Datsyuk, yes. Crosby, no.
Crosby is literally the best grinder in the game, with hockey IQ making all the difference. It's not that he lacks finesse but it's that his game thrives in the dirty areas in front of the net and in the corners.
Gaudreau doesn't shy away from contact but he rarely initiates it. He can survive in the corners but doesn't make a living setting plays from there. Open ice is his best friend.
Right now, Gaudreau has Datsyuk's hockey IQ/hands/effort and Tanguay's mindset.
I actually really like the Crosby comparison, I think they both process the game and see the ice in the same way, which is evident in their ability to find open space and make passes nobody else sees. If you watch them both, they make create a lot of scoring plays from the same areas. They score most of their goals around the net, utilizing their elite anticipation and hand skills (the puck just seems to find them both - its amazing how open they can get when they are typically the sole focus of the opposition.
They also love to create from below the goal line, just by different means - Gaudreau using his quickness, edge control, and hand skills; Crosby using his strength and puck protection. But what makes them the most difficult to stop is their unpredictability. Both guys seem to be able to make quick one touch passes when needed, or fake the quick pass in order to wait for a better option. Defenders seem hesitant to pressure both in fear of being pulled out of position.
I know a lot of guys like the Kane comparison, and certainly they look similar in terms of puck handling, shooting style, and build, but they approach the game very differently IMO - Kane tends to be more of a perimeter player who loves to hang on to the puck and make plays from the outside. Johnny plays the game in the dirty areas ala Crosby. Corners, side of the net, behind the net etc. The main commonality in terms of their approach is their patience and creativity, which are both elite. I'd say his creativity is also similar to that of Datsyuk and Crosby.
Defensively, I see a lot of Datsyuk. He's just an absolute puck thief and creates tons of turnovers because he reads the play so well. He's probably a top 10 puck stealer in the league.
He's got a lot of the same puck skills as Datsyuk / Kane, he's definitely in the conversation for best puck handler / dangler in the league. I'd say he's top 3, an argument could be made for #1.
His vision with the puck is #1 in the league IMO. He sets up half a dozen grade A chances per game. I've said it for years, he's got the best vision I've seen since Gretzky. But what is possibly his best attribute is his instinct for open ice. The puck just finds him, like it did the all time greats.
So, he's a pretty dangerous offensive player.
- Top 10 puck thief
- Top 3 puck handler / dangler
- Best playmaker / vision
- Best anticipation / ability to find the puck
Add in great agility and edge control and a quick, accurate release, and you've got a perennial art ross contender. Which I fully expect him to become.
