Quote:
Originally Posted by Da_Chief
I'd like to see Gadureau at World Hockey Championship, see how he does against men. That should really tell us how far he is.
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Assuming he keeps his amateur status, what are the odds of him even being invited to the World Championships?
Former Hobey finalist 5'9'' Ryan Lasch was invited last year so there's definite a chance but he was also in his mid 20's. While last year players like Ryan, Pacioretty and Okposo are in the playoffs currently.
Probably depends on how the playoffs shape up as a lot of fringe teams have American connections:
Stepan, Callahan, Boyle and Miller from the Rangers
Okposo, McDonald Aucoin, and Reasoner from the Islanders
Wheeler and Tangradi from the Jets
Backes, Oshie and Langenbrunner (injured) from the Blues
Dubinsky. Umberger, Atkinson, M. Foligno and Boll from the Jackets
Not that Gaudreau would be in direct competition with a lot of those players anyways.
Some of the other American NHL forwards in no particular order:
Stempniak
Legwand
Stastny
Wilson
Mueller
Gaustad
Thompson
N. Foligno
Moss
Dwyer
Stafford
Skille
Shore
Cole
Crombeen
Far from incredible depth, bad enough that I think they would have to look at Gaudreau, but still decent enough that he ultimately gets left off.