The Draisaitl-Monahan debate is an interesting one but also a difficult one to compare. Monahan is the Flames #1 centre and McDavid is the Oilers #1 centre and I don't think you're going to find anyone who will debate who is the better player. Draisaitl had a very good season last year. Yes he played with McDavid but he wouldn't have been able to produce as he did without his own merit as well.

Long term Draisaitl is probably the #2 centre. He is a player trending upwards but we need at least another season to get an idea of what his average production is.

Monahan pluses: His whole game is Very consistent. Very good at face-offs. Clutch goal scorer. Arguably plays the toughest minutes as center on the team (Backlund also plays tough center minutes). 183 pts in 3 seasons, 85 goals in 3 seasons.

Drasaitl pluses: Upwards trajectory - monster season in 2016-17 - 2 goals more than Monahan, 19 pts more than Monahan. However - does not play # 1 centre minutes - he does not get the top D opposition as Monahan does in every game.

Those are the facts! Any hockey person looking at this objectively (take out the Flames & Oilers bias) could not choose Drasaitl over Monahan, at least not yet. In a year's time this needs to be looked at again - it will be interesting to see how they do comparatively in the 2017-18 season.
- hags11

Looking at it "objectively", huh?

Monahan and Gaudreau's line only get top opposition while on the road where the opponents get last change. When Gulutzan has the choice (at home), he's running the 3M line. That's what made that line's season so impressive. Otherwise, they're just a decent scoring line playing more sheltered minutes (this would run counter to all that I've heard from Flames fans). And if that's not the case and you INSIST that those two lines are viewed equally as shutdown options solely because of Monahan, then your coach is stupid and Sam Bennett's failure of a season while playing UBER-sheltered minutes was even more pathetic.

As far as "tough minutes", the same can be said of Draisaitl when he's with McDavid. As is McLellan's style, having two Cs on the same line allows for the two to split C duties equally. Draisaitl took a great deal of faceoffs for McDavid and took down-low duties in his own end regularly (executing on the first man back system). Further to that point, McLellan isn't known to line match- likely his biggest flaw as a coach, actually- and thus allows more opportunities for other teams to get their best out against them

That would mean that, if anything, Draisaitl faces even tougher minutes than Monahan on account of playing with the greatest offensive threat in the league and not having a second line C that's close to as much of a threat like Monahan did. Here's Backlund again helping me undo part of your argument.

Now, I'm not gonna claim that either is unequivocally better than the other. Both are excellent complimentary players to their elite-to-god tier linemates and bring a diverse set of skills to the table. It's a fair argument to make that Monahan has proven his level of effectiveness more than Draisaitl. However, considering Draisaitl has played half the full seasons that Monahan has I don't believe it's fair to use that against Draisaitl when discussing the merits of each player and their respective values to their teams.

Why do people get so concerned about the end though? If we don't have him now, we are going to be worse off now. Is it better to be worse now, but have no contract that "might" hurt us in 3 years?

Rather be the better team now and worry about poop after. Kinda like what most good teams do.
- Lahey

Pretty much my belief. I don't agree with the deal as it is, but it's far from impossible to deal with down the road. Further, is it better to resign Russell at that contract or trade a 1st and 2nds for a similar level of player in Hamonic? Or better yet, risk the open market and maybe get stuck with an even worse contract like the one Alzner got from MTL? Hamonic is likely better than Russell (gotta see post-knee injuries), but not 3 high picks better.

Yes, McDavid is the best player but a line needs 3 forwards. I can easily say the Monahan and Gaudreau are far far better players than fn' Macaroon and Puvyjavi (whatever his name is LOL). So yeah McDavid is the best centre in the league, but if he gets injured and replaced by Draitsatl, the flames clearly have the better first line. Dratisaitl finally has one good year and you assume his better than Monahan and Gaudreau?

I just don't see Dratsaitl reproducing his numbers this year. In my opinion its much more probable that Gaudreau and Monahan reproduce their numbers this year.
- PtotheY

So your argument is that if Connor isn't on the line, calgarys is then better?
Doesn't the same apply if gaudreau gets injured and isn't on the line? Or do these type of deep thoughts only apply to oiler forwards ?


Also- Leon " finally" has a good year? That was only his second full one.
And his first full season was better than monahans first. Amd the last was better than either sm or jg's beat season to date.
He's basically outscored monahan in every comparable full season they've played

Like I get 'framing' to make your argument seem more logical, but yeah- naw

You made up that last sentence. NOwhere has McDavid ever said anything that lines up with your claim. Unless you provide a link. If not, stop lying and embarrassing the rest of us.
- Larsson_fan

I'd say committing the first eleven years of his NHL career to the Oilers,is proof enough. Or maybe just listen to his comments from Biosteel. Who are you supposed to be,Hockeybuzz Police? Slow your role pal.

2014-15 Monahan: 81 games, 62 pts, 31 goals. 11 Playoff Games, 6 Pts, 3 goals. 2014-15 Drasaitl: 37 games, 9 pts, 2 goals - sent back to Junior-not good enough yet for the NHL.

2015-16 Monahan: 81 games, 63 pts, 27 goals. 2015-16 Drasaitl: 72 games, 51 pts, 19 goals.

2016-17 Monahan: 82 games, 58 pts, 27 goals (played first 10 games without Gaudreau - played 1st qtr of season with back injury/pain). 4 Playoff Games, 5 pts, 4 goals. 2016-17 Drasaitl: 82 games, 77 pts, 29 goals. 13 Playoff Games, 16 pts, 6 goals.

In Bakersfield (AHL) 2015-16 Drasaitl was less than avg - 6 games, 2 pts. Same year at World Championships: 8 games, 4 pts.

Drasaitl Salary: $8,500,000.00
Monahan Salary: $6, 375,000.00
Difference: $2,125,000.00

Monahan pluses: His whole game is Very consistent. Very good at face-offs. Clutch goal scorer. Arguably plays the toughest minutes as center on the team (Backlund also plays tough center minutes). 183 pts in 3 seasons, 85 goals in 3 seasons.

Drasaitl pluses: Upwards trajectory - monster season in 2016-17 - 2 goals more than Monahan, 19 pts more than Monahan. However - does not play # 1 centre minutes - he does not get the top D opposition as Monahan does in every game.

Those are the facts! Any hockey person looking at this objectively (take out the Flames & Oilers bias) could not choose Drasaitl over Monahan, at least not yet. In a year's time this needs to be looked at again - it will be interesting to see how they do comparatively in the 2017-18 season.

Since they have been in the league together, the truth is Drasaitl has had 1 great season, Monahan has had 3 very, very good seasons. Drasaitl has not yet shown the consistency to be placed ahead of Monahan.
- hags11

You should've saved time amd just added up all monahans points in his 4 full seasons and shown it's a bigger number than Leons in his 2 full seasons.
Which is essentially your entire point

2014-15 Monahan: 81 games, 62 pts, 31 goals. 11 Playoff Games, 6 Pts, 3 goals. 2014-15 Drasaitl: 37 games, 9 pts, 2 goals - sent back to Junior-not good enough yet for the NHL.

2015-16 Monahan: 81 games, 63 pts, 27 goals. 2015-16 Drasaitl: 72 games, 51 pts, 19 goals.

2016-17 Monahan: 82 games, 58 pts, 27 goals (played first 10 games without Gaudreau - played 1st qtr of season with back injury/pain). 4 Playoff Games, 5 pts, 4 goals. 2016-17 Drasaitl: 82 games, 77 pts, 29 goals. 13 Playoff Games, 16 pts, 6 goals.

In Bakersfield (AHL) 2015-16 Drasaitl was less than avg - 6 games, 2 pts. Same year at World Championships: 8 games, 4 pts.

Drasaitl Salary: $8,500,000.00
Monahan Salary: $6, 375,000.00
Difference: $2,125,000.00

Monahan pluses: His whole game is Very consistent. Very good at face-offs. Clutch goal scorer. Arguably plays the toughest minutes as center on the team (Backlund also plays tough center minutes). 183 pts in 3 seasons, 85 goals in 3 seasons.

Drasaitl pluses: Upwards trajectory - monster season in 2016-17 - 2 goals more than Monahan, 19 pts more than Monahan. However - does not play # 1 centre minutes - he does not get the top D opposition as Monahan does in every game.

