Player Discussion Julien Gauthier

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Some players need time to adjust to a higher level. Gauthier has played just 64 NHL games.

For reference, some comparisons:

Points in first 64 career NHL games as a Ranger

Julien Gauthier: 14
Filip Chytil: 22
Jesper Fast: 12
J.T. Miller: 14
Ryan Callahan: 17
Artem Anisimov: 20

Nobody is expecting him to be a star in the NHL. If he can grow into a useful 3rd line winger, that's a win

 

[nyr2k2]

For reference, some comparisons:

Points in first 64 career NHL games as a Ranger

Julien Gauthier: 14
Filip Chytil: 22
Jesper Fast: 12
J.T. Miller: 14
Ryan Callahan: 17
Artem Anisimov: 20

Nobody is expecting him to be a star in the NHL. If he can grow into a useful 3rd line winger, that's a win

With the exception of Fast who came over later, those guys were all a good bit younger than Gauthier. I mean everyone develops at their own pace, Gauthier is still clearly showing some development, and there are always exceptions to the rule--but at some point guys are who they are. I'm not suggesting Gauthier is a finished product but he's getting close to the point where what he is, is likely what he remains.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

With the exception of Fast who came over later, those guys were all a good bit younger than Gauthier. I mean everyone develops at their own pace, Gauthier is still clearly showing some development, and there are always exceptions to the rule--but at some point guys are who they are. I'm not suggesting Gauthier is a finished product but he's getting close to the point where what he is, is likely what he remains.

It's almost impossible to find a 1-for-1 comparison. It's just to show that players often start slow when getting to a higher level. I think for the expectation of him becoming a decent 3rd liner, the way he's playing and his points are a good indication. He's still 2 years away from reaching his prime (if you go off of what people say about forwards.

Adjusted for age range (21-24):

Jimmy Vesey: 24
Boo Nieves: 18
Oscar Lindberg: 26
Chris Kreider: 30
Mats Zuccarello: 32
Brandon Dubinsky: 23
Dominic Moore: 18
Jamie Lundmark: 23

Tough to find a proper way to filter with Gauthier's 64 games being spread out over 3 seasons.

 

[Crease]

As a goalie, there are elements of a player’s game that make them harder or easier to stop. Some guys can generate chances over and over again but are easy to stop, because they telegraph what they’re going to do with the puck, have a slow release, weak power or inaccurate placement.

It’s nice that Gauthier and Chytil generate chances, but I’m starting to wonder if they fall into the category of guys that just can’t finish at the NHL level.

 

[nyr2k2]

It's almost impossible to find a 1-for-1 comparison. It's just to show that players often start slow when getting to a higher level. I think for the expectation of him becoming a decent 3rd liner, the way he's playing and his points are a good indication. He's still 2 years away from reaching his prime (if you go off of what people say about forwards.

Adjusted for age range (21-24):

Jimmy Vesey: 24
Boo Nieves: 18
Oscar Lindberg: 26
Chris Kreider: 30
Mats Zuccarello: 32
Brandon Dubinsky: 23
Dominic Moore: 18
Jamie Lundmark: 23

Tough to find a proper way to filter with Gauthier's 64 games being spread out over 3 seasons.

It is definitely tough to find the perfect comp. I definitely wasn't expecting you to do it! And part of that is because Gauthier hasn't been able to find a consistent role until this year. Again, he is showing progress by being impactful on a more regular basis, but I feel like a lot of people (not saying you) have this idea that, "If he just gets a real chance, the points will come!" In reality it's possible, and at this point probably bordering on likely, that the points aren't going to come for him and he'll just be one of the literally endless number of guys who could score prodigiously at every level other than the NHL. And that's okay, because he's becoming a more complete player and proving to be a guy who can generate chances even if he can't turn them into goals, which is still valuable.

I'm just pushing back against the notion that I see quite frequently that he's on the precipice of breaking out. He may be, but he's probably not. Chytil is another guy who is starting to feel this way to me.

 

[CLW]

As a goalie, there are elements of a player’s game that make them harder or easier to stop. Some guys can generate chances over and over again but are easy to stop, because they telegraph what they’re going to do with the puck, have a slow release, weak power or inaccurate placement.

It’s nice that Gauthier and Chytil generate chances, but I’m starting to wonder if they fall into the category of guys that just can’t finish at the NHL level.

I think Chytil will be fine and this is mostly a cold streak. He does need to have a good winter/spring points wise.

 

[Peltz]

For reference, some comparisons:

Points in first 64 career NHL games as a Ranger

Julien Gauthier: 14
Filip Chytil: 22
Jesper Fast: 12
J.T. Miller: 14
Ryan Callahan: 17
Artem Anisimov: 20

Nobody is expecting him to be a star in the NHL. If he can grow into a useful 3rd line winger, that's a win

He’s got great speed, and drives to the net well, but lacks any elite passing ability, has hands of cement, and an average shot.

If he could ever add a bit of finish in close, he’ll be a hell of a player. Imagine if had Kakko’s hands. Drool.

 

[HFBS]

As a goalie, there are elements of a player’s game that make them harder or easier to stop. Some guys can generate chances over and over again but are easy to stop, because they telegraph what they’re going to do with the puck, have a slow release, weak power or inaccurate placement.

It’s nice that Gauthier and Chytil generate chances, but I’m starting to wonder if they fall into the category of guys that just can’t finish at the NHL level.

Although Gauthier makes some good moves, especially to the outside, he almost always winds up 6 inches from the goalie with no place to put the puck.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Julien Gauthier video from 5 years ago.

