WJC: 2015 — Canada Roster Talk (Part IV)
- Thread starter Nunymare
- Start date
- Status
JackSlater
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2010
- 19,807
- 15,467
Even you aren't sure what Gauthier is supposed to bring.
He's supposed to bring size and elite defensive play - I just doubt that he will actually provide much of value. I'm more confused by your insistence on repeatedly bringing up a player like Ho Sang who deservedly didn't come close to making the team.
yoss
Registered User
- May 25, 2011
- 3,006
- 37
McDavid has no points and has not shown much so far, but those few times he's had some space you can sure tell the skill level with that speed and those sweet dangles, good god. Would love to see him get some chemistry going with his line, get a few lines rolling offensively and TC could be in business. First and third lines seem to be going pretty good thus far already (think they're the 1st & 3rd lines?) just tinker around a bit otherwise and leave those 2 as is imo.
People keep bringing up Gauthier's size, but the fact of the matter is that size is only an asset if you use it and Gauthier gets pushed down far more often than he does the pushing down. Guy seems weak as hell on his skates and it's rather frustrating to watch. I hated him as a Team Canada choice last year and it's the same for me this year and he doesn't even seem like he's improved.
leafsfuture
Registered User
- Mar 30, 2008
- 6,134
- 184
Emerz
#1 PLD Fanboy
He's not good at face-offs though, so I guess just the PK?
Just doesn't seem like a smart decision.
X66
114-110
- Aug 18, 2008
- 13,585
- 7,462
That's been proven wrong this game.
He's no offensive force, but he's not a disease in that department lol.
Gauthier has never been a PPG player yet, while most of these guys are closer to 1.5 PPG.
And while Gauthier can be an elite level defender at the CHL level, this is a whole new ball game and he does not have the foot speed to be that guy. Just take a look at the Selke winners from the past 20 years, and you can see they are all considered elite level NHL skaters.
He is very much a bubble player at this level, and cannot play with the top guys.
Alerion
Registered User
Because they fill a role that Dal Colle doesn't, as his skillset is similar to other roster players. I'm not saying it's the right decision but it's pretty obviously the cause.
He's not that great at faceoffs...he is 53% on the dot this year and was less than 50% last year. Where are you getting that they have him here for that role??
leafsfuture
Registered User
- Mar 30, 2008
- 6,134
- 184
Did you watch the game on New Years Eve against the Americans last year??
More specifically did you watch the last minute?
If you did, you will see why. And this isnt Leaf bias, that is a fact
Alerion
Registered User
Alerion
Registered User
Lol I'm not refuting his stats from years past, but tonight he was flawless at the dot.
NoShowWilly
Registered User
Gauthier was exactly what he was meant to be to this team tonight. centre the pk, win draws, cleared puck. Nothing special but not a liability. Could someone else be there? sure. They aren't. shut up about Gauthier.
Laphroaig
Registered User
Gauthier is a big fat marshmallow man. He's a poor man's Sean Couturier, which puts him at about 25 pts/year in the NHL.
I think Gauthier tops out, at best, like a Paul Gaustad type player. Definitely not someone I would have ever drafted in the first round.
I just don't understand why you take Guathier when you have a player like Lazar who can play the shutdown role just as well and actually contribute in other areas of the ice as well. Gauthier doesn't have the foot speed to keep up with players like Nylander and Eichel.
I'm very pleased with the looks of our new lines...
Domi-Reinhart-Duclair - Don't touch this.
Fabbri-McDavid-Virtanen - Finally.
Crouse-Petan-Lazar
Paul-Gauthier-Point
Ritchie
Domi-Reinhart-Duclair - Don't touch this.
Fabbri-McDavid-Virtanen - Finally.
Crouse-Petan-Lazar
Paul-Gauthier-Point
Ritchie
86Habs
Registered User
- May 4, 2009
- 2,588
- 420
Well, that was a bit of letdown after the dominating performance against Slovakia. A sloppy middle 30 minutes, book-ended by a strong start and finish to the game.