Those are the facts! Any hockey person looking at this objectively (take out the Flames & Oilers bias) could not choose Drasaitl over Monahan, at least not yet. In a year's time this needs to be looked at again - it will be interesting to see how they do comparatively in the 2017-18 season.

Since they have been in the league together, the truth is Drasaitl has had 1 great season, Monahan has had 3 very, very good seasons. Drasaitl has not yet shown the consistency to be placed ahead of Monahan.
- hags11

Sooo Monahan plays against the best,but McDavid and Draisaitl get fluffer minutes? Gotcha. How about Draisaitl being a Memorial Cup MVP? That was surely due to McDavid too,right?

You should've saved time amd just added up all monahans points in his 4 full seasons and shown it's a bigger number than Leons in his 2 full seasons.
Which is essentially your entire point
- HB77

Bullpoop! My comparison is the 3 years that both of them started the year in the NHL - that is the only fair way to compare them isn't it? I did not compare 4 years of Monahan - I did 3. I did not compare 2 years of Dra - I did 3. The reason I put in as much detail as I did is to make the point objectively based on stats in the NHL in seasons that they both played in the NHL. Monahan also played 1 season before Dra that I did not mention. Amazing that I can spell it all out like that & you still don't get the point. On top of all the stats - if you still say that based on their numbers so far, Dra is still better than Monny, do you also think that he is $2, 125,000.00 better??

2014-15 Monahan: 81 games, 62 pts, 31 goals. 11 Playoff Games, 6 Pts, 3 goals. 2014-15 Drasaitl: 37 games, 9 pts, 2 goals - sent back to Junior-not good enough yet for the NHL.

2015-16 Monahan: 81 games, 63 pts, 27 goals. 2015-16 Drasaitl: 72 games, 51 pts, 19 goals.

2016-17 Monahan: 82 games, 58 pts, 27 goals (played first 10 games without Gaudreau - played 1st qtr of season with back injury/pain). 4 Playoff Games, 5 pts, 4 goals. 2016-17 Drasaitl: 82 games, 77 pts, 29 goals. 13 Playoff Games, 16 pts, 6 goals.

In Bakersfield (AHL) 2015-16 Drasaitl was less than avg - 6 games, 2 pts. Same year at World Championships: 8 games, 4 pts.

Drasaitl Salary: $8,500,000.00
Monahan Salary: $6, 375,000.00
Difference: $2,125,000.00

Monahan pluses: His whole game is Very consistent. Very good at face-offs. Clutch goal scorer. Arguably plays the toughest minutes as center on the team (Backlund also plays tough center minutes). 183 pts in 3 seasons, 85 goals in 3 seasons.

Drasaitl pluses: Upwards trajectory - monster season in 2016-17 - 2 goals more than Monahan, 19 pts more than Monahan. However - does not play # 1 centre minutes - he does not get the top D opposition as Monahan does in every game.

Those are the facts! Any hockey person looking at this objectively (take out the Flames & Oilers bias) could not choose Drasaitl over Monahan, at least not yet. In a year's time this needs to be looked at again - it will be interesting to see how they do comparatively in the 2017-18 season.

Since they have been in the league together, the truth is Drasaitl has had 1 great season, Monahan has had 3 very, very good seasons. Drasaitl has not yet shown the consistency to be placed ahead of Monahan.
- hags11

And if the Oilers draft Bennett,and the Flames get Draisaitl,we'd be listening to Flames fans calling Monahan and Draisaitl the best one two punch in the league. Bottom line,until the Flames figure out how to beat the Ducks or Oilers,there really isn't anything you can say,about anyone else.

Bullpoop! My comparison is the 3 years that both of them started the year in the NHL - that is the only fair way to compare them isn't it? I did not compare 4 years of Monahan - I did 3. I did not compare 2 years of Dra - I did 3. The reason I put in as much detail as I did is to make the point objectively based on stats in the NHL in seasons that they both played in the NHL. Monahan also played 1 season before Dra that I did not mention. Amazing that I can spell it all out like that & you still don't get the point. On top of all the stats - if you still say that based on their numbers so far, Dra is still better than Monny, do you also think that he is $2, 125,000.00 better??
- hags11

Draisaitl still has more playoff points than Monahan,period. All seasons vs all seasons. I'll take playoff success over regular season success,every damn time. But that's just my 2centz.