 

[bbny]

I think Gauthier has a chance to really do some damage later in his career. I realize he is a whipping boy for a lot of people because he has blown more scoring chances than we can count, but even getting those chances is half the battle. He’s got great size and speed. He just needs to develop that scoring touch, which got better each year in the AHL and he was even pacing 40 goals there his last season down there. He might just need consistent ice time at this point. I’d like to see him get Kakko’s minutes for an extended period of time. Can’t be worse.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Is it goat season yet

 

[egelband]

I’m coming out of the closet. I want Goat to get another top six/top nine shot. Kakko, Kravtsov, Gauthier as our Top Nine RWs.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Julien Gauthier video from 5 years ago.

For a guy that comes from a body building and wrestling family, Rangers should tell Gauthier to get a mean streak. If he became a physical aggressive forward, maybe it would help his career. For a guy that is 6’4 he needs to be aggressive and not a soft forward. He should ask his uncle Denis for the grit and aggressiveness that he had in his career.

 

[egelband]

For a guy that comes from a body building and wrestling family, Rangers should tell Gauthier to get a mean streak. If he became a physical aggressive forward, maybe it would help his career. For a guy that is 6’4 he needs to be aggressive and not a soft forward. He should ask his uncle Denis for the grit and aggressiveness that he had in his career.

Well, generally it’s the bigger guys who never get f***ed with. Thus they never develop a mean streak. Kind of makes sense why a guy with JG’s background would be pretty placid. I still think his future is as a scorer anyhow. Don’t see him as a goon or even a grit player.

 

[romba]

JG and Kakko need to improve finishing skills for when they're in tight. Practice backhanders from 3-6 feet out being roofed from different body positions and angles, over and over and over. Then same for forehand (much easier of course). Eventually it will be second nature and after they make a nice move on the D or G they'll get the puck up nice and high and over that pad, because NHL goalies are RARELY completely out of it (unless your name is Panarin or the like) so that final step of getting the puck in the upper 25% of the net is crucial to getting the goals scored. Too often JG is alone on the goalie and the puck either hits the pad or is sent wide on the backhand. Also learning how to get the goalie to open up and slip it 5 hole would be deadly with his speed breaking in on the goalie.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Ive said it many times but if Julien wants to be an Nhl player he needs to work on his defense and become someone who can be used on the pk. He's not a top 6 player, so embrace it and use your speed for defense. He did well backchecking the other night, he just needs to simplify his game imo and realize his role isn't to score but to prevent, to energize, a guy with his size and speed should be able to figure it out. His spot on this team is 4rw

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Hes mastered that move of blowing past a defender on either his backhand or forehand and seems to pull it off at least once a game.

God dammit if he could just find out how put the puck in the net!

Every time he comes in im like "Is this the one?!?, IS IT?!... Nope lol"

 

[Gordon Bombay]

Ive said it many times but if Julien wants to be an Nhl player he needs to work on his defense and become someone who can be used on the pk. He's not a top 6 player, so embrace it and use your speed for defense. He did well backchecking the other night, he just needs to simplify his game imo and realize his role isn't to score but to prevent, to energize, a guy with his size and speed should be able to figure it out. His spot on this team is 4rw

He has the ability to be a Grabner clone on the PK

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Ive said it many times but if Julien wants to be an Nhl player he needs to work on his defense and become someone who can be used on the pk. He's not a top 6 player, so embrace it and use your speed for defense. He did well backchecking the other night, he just needs to simplify his game imo and realize his role isn't to score but to prevent, to energize, a guy with his size and speed should be able to figure it out. His spot on this team is 4rw

If he makes an effort to throw more checks (he did that in the preseason) he would totally wreck people with the frame he has. But he doesnt need to drive people through the wall, just make contact and theyll go flying. (similar to Kreider).

The 4th line is starving for speed, if he can not hurt them defensively and reinvent his game a little to the tone you suggest it would be great. Although im not sure if theyll be a time where hell be trusted to PK. Would be great for the team if he gets to that level though

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Ive said it many times but if Julien wants to be an Nhl player he needs to work on his defense and become someone who can be used on the pk. He's not a top 6 player, so embrace it and use your speed for defense. He did well backchecking the other night, he just needs to simplify his game imo and realize his role isn't to score but to prevent, to energize, a guy with his size and speed should be able to figure it out. His spot on this team is 4rw

This. He has much better chance of a lengthy NHL career as a Cogliano/Hagelin type than a watered down Kreider/Myles Wood.

He has the raw physical skills but he doesn't process the game fast enough offensively. That's why he paints himself in a corner on breakaways or his shots always get blocked by the dman.

 

[Larrybiv]

even if he can't turn them into goals, which is still valuable.

I'm just pushing back against the notion that I see quite frequently that he's on the precipice of breaking out. He may be, but he's probably not. Chytil is another guy who is starting to feel this way to me.

I like the positivity. I think a great deal of us are rooting for him in a typical Rangers fan way. We're probably frustrated for him and the Rangers (prob not as much as he is, though) I feel the same, if he pots one soon, you may just have the feeling that quite a few more may follow. "IF" that happens, and as mentioned that he generates chances......then patience has become a virtue.
Just need a good finisher, collecting his garbage.

 

[NickyFotiu]

His size and speed are 2 things we really need. Glad to see him get a couple of points. Would be great if he can produce enough to become a regular.

 

[Circus86]

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Last two games he's been useful, unfortunately he needed the goalie to come out of the net to score though lol

 

[CasusBelli]

Wonder if we have a 15-18 goal scorer blossoming late.