my source: he "Did not notice Monahan once in the game against the Oilers." What does Monahan need to do to get noticed? He needs to get more involved offensively. The Flames are not an offensive powerhouse. The top six have to contribute, as the Flames' secondary scoring is not good enough to bail them out.
Monahan has not been alone in his lacklustre performance. The Flames have been sloppy through the first few games. My number one concern is that they have been outworked for the puck. The Sutter influence has been missing with this team. They are going through the motions, playing not to lose instead of playing to win. The Flames are not the most talented team in the league; they have succeeded with hard work, doing what it takes. The Flames have to score the garbage goals. What I mean by garbage goals is going to the net looking for the puck. They make too many clear shots, making it too easy for goalies to see the puck. The forwards must get in front of the nets to make it hard for the opposing goalie to see the puck.
The Flames also have to be better defensively. There are too many scoring chances. I know it is easy to pick on the defence, but the forwards have to do their part. It is common knowledge that the Flames have a slow defence; the forward has to pitch in with defensive coverage. There will be defensive gaps. Someone has to be there to bail them out. So far, the forwards have not.
