Considering Vancouver's willowy rookie prodigy Elias Pettersson was eliciting rave reviews for his jaw-dropping turns and Tampa's precocious Brayden Point hit for a five-point night among his eight points, Monahan being identified as the No. 1 star only serves to underscore the quality of his work week.
"I would think all three teams won a lot of hockey games,'' reasoned Flames' coach Bill Peters, when asked about the selection. "So you've got to be playing well individually but your team's got to be winning, too, to get that recognition.
"And Mony would be the first to tell you it's easier when the guys are playing well, the powerplay is good.
"You look at the two goals he scored (vs. Chicago), a world-class play on a powerplay for him to find the open ice, real good job there. Then that cross-seam pass by Johnny. That's big-time skill all around. And now if I remember, Lindy kicked it out on his backhand to get it going.
"Everyone makes a good play so that at the end of the day the red light goes on.
"That's good hockey."
Good hockey that's hinting at ramping up to great, maybe unstoppable, hockey. As everyone knows the old reliable firm of Monahan and Gaudreau has taken on a new partner, Elias Lindholm, and business has been positively booming, the line connecting for a collective 54 points through 15 starts.
"I think we all play a little bit of a different game,'' adjudged Monahan. "I still think we've got a lot of room to grow, to learn off each other.
"But it's coming.
"Right now we're still working together to get better. And we'll continue to do that."
"(Lindholm) steps into the right side in the circle. He's good in the face-off circle. He's good with the puck. He's responsible. Shoots the puck well. Thinks the game well.
"He's basically a complete player. It's a pleasure to play with him."