Player Discussion: Gage Goncalves

[TheDaysOf 04]

Coop after the game:

"Gage won a lot of points in the locker room when Cerny got hit there and he jumped in to defend a teammate. So, that's always gonna get you points. But I thought he had poise with the puck, he made plays that almost scored, didn't get to play a ton tonight, but I think in your first game it's kind of a blur anyway. But he showed he can play in this league."

Luke Glendening:

"I thought he was great. Stuck up for a teammate there right away. That's huge. It means a ton to the room. I don't know if you saw our bench after that, but we were pretty fired up. I thought that really said a lot about him as a player, and as a teammate."

Click to read more...

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I think his skating needs a bit of work, but he made some nice plays in the opportunities he had. The only reason why Sheary has stayed in the lineup when he's been healthy is his skating ability. Goncalves makes more positive plays, so hoping to see him get more chances in games/seasons to come.

 

[Stelio Kontos]

I think his skating needs a bit of work, but he made some nice plays in the opportunities he had. The only reason why Sheary has stayed in the lineup when he's been healthy is his

Terrible ass contract*

 

[RDTBay4]

Everyone, including us, has been saying we have no prospects yet they're showing up every game and not shitting the bed.

The new era is coming, Coop will coach them up.

 

[barriers]

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

I will take his energy, skating, and aggression any night over ABB.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Cooper earlier today on Goncalves:

"I thought he played great. He did everything we asked, made plays he could make, didn't hurt us defensively. He's a prospect for us. He's been up here before and usually when you bring guys up they go back, and when you bring them up again you want to see the progression. I thought he did a great job a couple nights ago. He earned another start tonight."

"His overall maturity in his game (has improved the most). He's also gotten bigger, stronger, faster, all those physical attributes. Experience is everything, and so he definitely gained that."

“Knowing the guys for a little bit kind of makes it more comfortable. Just coming up and seeing guys you’ve played with or that you’ve been with at camp and stuff like that. It kind of just makes you focus on the hockey part more and not so much everything else.

“I think it helped a lot just kind of settling my nerves and knowing that I have played at this level. Even though it was only two times before, just kind of knowing that if I stick to my game and I play the way I can, hopefully I can stay here or at least have a shot.”

“These are the best players in the world. You grow up watching these guys like Hedman and Kuch and all these guys that have played here for so many years and been at the top of the game,” Goncalves said. “So to be able to be on the ice with them and learn from them every day with what they’re doing with drills or how to pick up pucks and stuff like that, it’s really big.”

 

[barriers]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856709371645804553

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

1st NHL point for Goncalves

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Was at the game last night, and while his defensive game needs work, he's looking more and more like he belongs out there. Certainly better than Sheary and a number of other plugs we've put out there in the recent past.

 

[These Are The Days]

He's starting to get lucky out there. He's a had several plays at least that could have been on the score sheet just like Geekie.

 

[The Macho King]

He's been good. Earned a spot.

 

[Soul Assumption]

He played with Point and Guentzel and that line was just awful. -3 each, locked in their own zone every shift. He made an assist but other than that he didn't look good. Another player whose offense is just not good enough for the NHL, and other than that he can't do anything. like Barre-Boulet, but just a little bigger.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He played with Point and Guentzel and that line was just awful. -3 each, locked in their own zone every shift. He made an assist but other than that he didn't look good. Another player whose offense is just not good enough for the NHL, and other than that he can't do anything. like Barre-Boulet, but just a little bigger.

I think he drives play a bit better than Barre Boulet. Barre Boulet was a complete passenger

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

 

[RussianGuyovich]

Congrats to speedy goncalves

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Coop post game:

"He's figuring out the league is what he's doing. He has a skill set to play in this league, he can skate with everybody in this league, so it's just a matter of gaining experience, (figuring out) what you can and can't do. He's progressively getting better, he's getting a better feel for everything, and he definitely has an offensive skill set that can keep up in this league."

"I think everyone else knew the puck went in. I don't think he did. Took him a little delayed reaction before he knew that it had gone in, but good for him. I'm surprised it took this long. He's had some really good chances, and they just haven't gone in for him. Hopefully this kind of breaks the dam."

Cirelli on Goncalves first goal:

"Awesome. What a shot. That was a snipe. I mean, you just see the way he plays, he's so skilled, he can make plays, he can find those areas, and he has a hell of a shot. You saw it tonight with him come down the wing there and just pulling it by. Couldn't be happier for him."

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

It's easy to forget how many of these kids idolized Kuch growing up. Isaac Howard's another one who has talked about Kuch as one of his favorite players. I'm sure this meant a lot to Gage.

This is him as a 16-17 year old trying to do the Kucherov no shot for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCEHL