READY TO TAKE CHARGE
Monahan eyes next level
Sean Monahan has no numbers, no preconceived notions, or targets ahead of his third National Hockey League season with the Calgary Flames.
Seven days before his 21st birthday, the first- line pivot simply wants to be better — to do more, contribute more, and take a step forward.
“I've obviously learned a lot,” Monahan was saying on Monday after one of the final practices before Wednesday's NHL home opener.
“My first year, we struggled and picked it up ever since. I've been through a few things with this team and I'm trying to step up and get the team going. I want to take charge.
“It's my third year, and I want to do that now.”
Back in the fall of 2013, Monahan was one of the catalysts of the Flames' rebuild and has been steadily worked his way up, morphing into an impact player on the roster.
He was just a teenager when he made it past the nine- game audition process that fall, but there were no questions about the sixth overall pick in 2013. After scoring six goals and three assists in the opening nine games, a permanent roster spot was a no- brainer.
But his transition into the NHL was approached with patience; a true trial by fire in a year which saw the Flames finish 27th in the league but, somehow, manage to play exciting hockey along the way.
Last fall — with expectations low in this city — Monahan had a slow start to his sophomore season. A terrible bout of the flu limited his production to two assists and no goals in his first eight games, but he eventually bounced back.
Not only was he able to produce a 30- goal campaign ( with the help of fellow top linemates Johnny Gaudreau and Jiri Hudler who also had career years), he emerged as a top faceoff man up against the likes of NHL veterans Ryan Getzlaf, Anze Kopitar, Ryan Kesler, and Joe Thornton. Monahan took the seventh- most draws in the league ( 902) and finished with a 49.3 percentage in the regular season. He also added 31 assists to go along with 31 goals in 81 games.
Then, there were those three goals and three assists in 11 games this past spring — his first crack at the NHL post- season.
“Obviously this year is a new year and I learned a lot last year, especially with playoff experience,” Monahan said. “We know what we have to do to get there again ... I want to focus on being better and better. I want to have a better faceoff percentage and I want to be dominant on my strong side.
“Those little things really benefit your game and makes sure you have some more confidence.”
A serious character who rarely has time for any conversation ( to the media, at least), Monahan was shuffled off to Toronto in the offseason as part of an NHL media blitz featuring the league's biggest stars.