Monahan is an excellent playmaker that has a pass first mentality that allows him to nd open teammates with relative ease. His passes are typically of the tape-to-tape variety and he is able to generate quality scoring opportunities for his linemates. He has a nose for the net and possesses a lethal snap shot that is very accurate and decisive. Speed and explosiveness are limited for Monahan, but he is often able to compensate through his great effort and compete for the puck. He is able to get to pucks before opposing players simply based on his smarts and drive. He does not get knocked off the puck easily — rarely losing possession — and he’s able to stand his ground just about every time he gets involved in a corner battle. Monahan is a highly intelligent player who has on-ice vision and positioning smarts well beyond his age. He plays hard at both ends of the ice, wins face-offs and finishes his checks. Monahan prefers to take the body in the corner and occasionally on the forecheck or in the neutral zone; he’s not the type to sacrifice his positioning to make the big hit. There is a great amount of upside to this player and seemingly little downside. His two-way game and physicality will certainly make him a great energy player at the very least. The goals and assists aren’t what make Monahan a top pick for the 2013 NHL Draft. It’s rather that he is a dedicated player in all zones. He’s effective on the penalty kill and can usually be found defending deep in his own zone defending. His sense of awareness is top notch; NHL level. (May 2013)