Prospect Info: 2016 Marlies and Prospects Thread

[Jack Bauer]

How is gauthier going to be anything more than a 4th liner? He has no vision, no shot and hands of stone. He tops out as a faster steckel.

Yeah, the people who keep mentioning him as a future top 6 are out of touch with reality a bit.

I've never seen more then a 4th liner. Size is his biggest talent. That doesn't cut it in todays NHL.

If he becomes a Steckel i'd be thrilled, because that means he's at least an NHL player.

 

[thewave]

How is gauthier going to be anything more than a 4th liner? He has no vision, no shot and hands of stone. He tops out as a faster steckel.

We have so many fringe 2nd liners. I hope they start using them in packages for top 4D. Gauthier included.

 

[taurine330]

Yeah, the people who keep mentioning him as a future top 6 are out of touch with reality a bit.

I've never seen more then a 4th liner. Size is his biggest talent. That doesn't cut it in todays NHL.

If he becomes a Steckel i'd be thrilled, because that means he's at least an NHL player.

Well, Kyle Dubas begs to differ.

 

[The Examiner]

Yeah, the people who keep mentioning him as a future top 6 are out of touch with reality a bit.

I've never seen more then a 4th liner. Size is his biggest talent. That doesn't cut it in todays NHL.

If he becomes a Steckel i'd be thrilled, because that means he's at least an NHL player.

This and truth are in alignment.

 

[zeke]

he's a much better skater than Steckel, which means everything.

 

[saltming]

Yeah, the people who keep mentioning him as a future top 6 are out of touch with reality a bit.

I've never seen more then a 4th liner. Size is his biggest talent. That doesn't cut it in todays NHL.

If he becomes a Steckel i'd be thrilled, because that means he's at least an NHL player.

Personally I think he's a bottom 6. I hope to the hockey gods on high he becomes a top 6 but I won't hold my breath.
He's 20 and still developing. Late starter in hockey which means he is still early in his learning curve. That just says he has more potential at his age than most ahl players of the same age that have been playing serious competitive hockey their whole lives.
Give Freddie a chance. In all likelihood he will be a bottom 6 but imho he shouldn't be branded that just yet. 2 more years in he ahl will give the better showing of his skill levels.

 

[Community]

Yeah, the people who keep mentioning him as a future top 6 are out of touch with reality a bit.

I've never seen more then a 4th liner. Size is his biggest talent. That doesn't cut it in todays NHL.

If he becomes a Steckel i'd be thrilled, because that means he's at least an NHL player.

I think you lost a lot of credibility for your view on Gauthier when you said size is his biggest talent. His biggest talent is obviously his defensive game. While he might not hit his top potential, I know he can definitely become a 3rd line C due to his defensive ability and safe game. He's not going to be a star or even a 2nd line C (unless his offensive game takes off in the NHL), but he plays a game already that is good for success in the NHL and he definitely has a chance of becoming a 3rd linr C on a contender.

 

[FlareKnight]

Oh well if Gauthier ends up exactly what was expected when he was drafted. Bottom 6 defensive center you can throw out in critical situations.

Guy has always had people trying to drag him through the mud. Not like he drafted himself here and there's a lot worse you can get late in the first than this kind of player.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Well, Kyle Dubas begs to differ.

Seriously? You're never going to hear the truth from a Kyle Dubas. You're smarter then that.

When has a person employed by the team ever said their true feelings on a prospect? It just doesn't happen.

Mike Babcock and Lou Lam did nothing but talk up Phaneuf all year. Did you learn nothing from how those veteran executives use the media to promote their own agenda? Dubas is learning from the best, and is already pretty damn smart.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I think you lost a lot of credibility for your view on Gauthier when you said size is his biggest talent. His biggest talent is obviously his defensive game. While he might not hit his top potential, I know he can definitely become a 3rd line C due to his defensive ability and safe game. He's not going to be a star or even a 2nd line C (unless his offensive game takes off in the NHL), but he plays a game already that is good for success in the NHL and he definitely has a chance of becoming a 3rd linr C on a contender.

I don't think he will ever have the offensive game to be a true top 9 forward in the NHL. Injury replacement, perhaps, but other then that he's a guy on line 4 who over time gets replaced by the next kid in line.