Looking at it "objectively", huh?

Monahan and Gaudreau's line only get top opposition while on the road where the opponents get last change. When Gulutzan has the choice (at home), he's running the 3M line. That's what made that line's season so impressive. Otherwise, they're just a decent scoring line playing more sheltered minutes (this would run counter to all that I've heard from Flames fans). And if that's not the case and you INSIST that those two lines are viewed equally as shutdown options solely because of Monahan, then your coach is stupid and Sam Bennett's failure of a season while playing UBER-sheltered minutes was even more pathetic.

As far as "tough minutes", the same can be said of Draisaitl when he's with McDavid. As is McLellan's style, having two Cs on the same line allows for the two to split C duties equally. Draisaitl took a great deal of faceoffs for McDavid and took down-low duties in his own end regularly (executing on the first man back system). Further to that point, McLellan isn't known to line match- likely his biggest flaw as a coach, actually- and thus allows more opportunities for other teams to get their best out against them

That would mean that, if anything, Draisaitl faces even tougher minutes than Monahan on account of playing with the greatest offensive threat in the league and not having a second line C that's close to as much of a threat like Monahan did. Here's Backlund again helping me undo part of your argument.

Now, I'm not gonna claim that either is unequivocally better than the other. Both are excellent complimentary players to their elite-to-god tier linemates and bring a diverse set of skills to the table. It's a fair argument to make that Monahan has proven his level of effectiveness more than Draisaitl. However, considering Draisaitl has played half the full seasons that Monahan has I don't believe it's fair to use that against Draisaitl when discussing the merits of each player and their respective values to their teams.
- MaximumBone

Ok, I'll play Devil's advocate to your poor attempt at a retort to my FACTS! Monny & Gaudreau only get top opposition on the road. You realize that is 50% (41 games) of the season. That is a pretty large game sample. Also, after Gulutzan makes his line adjustments in home games, do you not think that the opposition coach counters that regularly. All games are constantly going through line juggling. The simple fact is that the top forward line on any particular team, will play the majority of their ice time against the top D of the opposition. On Calgary - Monny is always on that top line. On Edm, Dra is NOT always on that top line so he will - and he does - end up with softer match ups than Monahan. That's not a shot at Dra - it is just a statement of fact and it is a fact that allows Dra to garner more points now that his game is elevated almost to Monahan's level
. Monahan's & Backlund's lines are not viewed equally as shut down lines - not even close, & I did not say or imply that. You realize that I am referring to the opposition D that they get matched up against, right? I am not comparing forward line to forward line, as I think you are misunderstanding. I don't pretend to know how much Dra played with McD this past year but I do know that it was not the complete season, so yes - sometimes he would have seen the best D pairings of the opposition - but Monahan would have seen that pretty much 100% of the time.
Your argument that Dra has only played half the full seasons that Monahan did. That's because Dra was not good enough to make the NHL as quickly as Monahan - that supports my argument not yours. And by the same token, you (or your other Oiler pals) argue that Dra was a beast in the playoffs with 16 pts in 13 games. Yes - he was - I agree. However, Monahan was no slouch either with 5 pts in 4 games and 4 of them being goals. Monahan's PPG playoff avg 1.25: Dra PPG playoff avg: 1.23. If the Flames had gone farther maybe we would be talking about Monahan as a playoff beast. we can go on & on about this, but I actually have to get some work done today so I can't make it any clearer, based on stats, than I already have that based on their body of work so far in the league - Monahan is the better player. I may not be able to say that next year - but we'll see. There is no way I am conceding that to Drasaitl based on ONE season!

Bullpoop! My comparison is the 3 years that both of them started the year in the NHL - that is the only fair way to compare them isn't it? I did not compare 4 years of Monahan - I did 3. I did not compare 2 years of Dra - I did 3. The reason I put in as much detail as I did is to make the point objectively based on stats in the NHL in seasons that they both played in the NHL. Monahan also played 1 season before Dra that I did not mention. Amazing that I can spell it all out like that & you still don't get the point. On top of all the stats - if you still say that based on their numbers so far, Dra is still better than Monny, do you also think that he is $2, 125,000.00 better??
- hags11

In the two full seasons they've both played comparably, (full rookie years and last)draisaitl outscored him. Handily.
In the one playoff season they've both played, draisaitl outscored him. handily.

