C Frederik Gauthier (2013, 21st, TOR)

[Crispy Crust]

Shinkaruk has a lousy attitude from what I know about him. He didn't want to play for the Flames and I know for a fact that he asked a girl to come to the draft with him and she turned him down because he is a goof.

lolol

 

[tsujimoto74]

Not too excited about this kid going to the Leafs...as a Sabres fan. I think he's gonna be a good one.

 

[HanSolo]

I was jealous of you getting Theodore, so feelings mutual.

I'm glad he's a leaf. Has ways to go though.

Want to trade?

Anaheim needs more physical shutdown D guys.

 

[The Saurus]

Just went over his work at the U18s. Leafs fans, you have every right to be very excited for this guy.

With his physical stature and defensive positioning instincts, I can see him becoming a third line shutdown centre that the Leafs lean on for a decade once he breaks into the league.

 

[Quares27]

I really like the idea of using the pick to draft a 6'5 physical, defensive center who's a great skater. If he can improve his offense I think he can be a great player and if not he can still be a shutdown center in the NHL.

 

[Porn*]

at first I was livid with this pick but hte more I research and read up on him... he seems like a solid pick at 21st. Could develop into a top 6 or shut down 3rd liner.

 

[Patmac40]

at first I was livid with this pick but hte more I research and read up on him... he seems like a solid pick at 21st. Could develop into a top 6 or shut down 3rd liner.

I see him as a better skating Michal Handzus (the Handzus we saw in the playoffs). Very easily could be better defensively and might be able to contribute more offensively if he has a better development curve for his offensive game.

 

[jughead42*]

The Leafs could have used him in the 3rd period of game 7 big time. The Leafs don't need a guy who can put up monster points from center ice, whoever they put there is going to get the points because their wingers are so good. They need a guy who can win the faceoffs and clean up in their own end so they spend more time on the attack. A guy who's 6'5 is going to win a few more confrontations at the blue line when moving out the puck is exactly what they needed up the middle. It allows them to spend more time on the attack than in their own end.

 

[Brew]

To be honest, the more I think about it, the more I think Martin Hanzal. The comparisons just work.

 

[Bourdon101]

To be honest, the more I think about it, the more I think Martin Hanzal. The comparisons just work.

He is really not as physical as Hanzal, but otherwise he is simmilar.

 

[Znith]

Is there a chance that he makes the leafs roster on opening day in a bottom 6 role?

size...check
defensive ability...check

Right now there are openings on the 3rd and 4th LW, and he is a left shot too...
Much easier to have a C play W (than the other way around).

He doesn't seem like a guy who would have the traditional shortcomings of a young player, AKA defensive ability and size. Plus he is on his ELC so it won't hurt the cap which is a big plus right now with all the RFA's we have to re-sign.

His competition right now would be Joe Colborne, Tyler Biggs, and Jerry D'Amigo.

 

[Anth93]

Is there a chance that he makes the leafs roster on opening day in a bottom 6 role?

size...check
defensive ability...check

Right now there are openings on the 3rd and 4th LW, and he is a left shot too...
Much easier to have a C play W (than the other way around).

He doesn't seem like a guy who would have the traditional shortcomings of a young player, AKA defensive ability and size. Plus he is on his ELC so it won't hurt the cap which is a big plus right now with all the RFA's we have to re-sign.

His competition right now would be Joe Colborne, Tyler Biggs, and Jerry D'Amigo.

Is he better than David Bolland? No.
Is it worth stunting his development and forcing Bolland to the wing? No.

Gauthier may not make this team until 2016.

 

[Ace88*]

The real key to Gauthier, being 6'5, making the NHL is his skating. If he had average or poor skating i wouldn't be excited about him in the slightest and he probably would have gone in the 3rd-ish round. The fact that he has that size but can also skate pretty well bodes well for his future.

As with any draft pick taken in the late first round, the likelihood of being a full time NHLer is low so keep your expectations in check. But he is as safe a pic as could be made in that range.

 

[snizzbone*]

He'd stick out like a sore thumb in the NHL at this age. Needs a couple years I'd think.

 

[Patmac40]

I'd much rather take my time with him. 2 more years in junior and, if he's not ready, a year in the AHL.

 

[Sundinisagod]

He's awesome. Big two-way center, very good offensively and defensively.

Will be a 1st round pick, IMO.

He's a guy I very hope the Leafs can draft him.

You must be happy eh?


edit: quoted post from Oct 13, 2012.

 

[StuckOutHere]

Anybody here watch Patrice Bergeron or Sean Couturier play in the Q? Just looking at stats, Gauthier profiles similarly to Bergeron thus far in his career. Obviously I don't expect a player of Bergeron's calibre out of Gauthier, but I also don't think Boston expected the Bergeron they got when they drafted him either. Anybody see similarities/willing to share observations?

