Player Discussion: Gage Goncalves

[Zwui21]

Gage looking more and more like we found another diamond in the rough. Love it

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

 

[Outl4w]

Keep growing kid. We need you

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

“I think just kind of my confidence got up a little bit,” Goncalves said of what has changed since returning to the NHL. “I think in the past, prior to getting sent down that second time, I was just kind of hesitating plays and stuff like that. So now I'm just trying to play with a lot more confidence. I know I’ve got to try and bring some offensive side to the game and try and help our team win that way. So, I feel like it's been going pretty good so far.”

“Just kind of watching Kuch every day, just seeing all the preparation, all the little puck touches he does, even if it's off the wall on a rim or it's in the middle of the ice, or the way he sauces something on his backhand. Just being able to watch him and talk to him about it has been really big for me,” Goncalves said.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Did a little bit of a Kuch celly too

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

He’s got a few other moves coming off the right side

 

[LightningStrikes]

10 points in his last 19 games (and the SO winner last game) after scoring only 2 points in the 27 games before that.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

10 points in his last 19 games (and the SO winner last game) after scoring only 2 points in the 27 games before that.

I'm starting to think he has the NHL speed more or less figured out. I don't know how often we're gonna get 10 points 19 games with him, but it's especially encouraging that it includes a 2 week gap the 4 Nations tournament in between. He was heating up, had a break and stayed hot

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I'm starting to think he has the NHL speed more or less figured out. I don't know how often we're gonna get 10 points 19 games with him, but it's especially encouraging that it includes a 2 week gap the 4 Nations tournament in between. He was heating up, had a break and stayed hot

I know a few of us have been critical of him on previous callups, but I never felt he was out of place for the pace of the game, positioning was generally pretty sound, but you could tell he was playing to survive rather than playing to win, if that makes sense? Now you're seeing more confidence with the puck, away from the puck, hes familiar with more guys now, and honestly likely has some excellent mentors on that bench. Its good to see him start to bloom here, we need it in a big way.

 

[Rschmitz]

From his first game last year he's always looked like an NHL player but some of the talk about him being a future star is a stretch. Looks like a tweener to me, not great defensively and good but not elite offensively.

 

[Stammertime91]

His name being pronounced Gon-Sal-Ves and not Goncalves always catches me off guard.

 

[Peacefool]

I'm starting to think he has the NHL speed more or less figured out. I don't know how often we're gonna get 10 points 19 games with him, but it's especially encouraging that it includes a 2 week gap the 4 Nations tournament in between. He was heating up, had a break and stayed hot

what I like about him-he is smart player on ice, if he figures out speed, can upgrade his skills even more he will be great top 9 player

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

what I like about him-he is smart player on ice, if he figures out speed, can upgrade his skills even more he will be great top 9 player

Hes starting to remind me of Ross Colton in the sense that both players have shown early their careers, a willingness to make a simple, practical play. Skate the puck in for a line change even if you're not going to make a play out of it. Take that extra second to make sure we have clear possession of a turnover before going up ice. Making passes to a teammate with open ice. Just small things. He is being rewarded for his efficiency and doesn't have to look for the Kucherov 3D chess move to do it

 

[Peacefool]

Hes starting to remind me of Ross Colton in the sense that both players have shown early their careers, a willingness to make a simple, practical play. Skate the puck in for a line change even if you're not going to make a play out of it. Take that extra second to make sure we have clear possession of a turnover before going up ice. Making passes to a teammate with open ice. Just small things. He is being rewarded for his efficiency and doesn't have to look for the Kucherov 3D chess move to do it

Actually for me, its pnly my opinion Gace is looking like Kuch,I dont mean plays he makes, but how he sees ice and what he is trying to do, and from all players for me he can be more compared to Kuch than to Colton. I really hope that he will progress more and more, he will never be Kuch vol.2 but he could be top9 Kuch,O dont know how to explain my thought better sorry

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

I know a few of us have been critical of him on previous callups, but I never felt he was out of place for the pace of the game, positioning was generally pretty sound, but you could tell he was playing to survive rather than playing to win, if that makes sense? Now you're seeing more confidence with the puck, away from the puck, hes familiar with more guys now, and honestly likely has some excellent mentors on that bench. Its good to see him start to bloom here, we need it in a big way.

That makes perfect sense to me. His time in Syracuse has translated here efficiently because like I said to Peacefool, he keeps it simple. The AHL is where NHL players master the fundamentals and build healthy habits and Gonzo is a student of the smart play. Things like not over-extending his shifts or just screening the goaltender with tired defenders on the ice. I'm not saying Goncalves has never pulled a great pass off like "Oh damn." Just more like he hasn't made a habit of blind backhands into traffic and I'm saying "OH DAMN!!!"

Sometimes you just gotta survive a few months. It's a hard league to play in.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

I’m sold on Gonzo. Do yo thang, Gonzinator.