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Heading into training camp, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Calgary Flames.
Perhaps the biggest and most important question going forward is how should the team handle Sean Monahan?
Given the Flames lack of depth and NHL ready talent up the middle, Monahan is all but a lock to make the roster should the Flames want him in the NHL.
He has the size and bulk to be able to handle himself at the pro level. Monahan also works very hard and plays a steady two-way game which should ease the transition to pro hockey.
What the Flames have to do is watch him closely and avoid rushing him into the NHL. Doing so would a) burn a year off his entry level contract and; b) quite possibly hinder his development.
The Flames can not afford to waste a talent like Monahan so they'll have to be careful with him. Can he play in the NHL this year? I've scouted him many times over the last couple years and think he could handle himself. Could he excel at the NHL level right away? That's debatable.
Bob Hartley and Flames management need to make sure that if they keep Monahan around this season, it's not because he's played like a top-3 center for the team. They aren't exactly filled with talent and they can't keep him in the NHL just because he's better than some other options.
If he plays more than nine games in Calgary this year, it has to be because they feel he's ready to play and can handle the much stiffer competition. Should he earn a roster spot and play well, sure, keep him around. But don't keep him in the NHL just for the sake of it.
If they have any doubts about Monahan at all, they need to send him back to the OHL to play with Ottawa. He'd be a leader there, would play top line minutes and in every situation.
With training camp, preseason and even the regular season just around the corner, Monahan will have plenty of time to showcase himself and show Flames management what he can do.
Hopefully Flames management doesn't just focus on the good and keep him in the NHL even if he may not be ready. If they do that, the rebuild will only take longer and be even more painful than it already is.
Whatever the Flames decide to do with Monahan this year, they better be fully confident in their decision.
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Who should be the Flames next captain?
Aaron Ekblad, anyone?
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Calgary Flames sign college free agent Josh Jooris.
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