 

[untouchable21]

Pre draft I was lobbying hard with my fellow JETS fans for this very reason. His stats are eerily similar to Bergeron. Initially I was disappointed my team went another direction, but that said I am happy with my team's selection (Morrissey)

If Gauthier is developed properly, he will be an important player. Whether he actually becomes as good as Bergeron is anyone's guess, but I guarantee the Bruins' fans weren't counting on the #45 pick of the 2003 draft being as good as whomever his style was compared to at that time.

 

[HarrisonFord]

Anybody here watch Patrice Bergeron or Sean Couturier play in the Q? Just looking at stats, Gauthier profiles similarly to Bergeron thus far in his career. Obviously I don't expect a player of Bergeron's calibre out of Gauthier, but I also don't think Boston expected the Bergeron they got when they drafted him either. Anybody see similarities/willing to share observations?

I was really impressed watching Gauthier during the first pre-season game (after watching him in person at the rookie tournament). He was just as effective in the pre-season game against the Flyers as he was against the rookies. He's always involved in the defensive zone, and is very good along the boards. Was also surprised at how decently he skates for a big guy. Very smart, very calm. His next season (2nd Q season) will be very telling

 

[QMJHLfollower]

You must be happy eh?


edit: quoted post from Oct 13, 2012.

Yeah, very happy about the pick hehe.

Anybody here watch Patrice Bergeron or Sean Couturier play in the Q? Just looking at stats, Gauthier profiles similarly to Bergeron thus far in his career. Obviously I don't expect a player of Bergeron's calibre out of Gauthier, but I also don't think Boston expected the Bergeron they got when they drafted him either. Anybody see similarities/willing to share observations?

Didn't really saw Bergeron in the Q, but saw a lot of Couturier. As much as I like the Gauthier pick, and that I think his potential offensively is 40-55 points (great 3rd line center to a great 2nd line center), Couturier was something else offensively. I'm, a big Couturier fan, probably my favorite player not on the Leafs (or even with the Leafs), and still see Couturier becoming a 60-70 points center, either if it's with the Flyers or not. That's not a knock on Gauthier, I just find Couturier awesome and see a big potential in him. Aas this thread show, I'm also a big Gauthier fan, really happy about the pick, a monster on the ice with an awesome defensive game, (I'd say around the same caliber of Couturier) while also having a pretty good offensive game/production. Like I said, potential can be a great 3rd line center to a great 2nd line center.

 

[MXD]

The very, almost too logical comparison for Gauthier's upside is Keith Primeau.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

The very, almost too logical comparison for Gauthier's upside is Keith Primeau.

I wanted Gauthier BAD leading up to the draft, and was obviously elated when we picked him, and a lot of that had to do with watching Keith Primeau growing up, and seeing a lot of Primeau in Freddy.

very excited to watch this kid grow. It's crazy when you think that most of his draft class had played a full year more of junior than he did. He entered the Q late. So much potential in this kid. I think he's pretty underrated by those who have seen very little of him.

 

[zeke]

Watching freddy in the rookie and preseason games really confirmed to me that skating is a strength for him, not a weakness, even in terms of his first step and acceleration. Very encouraging.

He's still very raw, but he flashed all sorts of tools this preseason and showed that very good two way #2 center is a very realistic upside.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Anybody here watch Patrice Bergeron or Sean Couturier play in the Q? Just looking at stats, Gauthier profiles similarly to Bergeron thus far in his career. Obviously I don't expect a player of Bergeron's calibre out of Gauthier, but I also don't think Boston expected the Bergeron they got when they drafted him either. Anybody see similarities/willing to share observations?

He also profiles close to Patrice Cormier, offense at the pro level is hit or miss.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Anybody here watch Patrice Bergeron or Sean Couturier play in the Q? Just looking at stats, Gauthier profiles similarly to Bergeron thus far in his career. Obviously I don't expect a player of Bergeron's calibre out of Gauthier, but I also don't think Boston expected the Bergeron they got when they drafted him either. Anybody see similarities/willing to share observations?

My impressions of Gaulthier are he is a solid #3C in the making. I am not sure he has the offensive talent to be a top 6C one day, but you can see he has the makings of being a solid reliable high end bottom 6 player.

There is nothing wrong with an elite #3C, Bolland(1st cup),Stoll, and Staal contributed mightily to the Hawks, Pens, and King's cup wins.

I see Gaulthier closer to Couturier lite at the moment. If you are a Leafs fan you hope he can develop into a top 6fwd. He's not there yet. This season we should see where he stacks up offensively, in a league that usually yields high points totals.