I'll even throw you a bone and take away the extra series Leon played (counting it is no more fair than you counting the extra half season monahan played in ld's rookie to inflate you numbers)
So, in the one series against the ducks they both played, drausaitl outscored him. Handily.

Is he worth 2 mil more today, probably not. Is it a solid bet that he will be for a big chunk of the deal? It's a pretty decent gamble he will be

Ok, I'll play Devil's advocate to your poor attempt at a retort to my FACTS! Monny & Gaudreau only get top opposition on the road. You realize that is 50% (41 games) of the season. That is a pretty large game sample. Also, after Gulutzan makes his line adjustments in home games, do you not think that the opposition coach counters that regularly. All games are constantly going through line juggling. The simple fact is that the top forward line on any particular team, will play the majority of their ice time against the top D of the opposition. On Calgary - Monny is always on that top line. On Edm, Dra is NOT always on that top line so he will - and he does - end up with softer match ups than Monahan. That's not a shot at Dra - it is just a statement of fact and it is a fact that allows Dra to garner more points now that his game is elevated almost to Monahan's level
. Monahan's & Backlund's lines are not viewed equally as shut down lines - not even close, & I did not say or imply that. You realize that I am referring to the opposition D that they get matched up against, right? I am not comparing forward line to forward line, as I think you are misunderstanding. I don't pretend to know how much Dra played with McD this past year but I do know that it was not the complete season, so yes - sometimes he would have seen the best D pairings of the opposition - but Monahan would have seen that pretty much 100% of the time.
Your argument that Dra has only played half the full seasons that Monahan did. That's because Dra was not good enough to make the NHL as quickly as Monahan - that supports my argument not yours. And by the same token, you (or your other Oiler pals) argue that Dra was a beast in the playoffs with 16 pts in 13 games. Yes - he was - I agree. However, Monahan was no slouch either with 5 pts in 4 games and 4 of them being goals. Monahan's PPG playoff avg 1.25: Dra PPG playoff avg: 1.23. If the Flames had gone farther maybe we would be talking about Monahan as a playoff beast. we can go on & on about this, but I actually have to get some work done today so I can't make it any clearer, based on stats, than I already have that based on their body of work so far in the league - Monahan is the better player. I may not be able to say that next year - but we'll see. There is no way I am conceding that to Drasaitl based on ONE season!
- hags11

Monahans first full season was not as good as Leon's first full.
Monahans last season wasn't as good as leons last.
Monahans playoffs weren't as good as leons.

"Monahan is the better player cause he's played longer and made the team as a rook."



K

In the two full seasons they've both played comparably, (full rookie years and last)draisaitl outscored him. Handily.
In the one playoff season they've both played, draisaitl outscored him. handily.

I'll even throw you a bone and take away the extra series Leon played (counting it is no more fair than you counting the extra half season monahan played in ld's rookie to inflate you numbers)
So, in the one series against the ducks they both played, drausaitl outscored him. Handily.

Is he worth 2 mil more today, probably not. Is it a solid bet that he will be for a big chunk of the deal? It's a pretty decent gamble he will be
- HB77

I'm done with this discussion. You guys are blinded by something - not sure what - but it's clear that you can't see facts/stats for what they are, without twisting and manipulating them to fit your needs. this whole discussion was not about what either of them could be or might be, it was about who is the best player so far in their NHL careers. Those are the numbers that Monahan beats Dra on handily. You may be right that in the long run, Dra will turn out to be the better player - I have conceded that, but that is not what the discussion was about.

Monahans first full season was not as good as Leon's first full.
Monahans last season wasn't as good as leons last.
Monahans playoffs weren't as good as leons.

"Monahan is the better player cause he's played longer and made the team as a rook."