I have no issues revisiting this in 12, 24, and 36 months when the truth will be there for everyone to see.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Personally I think he's a bottom 6. I hope to the hockey gods on high he becomes a top 6 but I won't hold my breath.
He's 20 and still developing. Late starter in hockey which means he is still early in his learning curve. That just says he has more potential at his age than most ahl players of the same age that have been playing serious competitive hockey their whole lives.
Give Freddie a chance. In all likelihood he will be a bottom 6 but imho he shouldn't be branded that just yet. 2 more years in he ahl will give the better showing of his skill levels.

He wasn't even really a top 6 in the Q. To think he's only a bit of learning curve away from top 6 in the NHL is a huge reach.

I don't think people understand how dominant a player with his size and draft ranking should be in a league like that.

He was consistent, but never found another gear almost all 1st rounders find after being drafted and entering their 2nd, 3rd, 4th years of junior.

His size and defensive play will allow him to play pro hockey but his talent level will keep him from being a top 9 NHL player in my opinion.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Oh well if Gauthier ends up exactly what was expected when he was drafted. Bottom 6 defensive center you can throw out in critical situations.

Guy has always had people trying to drag him through the mud. Not like he drafted himself here and there's a lot worse you can get late in the first than this kind of player.

I don't think anyone has ever dragged him through the mud.

Voicing honest opinion of a player isn't necessarily crapping on the player.

He was drafted as a 'safe' pick that due to his size should reach the NHL as a depth forward. I've never seen anyone say he couldn't be that. Just people doubt his top 9 potential in a league trending toward speed.

 

[mikebel111*]

I don't think he will ever have the offensive game to be a true top 9 forward in the NHL. Injury replacement, perhaps, but other then that he's a guy on line 4 who over time gets replaced by the next kid in line.

I have no issues revisiting this in 12, 24, and 36 months when the truth will be there for everyone to see.

Lol at the last line thinking as if your an expert. The truth is that he is one his way to being a solid 3rd line C in the NHL. You will see it

 

[Stringer Bell]

Gauthier doesn't need to develop his defensive skills much more. They're his strength, his natural skill set. They really need to do something to try to improve his offensive IQ. Stick him in front of the net on the Power play, move him to the wing for a bit...I don't know. It's not just that his offensive SKILLS are lacking but his overall mindset is too. It's as if he has no interest in putting the puck in the net when he's on the ice. How can they make him at least CARE about having the puck on his stick more?

In practice they should have him exclusively working on his shot and his stick handling. His defensive skills and awareness aren't going anywhere but let's try to develop his weaknesses right?

 

[saltming]

He wasn't even really a top 6 in the Q. To think he's only a bit of learning curve away from top 6 in the NHL is a huge reach.

I don't think people understand how dominant a player with his size and draft ranking should be in a league like that.

He was consistent, but never found another gear almost all 1st rounders find after being drafted and entering their 2nd, 3rd, 4th years of junior.

His size and defensive play will allow him to play pro hockey but his talent level will keep him from being a top 9 NHL player in my opinion.

Iirc he was the 1st line C for his draft+1.
Plus comparing him to most other 1st rounders is a bit unfair 1 because he is a late comer to hockey and 2 its quite common for big bodied players to develop more slowly.
All I'm saying is give him a little more time. His first pro year has been fantastic. Belfry hockey might be able to develop some sort of a scoring touch with him over that time.
All prospect develop differently and freddie has some mitigating factors that should point to being patient with him.

 

[OvenMittz*]

Gauthier will be a dependable 4th line C. Maybe a 3C if he finds his scoring touch, but I'd prefer a sound 4c who can get some shut down reps against top lines to give our top lines cracks at the opposing teams weaker lines.

He's a very smart player. I also see him becoming better and better at the NHL level because of how smart everyone keeps saying he is... I see him having high hockey IQ growing in the NHL and being better as he gets older.

 

[Stringer Bell]

To be absolutely honest, and I'm sure Zeke would agree with me...based on his size, point per game totals in his draft year in the QMJHL...being a year older, I was totally expecting him to put up about 90 points his post draft year.

