Erik Gudbranson

[AK87]

Hi everyone. I don't follow the Panthers that closely but I have a question about Erik Gudbranson. I live in Kingston and watched him play on the Frontenacs for years and he is still one of my all time favorite Kingston Frontenacs. I was shocked (and I'm sure a lot of other people as well) when Florida took him 3rd overall after Taylor and Tyler. How is he looking so far in the NHL? Was it a good choice to pick him at #3? I just want to hear everyone's thoughts about him.

 

[ShootIt]

Prepare for a wide spectrum of answers...

He has looked ok, overall.

Injuries have hampered his development, especially last year with his shoulder injury.

He looked great in the playoff series versus the Devils last postseason(11-12) and he couldn't carry that over due to the shoulder injury.

While a lot of us would like to see him paired with Campbell or Kulikov, he's still missing something to be given more icetime.

The only thing he is constantly good at is being physical; where as his offensive game is like playing with a grenade and his defensive game has lapses in it.

That being said, I look forward to him becoming a top 4 regular this year. Hopefully, with improved offensive play

 

[Mogo]

Hopefully last seasons brain farts on defense were due to injuries he was fighting. He can't hit the net at all

 

[Thunderheart]

Hopefully last seasons brain farts on defense were due to injuries he was fighting. He can't hit the net at all

As accomplished at missing the net as Kulikov...if only the two of them could but the puck on net
Thunderheart

 

[coopdaloop123]

Took a step back last year, but i'll chalk that up to the lockout. He's an incredible talent and has a lot of fantastic physical tools. Once he matures and works on his shot a bit I think he will be just fine. Luckily those 2 things are fixable.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

He will develop into a top 4 d-man within two years time. I have no doubt about it at all. I look forward to watching him anchor our blue line for years to come. Erik and Alex could/should become our "smash brothers".

 

[AK87]

I don't see Alex ever playing in the NHL. He might have improved since being traded from Kingston, but when he was here he wasn't anything special. But the idea of having "smash brothers" would be pretty awesome.

 

[gudzilla]

I don't see Alex ever playing in the NHL. He might have improved since being traded from Kingston, but when he was here he wasn't anything special. But the idea of having "smash brothers" would be pretty awesome.

Petrovic, on this board, is generally referred to as Alex, not his brother

 

[hockeydude1]

I thought he looked poor after an excellent playoffs. That being said, I like the way he plays physically. He will develop into a top 4 defenseman. D just takes longer to develop.

 

[flapanthersfan]

Hi everyone. I don't follow the Panthers that closely but I have a question about Erik Gudbranson. I live in Kingston and watched him play on the Frontenacs for years and he is still one of my all time favorite Kingston Frontenacs. I was shocked (and I'm sure a lot of other people as well) when Florida took him 3rd overall after Taylor and Tyler. How is he looking so far in the NHL? Was it a good choice to pick him at #3? I just want to hear everyone's thoughts about him.

For most of his time in the NHL - he's been terrible.

He had a solid stretch for the last 15 or so games of the regular season in 11-12 + playoffs. But early on in 11-12 he was pretty bad, often a healthy scratch for Keaton Ellerby, and last year he was actually even worse than that.

He took a major step back in 12-13. Alot here are speculating it was because of his busted shoulder.

Hopefully he can come back strong and start improving. He's huge, has a huge mean streak and skates well enough to be a top-4 guy. Hopefully his hockey-IQ can improve though, especially in his own zone. I don't really give a damn about his offense because I never really expected much to begin with.