K
- HB77

Monahan:

2013-14 Calgary Flames NHL 75 22 12 34 8 -20 |
Canada WC 8 0 2 2 2 3 |
2014-15 Calgary Flames NHL 81 31 31 62 12 8 | Playoffs 11 3 3 6 2 -3
2015-16 Calgary Flames A NHL 81 27 36 63 18 -6 |
2016-17 Calgary Flames A NHL 82 27 31 58 20

Drasaitl:

2014-15 Edmonton Oilers NHL 37 2 7 9 4 -17 |
Kelowna Rockets WHL 32 19 34 53 25 14 | Playoffs 19 10 18 28 12 17
2015-16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 72 19 32 51 20 -2 |
Bakersfield Condors AHL 6 1 1 2 4 -5 |
Germany WC 8 1 3 4 4 -2 |
Germany (all) International 11 1 6 7 6 -1 |
2016-17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 29 48 77


Playoffs 2017

Monahan: 1.25 PPG
Drasaitl: 1.23 PPG

Nuff said! See ya!

I'm done with this discussion. You guys are blinded by something - not sure what - but it's clear that you can't see facts/stats for what they are, without twisting and manipulating them to fit your needs. this whole discussion was not about what either of them could be or might be, it was about who is the best player so far in their NHL careers. Those are the numbers that Monahan beats Dra on handily. You may be right that in the long run, Dra will turn out to be the better player - I have conceded that, but that is not what the discussion was about.
- hags11

Yes of course, your stats aren't manipulated to show your guy is better. Just ours

Offensive Numbers say in the comparable full seasons they've played, Leon outstrips him.
Now you can say what you will, but These are the facts

Monahan:

2013-14 Calgary Flames NHL 75 22 12 34 8 -20 |
Canada WC 8 0 2 2 2 3 |
2014-15 Calgary Flames NHL 81 31 31 62 12 8 | Playoffs 11 3 3 6 2 -3
2015-16 Calgary Flames A NHL 81 27 36 63 18 -6 |
2016-17 Calgary Flames A NHL 82 27 31 58 20

Drasaitl:

2014-15 Edmonton Oilers NHL 37 2 7 9 4 -17 |
Kelowna Rockets WHL 32 19 34 53 25 14 | Playoffs 19 10 18 28 12 17
2015-16 Edmonton Oilers NHL 72 19 32 51 20 -2 |
Bakersfield Condors AHL 6 1 1 2 4 -5 |
Germany WC 8 1 3 4 4 -2 |
Germany (all) International 11 1 6 7 6 -1 |
2016-17 Edmonton Oilers NHL 82 29 48 77


Playoffs 2017

Monahan: 1.25 PPG
Drasaitl: 1.23 PPG

Nuff said! See ya!
- hags11

Again, you've coloured the numbers to suit your argument.
You're comparing monahans 2nd full season against leons half rookie. Or the ppg in the flames sweep in 4 games against leons full 13!!
Not manipulated at all.



Leon had a better full rookie season. And a better 2nd season than any of monahans. And a better series against the ducks. These are the 3 most relevant comparisons in which both are equal. Leon outstrips him all 3 times . What's next? Pointing to a cold stretch Leon had when he was 13 to monahans hot streak at 17 or something?

You're funny. I like you

Ok, I'll play Devil's advocate to your poor attempt at a retort to my FACTS! Monny & Gaudreau only get top opposition on the road. You realize that is 50% (41 games) of the season. That is a pretty large game sample. Also, after Gulutzan makes his line adjustments in home games, do you not think that the opposition coach counters that regularly. All games are constantly going through line juggling. The simple fact is that the top forward line on any particular team, will play the majority of their ice time against the top D of the opposition. On Calgary - Monny is always on that top line. On Edm, Dra is NOT always on that top line so he will - and he does - end up with softer match ups than Monahan. That's not a shot at Dra - it is just a statement of fact and it is a fact that allows Dra to garner more points now that his game is elevated almost to Monahan's level
. Monahan's & Backlund's lines are not viewed equally as shut down lines - not even close, & I did not say or imply that. You realize that I am referring to the opposition D that they get matched up against, right? I am not comparing forward line to forward line, as I think you are misunderstanding. I don't pretend to know how much Dra played with McD this past year but I do know that it was not the complete season, so yes - sometimes he would have seen the best D pairings of the opposition - but Monahan would have seen that pretty much 100% of the time.
Your argument that Dra has only played half the full seasons that Monahan did. That's because Dra was not good enough to make the NHL as quickly as Monahan - that supports my argument not yours. And by the same token, you (or your other Oiler pals) argue that Dra was a beast in the playoffs with 16 pts in 13 games. Yes - he was - I agree. However, Monahan was no slouch either with 5 pts in 4 games and 4 of them being goals. Monahan's PPG playoff avg 1.25: Dra PPG playoff avg: 1.23. If the Flames had gone farther maybe we would be talking about Monahan as a playoff beast. we can go on & on about this, but I actually have to get some work done today so I can't make it any clearer, based on stats, than I already have that based on their body of work so far in the league - Monahan is the better player. I may not be able to say that next year - but we'll see. There is no way I am conceding that to Drasaitl based on ONE season!
- hags11

