Monahan’s first 500 NHL games measure up well
At 25, star centre adds strength, maturity in his bid to become the total package
From scoresheet mentions to scars, Sean Monahan didn’t wait long to start collecting big-league keepsakes.
“I remember basically everything from that game,” said Monahan, reminiscing about his first outing at hockey’s highest level — an Oct. 3, 2013 road date against the Washington Capitals in D.C. “It was my first NHL game and we were playing against (Alex) Ovechkin, so that was pretty cool. I got a few stitches. I got my first NHL point …
“It’s a good memory, obviously. Your whole life, you’re working toward playing in the NHL. And to be out there playing against guys that I obviously watched when I was younger, that was a special moment.”
Monahan’s latest outing marked a milestone moment.
It might be hard to believe for fans and followers of the Calgary Flames, but the alternate captain and first-line centre has now suited up for 500 games on the NHL stage.
Still only 25, he celebrated the occasion by assisting on Elias Lindholm’s game-winning goal in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators at the Saddledome.
“Five-hundred is a lot of games, and it feels like it has flown by,” Monahan said. “To be honest, I can’t believe it’s already been 500.
“It’s special, for sure. I saw my parents in Buffalo (last week), and everyone was congratulating me for it. At the end of the day, you’re going into games and you’re trying to be the best player you can be, so it hasn’t been much of a focus for me. But to get there, it’s a proud moment.”
It’s been a mixed bag sort of season for Monahan, one of the focal points on a squad that has had its share of ups and downs already.
His six goals in 29 tilts so far is shy of the pace he’s accustomed to — that likely goes hand-inhand with the fact that close pal Johnny Gaudreau hasn’t been as productive, either — and his minus-13 rating is worst among Flames forwards.
Monahan has been praised, however, for his efforts to be more physical and more reliable in the defensive zone, developments that will make him a more complete package if he can get back to scoring at his usual clip.
He’s also winning 53.8 per cent of his faceoffs, tops on the team and the best mark of his career.
After Saturday’s victory over the Senators, Flames interim head coach Geoff Ward twice pointed out that Lindholm’s tiebreaking tally — a close-range roof job — started with a smart decision by No. 23 in the neutral zone.
“We’ve talked about it a lot — when there’s no ice in front of you, get the puck behind (the defence) and skate onto it,” said Ward, who rewarded the Flames with back-to-back days off — a rarity in this business — before they return to practice to prepare for Thursday’s matchup with the Buffalo Sabres.
“Sean made a great play getting the puck up in the air behind the defence, and Elias used his speed to get on it, and then was able to make the skilled play at the end.”
Dating back to that introductory assist against the Capitals in his debut and then to his first career goal the next night in Columbus, Monahan has so far racked up 178 goals and 384 points playing in the best league in the world.
According to Sportsnet, there are only five guys in Flames franchise history who had done more damage when they reached the 500-game plateau, and they are household names from the late 1980s and early ’90s: Theoren Fleury (531 points), Joe Nieuwendyk (531), Al Macinnis (473), Gary Suter (464) and Gary Roberts (403).
(With 408 points in 423 career contests, Gaudreau will eventually take his place on that list).
Monahan, the first graduate of the 2013 NHL Draft class to hit the 500-game milestone, has many prime years ahead to add to his offensive totals.
“I think I’ve matured a lot,” he said, reflecting on his first 500 outings. “I mean, I still have a ways to go to get where I want to be, but I definitely think I’ve grown a lot from the on-ice perspective and off the ice, too.”
ICE CHIPS: Flames goaltender David Rittich was hailed on Monday as the NHL’S second star of the week. The 27-year-old from the Czech Republic stopped 95 of the 101 shots he faced over that span, posting a 2-0-1 record with a sparkling 1.94 goals-against average and .941 save percentage. Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan Mackinnon was the first star of the week, while San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones — a Calgary Hitmen alumnus — rounded out the honour roll.