ITO Prospect Profiles: Sean Monahan

This week we take a look at a soon to be top prospect in the Nation’s capital, Sean Monahan this year. He possesses quick feet, an eye for the net and a bullet of a shot. Let’s get to know the game of Sean Monahan a little better…

NHL Draft Prospect: Sean Monahan—Ottawa 67s

The Line:
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 190 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
Draft Eligible: 2013

After spraining a wrist in his first OHL training camp and missing all of the pre-season last year, there were many questions as to where his development would take the Brampton, Ontario native. Would he be behind all season, and out of the first round picture come the fall of 2011? Or would he be one of the guys making noise? The 2011 U17 tournament in January of this past year answered all of those questions as he helped team Ontario to the gold medal. He came back to Ottawa playing great hockey and never looked back. This season he is playing with Tyler Toffoli and Shane Prince on the team’s first line.

Monahan’s game is not all about the offence, even though he puts up more than his fair share of points, but his defensive poise for a 17 year-old is second to none. He is as good a two-way player in the game as there is at this level never mind his age. His skating ability is well above average and because of this he is able to stick with his man on defensive zone coverage and burn a defender when he is in the offensive zone. Monahan also possesses a very good shot and great vision on the ice.

There is not a lot to like in Monahan’s game, as would be expected with many of the projected first round picks for this draft or any draft. The one thing that is holding him back from the Yakupov-level is his puck skills. If he can continue to evolve into the player he looks like he wants to become he will be a very good mid-round pick in this year’s draft.

NHL Player Comparison: Dustin Brown – LA Kings