LW Johnny Gaudreau (2011, 104th overall, Calgary) IV

[MrMastodonFarm*]

If you think his size won't keep him out of the NHL they I don't know why the hang up would be if he's a star. The kid has star talent written all over him. You either think he'll make it because of his size, or he won't.

Once he gets to the NHL, his size won't be a factor if he's a star or not.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

If you think his size won't keep him out of the NHL they I don't know why the hang up would be if he's a star. The kid has star talent written all over him. You either think he'll make it because of his size, or he won't.

Once he gets to the NHL, his size won't be a factor if he's a star or not.

I've always said he had the talent to play in the show, no question. The only questions that remain are, one, can he stay healthy? And two, how good can he be?

 

[Jabba11]

Johnny Gaudreau is the real deal. Same for the whole team. The acquisition of Hiller was the best and most important thing they did this summer.

BTW, wait till you guys see Émile Poirier and Morgan Klimchuk with this young lineup. They're gonna light it up.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Sorry I have other activities to do on weekends rather than posting on a message board.

He was looking you look like a fool for his first 5 games, so what's your point?

As I've said multiple times, he's one of the most skilled prospects in the game, lets see how he does over a full season.

You didn't seem too willing to give him the benefit of a full season after his first 5 games . . . probably because you already had him pinned as a 30-40 point power play specialist.

8 pts in his last 7 gp . . .

 

[nbwingsfan]

If you think his size won't keep him out of the NHL they I don't know why the hang up would be if he's a star. The kid has star talent written all over him. You either think he'll make it because of his size, or he won't.

Once he gets to the NHL, his size won't be a factor if he's a star or not.

This makes 0 sense at all. Of course size is a factor in how he plays in the NHL? His skill is getting him in the NHL, but his size could prevent him from using all the skill and keep him from being a star, and turn out to be just an average- good player.

 

[HockeyGuy1975]

He's been as advertised, but, while he has put up points, he has been incredibly snakebitten and unlucky. He could have had 3-4 points in each of the Nashville and Montreal games. Pretty soon the puck is going to start going in for him.

All other top rookie forwards are playing with all-stars. Despite that, Gaudreau will be in the pole position for the Calder soon.

The epic thread continues...

 

[CraigsList]

This makes 0 sense at all. Of course size is a factor in how he plays in the NHL? His skill is getting him in the NHL, but his size could prevent him from using all the skill and keep him from being a star, and turn out to be just an average- good player.

Are you kidding me? Gaudreau has played against big players his whole life. He's been a star in all of the leagues he's played in, while being the smallest player? Why isn't he able to do the same in the NHL?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He's been as advertised, but, while he has put up points, he has been incredibly snakebitten and unlucky. He could have had 3-4 points in each of the Nashville and Montreal games. Pretty soon the puck is going to start going in for him.

All other top rookie forwards are playing with all-stars. Despite that, Gaudreau will be in the pole position for the Calder soon.

The epic thread continues...

That's what's scary. He could very easily have 13+ points right now.

 

[MrMastodonFarm*]

The fact the Flames still have a full prospect of potential top line players in Klimchuk-Bennett-Poirier is borderline scary. How aren't they the darlings of Hfboards?!?!

 

[HockeyGuy1975]

That's what's scary. He could very easily have 13+ points right now.

Agreed. Historically, he is as much of a goalscorer as he is a playmaker. So far we've have mostly only seen the playmaking.

Hartley needs to tell the rest of the team to be ready for passes whenever they are on the ice with Johnny -- too many guys missing slam dunk goals b/c they are not expecting a pass.

The only question mark now is how will the long, grinding NHL season affect his play. But that's just a rookie question. There is nothing that suggests he can't keep performing this way for a whole season.

 

[Laurent]

An absolute stud. Impressively impressive.

 

[nbwingsfan]

You didn't seem too willing to give him the benefit of a full season after his first 5 games . . . probably because you already had him pinned as a 30-40 point power play specialist.

8 pts in his last 7 gp . . .

