USHL rookie of the year last year. thats tiny though, in the western conference, hard to survive.
Easier these days with Pronger, and Regehr out east.
I do like the move towards skill players, but I'm astonished that someone that small gets drafted. Like, in every sense of the word, small. It's been an entirely mystifying weekend.
John Gaudreau, LW Dubuque (USHL)- Tiny New Yorker is another longshot, but has put up amazing numbers for the Fighting Saints despite being about 5-6 and 145 pounds. He'll get much stronger and add another 30+ pounds, but when you consider that he's managed to score 35 goals and 69 points in 55 games as a flyweight in the rough-and-tumble USHL, it says a great deal about his speed, hands and creativity. This is a pure offensive presence and he showed off his potential at the Ivan Hlinka last August, as one of the most consistent forwards on Team USA, helping them to a silver medal. It's hard to imagine an NHL team drafting a guy with Gaudreau's vitals, but this kid has guts and flair- he's going to be a very good NCAA player and once he gets there and proves himself at that level, anything is possible.
Ivan Hlinka tourney analysis:
Quote:
John Gaudreau, RW-- He's not quite the agitating presence Hohmann is, but Gaudreau is cut from a similar cloth: big man trapped in a small man's body who is explosive and can really score. Like Hohmann, he's headed to Boston for his NCAA play, but Gaudreau will be at Northeastern instead of Commonwealth Ave. His dad was a star for Norwich in the late-70's and the younger Gaudreau will be challenged more this season as he leaves the comfort of home for the rough-and-tumble USHL.
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Gaudreau is another interesting player with Boston/New England ties. He's another small winger, but the Philly native has some scoring chops (18 goals, 42 points in 13 high school games at Gloucester Catholic), and is committed to Northeastern University and expected to arrive in the fall of 2011 after spending a year with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints. His dad, Guy, played for and captained Norwich University from 1976-80 and is in the school's athletic hall of fame. Gaudreau's explosiveness and playing style evoke comparisons to Brian Gionta.
I am a fan of Dubuque Fighting saints for the USHL, Top Jr. hockey tier in the USA. John was on our team last year so let me assure you that he makes up for his by scoring what he lacks in size. He is very skilled with puck up close and on wrap arounds. He needs some more muscle on his slap shot but has a decent wrist shot up close.
He is very quick and was dubbed the slippery sniper here in DBQ. Believe it or not he can take a hit, during the playoffs against Green bay, they were chanting hit the midget, meaning John and they did. He is a heads up player (has to be due to his size) and usually just ducks the goons, but he gets right back up when he does get hit. He isn't afraid to check either though he would bounce off most times. He is only 17 ( I believe) and we would love to have him back for another year depending on whether he goes to Northeastern (with their coach leaving), next year. He is one the main reasons we one the National Championship this past year.
DBQ Saints Fan
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I am a fan of Dubuque Fighting saints for the USHL, Top Jr. hockey tier in the USA. John was on our team last year so let me assure you that he makes up for his by scoring what he lacks in size. He is very skilled with puck up close and on wrap arounds. He needs some more muscle on his slap shot but has a decent wrist shot up close.
He is very quick and was dubbed the slippery sniper here in DBQ. Believe it or not he can take a hit, during the playoffs against Green bay, they were chanting hit the midget, meaning John and they did. He is a heads up player (has to be due to his size) and usually just ducks the goons, but he gets right back up when he does get hit. He isn't afraid to check either though he would bounce off most times. He is only 17 ( I believe) and we would love to have him back for another year depending on whether he goes to Northeastern (with their coach leaving), next year. He is one the main reasons we one the National Championship this past year.
DBQ Saints Fan
Thanks alot for this. Would you mind commenting on what maybe his NHL translation would be? Maybe a Mike Cammalleri type-sniper, but only not as built? What's his upside?
Guys should check out the Jim Montgomery (his coach) interview on Fan 960.
The guy is pretty sure Gaudreau will play, raves about him.
Pretty excited about this kid, but know that it's going to take a while for him to make it to the NHL as he's going to have to put on a lot weight.
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
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I am a fan of Dubuque Fighting saints for the USHL, Top Jr. hockey tier in the USA. John was on our team last year so let me assure you that he makes up for his by scoring what he lacks in size. He is very skilled with puck up close and on wrap arounds. He needs some more muscle on his slap shot but has a decent wrist shot up close.
He is very quick and was dubbed the slippery sniper here in DBQ. Believe it or not he can take a hit, during the playoffs against Green bay, they were chanting hit the midget, meaning John and they did. He is a heads up player (has to be due to his size) and usually just ducks the goons, but he gets right back up when he does get hit. He isn't afraid to check either though he would bounce off most times. He is only 17 ( I believe) and we would love to have him back for another year depending on whether he goes to Northeastern (with their coach leaving), next year. He is one the main reasons we one the National Championship this past year.
DBQ Saints Fan
If he's only 17, any chance he still grows a few more inches?
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"There are no asterisks in this life, only scoreboards." - Ari Gold
If he's only 17, any chance he still grows a few more inches?
All men stop growing in height in their early 20's, so yes, I would imagine he could still grow a couple of inches yet. He'll still be pretty damn small though.
I am a fan of Dubuque Fighting saints for the USHL, Top Jr. hockey tier in the USA. John was on our team last year so let me assure you that he makes up for his by scoring what he lacks in size. He is very skilled with puck up close and on wrap arounds. He needs some more muscle on his slap shot but has a decent wrist shot up close.
Unfortunately, this doesn't fill me with much hope. He sounds a lot like a smaller Nigel Dawes (Which, if he becomes Dawes, is great. That'd be a steal at this point in the draft). Additionally concerning is how you keep enforcing the notion of him being good in close. At 137 lb, it's not likely he'll get that close unless he's got Lombardi-esc speed.
Thanks for the insight on him though. It's great to hears more sides on our draft picks
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
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His Bio from last year, this was from the previous year, he will be turning 18 this year.
John Gaudreau F 5'9 148 L 8/13/1993 Carney's Point, NJ Team Comcast U-18
