Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
When you are short and don't have leverage of taller players you need to depend on core strength to win puck battles. Building up his legs shouldn't have much bearing on his elusiveness as nobody is saying he needs to go Pat Verbeek. A lot depends on his frame as well and how much it can carry before it becomes a detriment to quickness and flexibility.
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I don't buy that at all. I have been short my entire life and played against stronger guys all the time and I am better in the corners than a lot of the bigger guys. I win just as many if not more puck battles than bigger guys than me all the time.
Gaudreau didn't make it to this level without being good in corners or not being able to win puck battles. Sure he'll get run over by bigger guys from time to time but I guarantee you his smarts without the puck more than makes up for what he lacks in size.
He needs to do what Gaudreau always does and that is use whatever has made him successful up until this level.
Conroy even said it himself that he doesn't know if he wants Gaudreau to get bigger. He might need to start working out and get stronger but weight does not mean he is getting stronger. I actually felt stronger when I was 20 pounds lighter.