Really? Because even after the 5 games I said he's looked really good, but he would have to start producing if he wanted to stay in the lineup, which he has done. Reading comprehension my friend, it helps.

And all this "on pace" talk and small sample sizes (including the ones I've used) mean nothing. 8 pts in 7 games is great, but for all you know he goes on a 10 game cold streak, or for all I know he goes on a 10 game hot streak.

Better to wait till the end of the season, or close to it, before anyone "looks foolish".

And yes, I still think he ends up as a player who is shuffled between the 2nd and 3rd lines over his career.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Are you kidding me? Gaudreau has played against big players his whole life. He's been a star in all of the leagues he's played in, while being the smallest player? Why isn't he able to do the same in the NHL?

Because the big players at the NHL level are actually good at hockey and equally (for the most part) as skilled? It's really not that hard to understand.

 

[Snakepit]

Because the big players at the NHL level are actually good at hockey and equally (for the most part) as skilled? It's really not that hard to understand.

We'll see

 

[Sean Monahan]

Because the big players at the NHL level are actually good at hockey and equally (for the most part) as skilled? It's really not that hard to understand.

if you actually watch the games, you would know players have been trying to put a body on Gaudreau every time he has the puck. Few connected but he got up and still made things happened. It's really not that hard to see.

 

[johnnystormcgy]

Because the big players at the NHL level are actually good at hockey and equally (for the most part) as skilled? It's really not that hard to understand.

Your just arguing for the sake of arguing, what about the skill level of the players he's surrounded by now, surely that raises a players game as well.

 

[25get]

Johnny Hockey is my choice to be the rookie of the year.
I don't care about his size, he is that good...
Unfortunately the pools I am in does not have him as the rookie of the year.

It will be between Gaudreau and Drouin.
But if Gaudreau would play with Stamkos, it would be a no brainer.

 

[CgyFlamesftw]

The fact the Flames still have a full prospect of potential top line players in Klimchuk-Bennett-Poirier is borderline scary. How aren't they the darlings of Hfboards?!?!

Because it's the Flames, least supported Canadian team besides Ottawa. Really they have a top 5 prospect pool even with gaudreau graduating out of it.

 

[DropIt]

Because it's the Flames, least supported Canadian team besides Ottawa. Really they have a top 5 prospect pool even with gaudreau graduating out of it.

Winnipeg?

 

[RedHot]

Currently leads the NHL in takeaways, with one more then Ryan O'Reilly

 

[MrMastodonFarm*]

Because it's the Flames, least supported Canadian team besides Ottawa.

On HFboards?

 

[Lunatik]

On HFboards?

I would assume that's what is meant.

 

[nbwingsfan]

if you actually watch the games, you would know players have been trying to put a body on Gaudreau every time he has the puck. Few connected but he got up and still made things happened. It's really not that hard to see.

Your just arguing for the sake of arguing, what about the skill level of the players he's surrounded by now, surely that raises a players game as well.

I'm not talking about him getting laid out at centre ice and being injured, as I don't think that happens as he's too slippery to be lined up.

I'm talking about the general wear and tear and battles. I'm talking about battling for the puck against bigger players who actually have skill and know how to position properly, all over an 82 game schedule.

No one can deny that being small is a big disadvantage to any player, hence why we see so few sub 5'9 players in the NHL, and even fewer (aka almost none) becoming stars.

 

[CraigsList]

I'm not talking about him getting laid out at centre ice and being injured, as I don't think that happens as he's too slippery to be lined up.

I'm talking about the general wear and tear and battles. I'm talking about battling for the puck against bigger players who actually have skill and know how to position properly, all over an 82 game schedule.

No one can deny that being small is a big disadvantage to any player, hence why we see so few sub 5'9 players in the NHL, and even fewer (aka almost none) becoming stars.

He leads the league in takeaways.

 

[Pizza the Hutt]

I'm talking about battling for the puck against bigger players who actually have skill and know how to position properly

Hopefully one day the Flames will get an opportunity to play a team with these big, skilled players you speak of, and we can see how Johnny does against them. But for now, it's all just pure speculation and conjecture. We simply don't have any hard facts to work with yet.