I'm definitely more of a believer in Gaudreau than I was when this thread started. Small guys have a chance to make it when they are as skilled and possess the hockey IQ Gaudreau has shown. I think he's the real deal.
This kid is the flavor of the week. Last year it was Mark Stone.
Many of the goals I've seen him score, he won't be able to do against the top Dmen in the NHL. His skillset makes fools out of boys, but when he plays against men, it's less likely to translate. Given that he is a top 6 guy or bust, he would mostly be playing against other teams top 4 Dmen, making his chances even slimmer.
Yes, Martin St-Louis, Tyler Ennis and David Desharnais exist... but for every one of those, there are 100's if not 1000's of Corey Locke's.
I'm not saying he's going to be Corey Locke. I'm not saying he's not going to be Ennis. I'm just sating it's stupid to speculate how good a guy like this will be, because his size makes it almost impossible to predict.
And for the record... he looks shorter than Grimaldi, and 2 months ago, people were saying Grimaldi > Gaudreau. Funny how one tournament can make a guy a superstar, lol http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh....php?t=1266933
I think it's ridiculous people would suggest he's only worth a second rounder. He's a top scorer in the WJC and NCAA. Why would the Flames trade that sort of promise for a 2nd or even a 1st rounder? They should keep him, he's worth more to them than to any potential suitors.
flames already made the mistake getting rid of another small guy called Martin St Louis. Perhaps they've learned and pull the Theo Fleury route for Johnny Hockey.
^
I think that has more to do with people not actually seeing him play and him being a Calgary prospect
That's true - it does seem to be a likely factor. Good point
Quote:
Originally Posted by nogger
He's dominating the NCAA as well and they really aren't 'boys' over there.
What more do people want?
There's nothing more he can do. He's doing as well as he realistically can, but it's still almost impossible to predict the next step for him.
Will he be St.Louis - probably not.. that's pushing it
Will he be Ennis or Sulliavan.. maybe
Will he be an AHL star... maybe
Everything looks good, but he's still small. If he keeps proving people wrong... great, but history is against him, and history has taken down many just like him before.
I honestly don't think it's fair to say he will or will not be good at the NHL level. I'm just saying the chances are slim given his style of play and size. He's very very skilled though, and that's the only reason he's even a thought.
The guy looks 12 years old... seems like his testosterone potential hasn't been reached yet... I have a feeling he'll grow maybe a couple inches and gain some size in the next few years.
This kid is the flavor of the week. Last year it was Mark Stone.
Many of the goals I've seen him score, he won't be able to do against the top Dmen in the NHL. His skillset makes fools out of boys, but when he plays against men, it's less likely to translate. Given that he is a top 6 guy or bust, he would mostly be playing against other teams top 4 Dmen, making his chances even slimmer.
Yes, Martin St-Louis, Tyler Ennis and David Desharnais exist... but for every one of those, there are 100's if not 1000's of Corey Locke's.
I'm not saying he's going to be Corey Locke. I'm not saying he's not going to be Ennis. I'm just sating it's stupid to speculate how good a guy like this will be, because his size makes it almost impossible to predict.
And for the record... he looks shorter than Grimaldi, and 2 months ago, people were saying Grimaldi > Gaudreau. Funny how one tournament can make a guy a superstar, lol http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh....php?t=1266933
Most people have been high on Gaudreau since he tore apart the NCAA as a freshmen last year. And now he's improved on those numbers as a sophomore and just had the 3 most prolific games in US WJC history, all in elimination games against good to great teams.
I agree his size makes him a bit tough to predict, but really no more so than Patrick Kane, who had like the exact same build but was like 1-2 inches taller.
The biggest thing Gaudreau needs to work on is his top speed. He's obviously quick but lacks top end NHL power.
He's got great skill, but these small players are so hard to project...For every Brian Gionta, there's a Corey Locke, Brandon Reid and Jordan Schroeder. I've been impressed by him, but i'll hold off judgement until I see him at a higher level.
There is absolutely nothing the kid can do at this point before playing at the NHl or, at least, the AHL level. The knock is that his game doesn't translate to the highest levels of the sport. That's a fair stance given the past failings of other diminuitive prospects.
My opinion is that Gaudreau will be an NHL caliber player, but I would personally be surprised (pleasantly) if his game translates enough at the NHL to be a star. I'm not a Calgary fan at all, but it's easy to cheer for a kid who has been told his whole life that he can't do what he wants and has thus far proven the naysayers wrong.
Ennis, St. Louis, Desharnais, Fleury, Gerbe all are either ridiculously fast and shifty, or very very strong, or both. How does Gaudreau`s footspeed compare to Ennis? I know his hands and IQ are great. Also a guy like Ennis is fearless when playing against the biggest defenders, does Gaudreau compare in that area?
Thing about Gaudreau is how physically immature he looks. This is a good thing. At 19 Gerbe was 5'5" but was built like a man. Gaudreau may not grow a lot more but he certainely is not done developing. If he can do what he is doing while being that young looking then I can imagine by 24 years old he will be that much faster and stronger.
Ennis, St. Louis, Desharnais, Fleury, Gerbe all are either ridiculously fast and shifty, or very very strong, or both. How does Gaudreau`s footspeed compare to Ennis? I know his hands and IQ are great. Also a guy like Ennis is fearless when playing against the biggest defenders, does Gaudreau compare in that area?
He is not as fast as Ennis but same level agility. But Ennis plays a higher tempo game in comparison where JG might be more cerebral.
This kid is the flavor of the week. Last year it was Mark Stone.
Many of the goals I've seen him score, he won't be able to do against the top Dmen in the NHL. His skillset makes fools out of boys, but when he plays against men, it's less likely to translate. Given that he is a top 6 guy or bust, he would mostly be playing against other teams top 4 Dmen, making his chances even slimmer.
Yes, Martin St-Louis, Tyler Ennis and David Desharnais exist... but for every one of those, there are 100's if not 1000's of Corey Locke's.
I'm not saying he's going to be Corey Locke. I'm not saying he's not going to be Ennis. I'm just sating it's stupid to speculate how good a guy like this will be, because his size makes it almost impossible to predict.
And for the record... he looks shorter than Grimaldi, and 2 months ago, people were saying Grimaldi > Gaudreau. Funny how one tournament can make a guy a superstar, lol http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh....php?t=1266933
for every bobby ryan/james neal/pat marleua there is 100's of benoit pouliot's. its no different for any other player, not just short ones.
and its not just ome tourney. its last season for bostom, this season for boston, the wjc's, outscoring him in the ushl...
his iq is off the charts and hes excelled at every level hes played. hes got a pn eberle like knack for the game. and eberle isnt much bigger,
There's no pressure for the Flames to push him into the pro's, he'll continue to develop in one of the best coached programs in the NCAA, who knows what kind of leaps this kid will take both physically and hockey wise over the next 2 and a half seasons.
This kid is what you call a intriguing prospect, you don't trade him at any point unless the offer makes real sense and since the Flames need good prospects the offers aren't going to make sense.
In terms of value as a fourth round pick, his value is off the charts.
