2024-25 San Diego Gulls/Tulsa Oilers

[mightyquack]

I freely admit I don't watch the Gulls, but I'm surprised that he's been so solid you think he'd make next year's opening night roster (even if it's on the 4th line).

Johnston may as well be retiring here, so that doesn't leave too many other options to swap out.

Personally I don't view 4th line closed off for next season, especially with Johnston as the only 4th liner signed past this season.

I'd be surprised if Lundestrom is brought back (I don't think he fits the identity Verbeek wants for the 4th line) and Leason could go either way as he's arb eligible (I'd bring him back personally but think that's the unlikely option).

I'm expecting Gaucher and 2 UFA signings for the 4th line next season. Possibly even another 4c so we can ease Gaucher in via the wing.

 

[tomd]

Personally I don't view 4th line closed off for next season, especially with Johnston as the only 4th liner signed past this season.

I'd be surprised if Lundestrom is brought back (I don't think he fits the identity Verbeek wants for the 4th line) and Leason could go either way as he's arb eligible (I'd bring him back personally but think that's the unlikely option).

I'm expecting Gaucher and 2 UFA signings for the 4th line next season. Possibly even another 4c so we can ease Gaucher in via the wing.

Thanks for your updates regarding Gaucher. As everyone here knows, I have long been a critic of the pick observing that Gaucher had little to no offensive abilities that would carry over to the NHL. That has proven true so far. My other concern is that his skating won't be good enough in the NHL to be an effective defensive specialist against the top lines of other teams. What are your thoughts on his skating based upon your viewings. I'm sure his skating is fine at the AHL level but will he be able to keep up in the NHL (as anything more than an 6-8 minute 4th line plug)?

 

[TheDarkWingThatDucks]

Gaucher hasn't had any puckluck (and in my mind he has lost his selfconfidence offensively).

Yes, Gaucher is defensively really good, but I think Caulfield is even better! Too bad his (Caulfield) hands are even worse than Gaucher's. And he is a couple years older than Gaucher (March 2001 vs. November 2003).

Cool think about Judd the stud is that he played on the USNTDP with Zegras / Helleson … and I think Colangelo and he basically said I’ve been groomed to be a role player my whole life, I know my role and I do it well.

Gaucher leads your PK 1 / shutdown line center….. if his offense develops he can be a legit 3C

A Myatovic / Gaucher / Caulfield future 4th line is probably the goal, but who knows.

One of colangelo / Sidorov / pasta ….. grabbing the reins and taking Fabbri’s spot will be big for next season if we don’t add a Marner.

Harkins probably sent back down to start next year to the AHL, Leason and Isac are free agents, but I can see one / both / neither being back….. Johnston will be 13 forward for ever it seems.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

His defensive play is pretty fantastic, there's a reason he's put out heavily on the PK and in key situations. His play in the defensive and neutral zone is fantastic, it's the offensive zone where there is struggles as he's not great with generating chances with the puck on his stick. On the flipside, as I said above, his forechecking and physical play is really good which opens up opportunities for his linemates which has been the case when Sidorov was on their line earlier in the season, and more recently Myatovic. Both Sidorov and Myatovic have have had their best production on the Gaucher-Caufield line opposed to away from it so far this season.

Whichever scoring winger that plays with Gaucher-Caulfield, they tend to be productive. We saw this last year with Tracey and Pastujov. This year, it's Sidorov and Myatovic. I am curious about Gaucher's play away from Caulfield with respect to offensive production. I just recall last year when Caulfield was removed from Gaucher, then Gaucher's (and his line) offensive goes quiet.

On a tangent, what is your take on Caulfield this season? Does he play PK? (I assume he does as he was billed as a defensive forward when we acquired him.) And if so, then is he usually paired with Gaucher? Could Caulfield also make the 4th line NHL jump with Gaucher?

Again, thx in adv for the response.