- Reinhart and Domi continue to impress, and look dangerous anytime they're on the ice. Duclair made some poor decisions with and without the puck and never seemed to get on track last night, so hopefully he'll bounce back vs. Finland.
- Moving Fabbri up with McDavid makes a ton of sense, though I'm a bit more skeptical of Virtanen. He doesn't appear to use his linemates particularly well, but does have the speed to hang with McDavid & Fabbri, and adds a needed dimension of physicality aggressiveness to that line. Like McDavid, Virtanen likes to have the puck on his stick to drive the offense, so we'll need to see how that works out between them.
- Petan has been great so far. Crouse, like Paul, is a solid, honest player who doesn't stand out in any one way but contributes when he's on the ice. Lazar seems like a better fit on this line than up with McDavid.
- Gauthier had a solid game, going 10-for-10 on faceoffs and shouldering much of the load for the penalty kills. He's so poor offensively (decision-making, speed/acceleration, passing, stickhandling) that he severely limits the option of using that line in a shutdown role once we hit the tougher competition (i.e., we shouldn't want him playing 18 mins per game matched-up against Eichel, etc.), but if he continues to get limited 4th line minutes and contribute in that fashion, we should all be OK with that.
- Ritchie proved last night why a lot of us didn't want him on the team in the first place. Completely ineffective, and his undisciplined play resulted in two penalties nearly 200 ft from our goal. I hope Groulx staples his ass to the bench for the remainder of the tournament.
- The D looks solid. I've been very impressed with Nurse (especially) and Morrissey. Theodore and Bowey look to be solid contributors at both ends, though prone to some odd decision-making at certain points. Heatherington will be in fine in a purely defensive role, likewise Morin, while Hicketts has IMO been a disappointment so far.
- Comrie looked poised and confident last night. If I had to pick between him and Furcale right now, I'd go with Comrie, but expect Furcale to get the start from Finland.
- Reinhart and Domi continue to impress, and look dangerous anytime they're on the ice. Duclair made some poor decisions with and without the puck and never seemed to get on track last night, so hopefully he'll bounce back vs. Finland.
- Moving Fabbri up with McDavid makes a ton of sense, though I'm a bit more skeptical of Virtanen. He doesn't appear to use his linemates particularly well, but does have the speed to hang with McDavid & Fabbri, and adds a needed dimension of physicality aggressiveness to that line. Like McDavid, Virtanen likes to have the puck on his stick to drive the offense, so we'll need to see how that works out between them.
- Petan has been great so far. Crouse, like Paul, is a solid, honest player who doesn't stand out in any one way but contributes when he's on the ice. Lazar seems like a better fit on this line than up with McDavid.
- Gauthier had a solid game, going 10-for-10 on faceoffs and shouldering much of the load for the penalty kills. He's so poor offensively (decision-making, speed/acceleration, passing, stickhandling) that he severely limits the option of using that line in a shutdown role once we hit the tougher competition (i.e., we shouldn't want him playing 18 mins per game matched-up against Eichel, etc.), but if he continues to get limited 4th line minutes and contribute in that fashion, we should all be OK with that.
- Ritchie proved last night why a lot of us didn't want him on the team in the first place. Completely ineffective, and his undisciplined play resulted in two penalties nearly 200 ft from our goal. I hope Groulx staples his ass to the bench for the remainder of the tournament.
- The D looks solid. I've been very impressed with Nurse (especially) and Morrissey. Theodore and Bowey look to be solid contributors at both ends, though prone to some odd decision-making at certain points. Heatherington will be in fine in a purely defensive role, likewise Morin, while Hicketts has IMO been a disappointment so far.
- Comrie looked poised and confident last night. If I had to pick between him and Furcale right now, I'd go with Comrie, but expect Furcale to get the start from Finland.
- Status
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
Rumor: Trade Rumors & Proposals Thread | No More Pacifism For the Oilers?- Latest: KeithIsActuallyBad