I thought you guys said his point totals were because he did play with McDavid,and now it's because he didn't,and saw softer competition? Give me a break. Monahan also has two years of playoff experience,where Draisaitl only has one,and Drai still has more playoff points. Either way,our number two centre out scored your number one,and yet Monahan is the better player? I'm sure you guys think Bennett is better than Drai too? Draisaitl went supernova in the playoffs,when McDavid struggled,but Monahan is better? c'mon,you're better than that.

I'd say committing the first eleven years of his NHL career to the Oilers,is proof enough. Or maybe just listen to his comments from Biosteel. Who are you supposed to be,Hockeybuzz Police? Slow your role pal.
- 2centz

Yeah but you ire making it sound like he loves the fact that non-Oilers fans are pissed we won that lottery. Fan fiction!

Draisaitl already has more playoff points than Monahan,without playing with McDavid. But you guys need hope for something,I guess... A lot of ifs and what ifs coming from Flames fans this year.
- 2centz

dude, as a Sens fan I am completely unbiaised and my opinion is I'd rather have Gaudreau and Monahan on my team than Dratsaitl who has only one good season to show up for (last season).

So your argument is that if Connor isn't on the line, calgarys is then better?
Doesn't the same apply if gaudreau gets injured and isn't on the line? Or do these type of deep thoughts only apply to oiler forwards ?


Also- Leon " finally" has a good year? That was only his second full one.
And his first full season was better than monahans first. Amd the last was better than either sm or jg's beat season to date.
He's basically outscored monahan in every comparable full season they've played

Like I get 'framing' to make your argument seem more logical, but yeah- naw
- HB77

McDavid makes Edmonton's first line better than Glagary's , but Monahan and Gaudreau are more impactful players than Draitsaitl. Draitsaitl points last season come from playing with McDavid. Switch player for player and Gaudreau would light up the league playing alongside McDavid. So its a bit of an unfair comparision when you compare a player centered by the best player in the leauge. Just saying.

McDavid makes Edmonton's first line better than Glagary's , but Monahan and Gaudreau are more impactful players than Draitsaitl. Draitsaitl points last season come from playing with McDavid. Switch player for player and Gaudreau would light up the league playing alongside McDavid. So its a bit of an unfair comparision when you compare a player centered by the best player in the leauge. Just saying.
- PtotheY

So it's all mcdavid ?

Of course. cant beat that argument.
Such a tired point. And nowhere near true.

So why didn't eberle or lucic tear it up with Connor ?


I mean maybe gaudreau tears it up, but maybe not. Both guys want the puck and demand being the focal point. Far from a guarantee they'd gel.

Proof is in the pudding when one thinks of Crosby. So many assumptions that player x would kill it with him, (especially when on team Canada with other superstars) but fact is thats not the case.


I'm sure as oiler fans we're going to hear this argument ad nauseum about every player that ever has any short or long lived success with Connor for years to come. But it's just not necessarily a fact

So it's all mcdavid ?

Of course. cant beat that argument.
Such a tired point. And nowhere near true.

So why didn't eberle or lucic tear it up with Connor ?


I mean maybe gaudreau tears it up, but maybe not. Both guys want the puck and demand being the focal point. Far from a guarantee they'd gel.

Proof is in the pudding when one thinks of Crosby. So many assumptions that player x would kill it with him, (especially when on team Canada with other superstars) but fact is thats not the case.


I'm sure as oiler fans we're going to hear this argument ad nauseum about every player that ever has any short or long lived success with Connor for years to come. But it's just not necessarily a fact
- HB77

Don't forget Hall. The thought process heading into year 1 for McDavid was that Hall on his wing would destroy the league based on their speed and skill.

Never materialized.

they are both bottom feeders