Now, that doesn't mean to me that I expected him to be a top six center. But at that size, and with those point totals in his draft year, even someone with third line center potential should be able to go well well well above point per game in their post draft year, especially with that size.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Lol at the last line thinking as if your an expert. The truth is that he is one his way to being a solid 3rd line C in the NHL. You will see it

LOL at being willing to revisit a topic when the truth will be known?

That doesn't make me an expert. It makes me a human being.

Experts have been wrong more the once when it comes to the development of young hockey players.

I've seen my fair share enough to stand behind my own opinion. Doesn't mean I think i'm an expert.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Gauthier will be a dependable 4th line C. Maybe a 3C if he finds his scoring touch, but I'd prefer a sound 4c who can get some shut down reps against top lines to give our top lines cracks at the opposing teams weaker lines.

He's a very smart player. I also see him becoming better and better at the NHL level because of how smart everyone keeps saying he is... I see him having high hockey IQ growing in the NHL and being better as he gets older.

The issue with that is that in this cap system you don't develop players to be 4th line C's long term. That spot on the roster is used to break in youth or get veterans at the end of your lineup some ice time.

If you're not developing a player like Gauthier into a top 9 forward at minimum then you're wasting your time on that asset because by the time he's developed and ready for his 4th line role you have 2 or 3 drafts worth of prospects plus other Marlie players who will be better equipped for that 4th line role.

I look forward to following his progress as most people are very 1 sided of their opinions on him in that they either see him as a top 9 forward without question or will be shocked if he ever plays more then 30 games at the NHL level past a 4th line role.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Ouu I was getting a little worried that I missed the monthly bash Gauthier rants, looks like I'm just in time !

 

[Jack Bauer]

To be absolutely honest, and I'm sure Zeke would agree with me...based on his size, point per game totals in his draft year in the QMJHL...being a year older, I was totally expecting him to put up about 90 points his post draft year.

Now, that doesn't mean to me that I expected him to be a top six center. But at that size, and with those point totals in his draft year, even someone with third line center potential should be able to go well well well above point per game in their post draft year, especially with that size.

Agreed. And that opinion only comes from following almost ~15 years of drafted players from the Q. When I seen his size and his stats in his draft year I thought he'd be among the best players in the Q at 19. Typically players with that size and production at 17 can simply dominate that age group at 18 and 19. But his development really leveled off.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Ouu I was getting a little worried that I missed the monthly bash Gauthier rants, looks like I'm just in time !

Nobody is bashing the kid.

Can people not give an honest opinion without someone taking it as bashing the player?

You can bash me if i'm wrong in my assessment and prediction. Last time I checked nobody is perfect in those things.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Nobody is bashing the kid.

Can people not give an honest opinion without someone taking it as bashing the player?

You can bash me if i'm wrong in my assessment and prediction. Last time I checked nobody is perfect in those things.

Gauthier literally gets brought up every month with people downplaying every single thing about him, and then it gets into a 5 page back and fourth "polite evaluation" on Gauthier.

Well I wasn't signalling out you originally by now I will. Gauthier can definitely make it as a #3 shut down center, who's a beast on the PK (which he already is). His skating is already better than Steckel's skating ever was.

Obviously the people labelling him in the top 6 will be dissapointed.

 

[The Examiner]

Nobody is bashing the kid.

Can people not give an honest opinion without someone taking it as bashing the player?

You can bash me if i'm wrong in my assessment and prediction. Last time I checked nobody is perfect in those things.

I agree with you on this. People let their emotions get the best of them when talking about Gauthier. He does have good qualities (I disagree with your point saying his size is his best one) and he has impressed a lot at times with the Marlies. I just don't know if I see him as an NHL player. Time will tell and I would really love a defensive centre with his size on this future team. He is most definitely NOT a top 6 player, as some have suggested.

 

[Jack Bauer]

Gauthier literally gets brought up every month with people downplaying every single thing about him, and then it gets into a 5 page back and fourth "polite evaluation" on Gauthier.

Well I wasn't signalling out you originally by now I will. Gauthier can definitely make it as a #3 shut down center, who's a beast on the PK (which he already is). His skating is already better than Steckel's skating ever was.

Obviously the people labelling him in the top 6 will be dissapointed.

Where is the harm in "polite evaluation"? Shouldn't that be something we strive for as a community here, if anything?