The attempt to elicit anything other than a favorable judgment of forward Sean Monahan is like trying to yank oversized molars from a set of frozen of gums. Scouts, coaches and members of hockey management all over have little to offer in the form of a harsh evaluation of the highly touted 2013 draft prospect for the Ottawa 67's. And it's not for fear of hurting the young lad's feelings. Whatever weaknesses the 6-foot-2 forward may possess (spoiler alert: very few), his upside is what garners the most attention.
Projected to be a top-10 selection -- maybe even a top-five pick -- this spring, Monahan presents the dream package in terms of size, puck-moving ability and on-ice intelligence/intuition. However, Ottawa GM/head coach Chris Byrne suggests the 18-year-old brings other admirable, less-tangible qualities to the table.
"He has size, skill, vision, but I think the better part is his character -- how hard he works and how much he wants to win and how he prepares himself for games," said Byrne of his team's leading scorer (47 points in 33 games). "I think he presents a pretty good package, he has a history of winning, he has a history of playing well in big games and I think those are the things that people like the most about Sean."
To read more about what's happening in the OHL, you must be an ESPN Insider.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
NHL Draft Blog
Your home for in-depth reports on the NHL draft and its top prospects.
Follow the NHL Draft Blog on Twitter
Grant Sonier
Grant Sonier has scouted for six NHL organizations over the past 13 years, most recently for the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-11 season. He is a special contributor to ESPN Insider.
Follow Grant Sonier on Twitter
Victoria Matiash
Victoria Matiash has served as a Fantasy Hockey columnist for ESPN.com since 2007, and contributor to NHL Rumor Central since 2010. She lives in Toronto.
Follow Victoria Matiash on Twitter
