The second he gains the weight necessary to withstand NHL defenseman he's going to lose that speed and agility that's allowed him to become an NCAA star.
I don't see it with him. It's like Toni Rajala a few years back.
The second he gains the weight necessary to withstand NHL defenseman he's going to lose that speed and agility that's allowed him to become an NCAA star.
I don't see it with him. It's like Toni Rajala a few years back.
The second he gains the weight necessary to withstand NHL defenseman he's going to lose that speed and agility that's allowed him to become an NCAA star.
I don't see it with him. It's like Toni Rajala a few years back.
Mmmmm, don't think that's 100% certain. How many times have you watched him, btw?
Gaudreau has the perfect playing style for overcoming small stature; he's incredibly shifty, quick, high IQ, and a great passer. All the traits for small players to overcome their size, he has in spades, as well as having a ridiculous skill set overall. So if anyone at that size can make the NHL then it's him.
Gaudreau has the perfect playing style for overcoming small stature; he's incredibly shifty, quick, high IQ, and a great passer. All the traits for small players to overcome their size, he has in spades, as well as having a ridiculous skill set overall. So if anyone at that size can make the NHL then it's him.
Solid post.
He has another 3yrs (this year included) at Boston College.
With the staff at BC and Flames development coach Rich Hesketh keeping in touch, and giving diets and workout programs, he should gain some solid mass before his NHL career begins.
Another comment I have heard about Gaudreu on multiple occasions is about his vision and how he is able to see everything happening on the ice.
His lower body strength is also very good, anyone to watch him regularly would know that he does win a good share of his puck battles.
It's true. I purchased a Boston College yearly pass so I can watch (lots) his games. A perfect example of his excellent vision would be the game winning assist the other night in a 4-3 BC win. He drew both defenders to him, dangled the blue line at high speed, and placed a perfect pass on the tape of his winger streaking down... This is one of many examples. I really believe he will lots of positive attention at the World Juniors this January...
The second he gains the weight necessary to withstand NHL defenseman he's going to lose that speed and agility that's allowed him to become an NCAA star.
I don't see it with him. It's like Toni Rajala a few years back.
Such an uneducated comment (but then again, you probably think of training as in bodybuilding and that hockey players do hours and hours of curls)
Haha, what? It was Kreider this, Kreider that for the last two years from Rangers fans. He was always a top prospect. And the facts are that Gaudreau was one point behind Kreider's Junior season as a freshman!
I'm talking about top prospects in hockey not just 1 of the 30 teams.
his stock really improved overall among all top prospects last year.
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And at this point, Gaudreau's size hasn't hampered him at all. He's out competing 6'3-230 pound, 24 year old defensemen, when we were all told he couldn't sustain his USHL production in the NCAA. It's no guarantee he'll be in the NHL, but to dismiss him for his size at this point is just foolish.
At this point it's still only the NCAA, looking at other small guys who ahve excelled and won the Hobey it's still a long way from top prospect status never mind the "steal of the draft."
No one is dismissing him but people should be realistic about the odds here.
We all saw what Jordan Schroeder did in his draft year and as a Canucks fan I was thrilled that he dropped to us but his skillset hasn't translated into pro success and he is thicker than John is.
He excelled in the WJC as an 18 year old then looked not quite as good as a 19 year old (which is what Johnny is this year) but still had a good series.
People really under esitmate the transition to the pros for small guys can be extremely tough.
I'm talking about top prospects in hockey not just 1 of the 30 teams.
his stock really improved overall among all top prospects last year.
At this point it's still only the NCAA, looking at other small guys who ahve excelled and won the Hobey it's still a long way from top prospect status never mind the "steal of the draft."
No one is dismissing him but people should be realistic about the odds here.
Sure he was thrust in the spotlight because of the playoffs, but any educated fan knew that the Rangers had a gem well before that.
In the last 10 years, there's only been one sophomore who's won the Hobey Baker. And Gaudreau is smaller.
Sure he was thrust in the spotlight because of the playoffs, but any educated fan knew that the Rangers had a gem well before that.
Yes and alot of that hype, praise ect.. was because of the way he can skate and his size. Size translates a little better to the pro game all things being equal.
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In the last 10 years, there's only been one sophomore who's won the Hobey Baker. And Gaudreau is smaller.
I don't know if he is going to win the Hobey or not but either way it's not going to affect his NHL chances.
Until he actually hits the pros he will be a hyped prospect that is really small and yes like every prospect he will have something to prove in the pros.
His chances are less and were less than Kreider because of his size plain and simple.
We all saw what Jordan Schroeder did in his draft year and as a Canucks fan I was thrilled that he dropped to us but his skillset hasn't translated into pro success and he is thicker than John is.
He excelled in the WJC as an 18 year old then looked not quite as good as a 19 year old (which is what Johnny is this year) but still had a good series.
People really under esitmate the transition to the pros for small guys can be extremely tough.
Schroeder had 1 amazing season at 17 but wasn't able to reproduce it until he had a solid season last year unlike JG who had a ppg season his first year in the NCAA and is now producing at 1.4ppg this season, not only that they are extremely different players Schroeder is a solid offensive player with a very good defensive game where as JG has a much higher offensive talent.
Gaudreau has the perfect playing style for overcoming small stature; he's incredibly shifty, quick, high IQ, and a great passer. All the traits for small players to overcome their size, he has in spades, as well as having a ridiculous skill set overall. So if anyone at that size can make the NHL then it's him.
People underestimate how hard it can be to actually hit a small player sometimes. Yeah its going to be easy for a 6 foot, 215 pound forward to manhandle a 5 foot 8, 170 pound forward on the boards, or how easy it will be for a 6 foot 2, 210 pound dman to push him from the front of the net, but how often are those tow actually going to be able to put hands on him?
Not as often as you think. That's why I hated little guys as a giant dman. They wee so shifty and could change direction so fast, it was hard to get a bead on them.
Your not going to see Gaudreau fighting for a puck along the boards, using his size to push players out of the way, or seeing him fighting for position in front of the net to try and tip a shot. That's not his game. So why would he need body size for that?
Seriously, look at one of the most successful players in the past 10 years: Martin St Louis. He's virtually the same height, and only 170 pounds and he's a dynamo on the ice.
It's just idiotic to write a guy off on size alone.
People underestimate how hard it can be to actually hit a small player sometimes. Yeah its going to be easy for a 6 foot, 215 pound forward to manhandle a 5 foot 8, 170 pound forward on the boards, or how easy it will be for a 6 foot 2, 210 pound dman to push him from the front of the net, but how often are those tow actually going to be able to put hands on him?
Not as often as you think. That's why I hated little guys as a giant dman. They wee so shifty and could change direction so fast, it was hard to get a bead on them.
Your not going to see Gaudreau fighting for a puck along the boards, using his size to push players out of the way, or seeing him fighting for position in front of the net to try and tip a shot. That's not his game. So why would he need body size for that?
Seriously, look at one of the most successful players in the past 10 years: Martin St Louis. He's virtually the same height, and only 170 pounds and he's a dynamo on the ice.
It's just idiotic to write a guy off on size alone.
People like to play the odds so they can look back and say they were right, regardless of the players skill level. It's up to the player to use that for motivation.
I watched the whole game.. The kid is one of the most skilled hockey players I have ever watched. I'm not being a homer, it's legit. He did get knocked over pretty hard on his first goal... Was a little worried. I can't wait to see him put on a few pounds of muscle!
