Quote:
Originally Posted by stemit14
Speed or physicality when playing with gaudreau isn't the most important factor I think. His line mates need to be smart and strong on the puck. Johnny is a world class playmaker so having him with guys who tend to have plays die on their stick is the bigger issue.
The reason why the gaudreau-Monohan-hudler line has looked good is cause those guys have the ability to keep the puck and make plays just like Johnny can. I like jooris but he struggles in this department... Like most 4th line players, pucks get taken away from him in the offensive zone too much.
I think Johnny is going to have a hell of a game tonight no matter who he plays with cause he's that pumped up for this game.
I mentioned this in the dedicated Gaudreau thread... More important than his forward line mates are the defensemen that are out there with him. He needs to have puck movers like Wideman, Russell, or Brodie on the ice with him. And they need to be looking to get him the puck in the neutral zone a little earlier. If you watch Johnny during the breakout out of the zone he starts to really pick up speed at the flames' blueline. The passing lane is there and he's looking to get the puck at that moment. Too often the pass comes too late or not at all and Johnny has to slow down to avoid an offside. If he gets that puck at the right moment he makes things happen every time he's out there. He's already become one of the most dangerous players in the league coming through the neutral zone with speed.
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Wideman and Johnny have good chemistry and look for each other.