Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.
Generally agree with your points but I just think we have a different point of view on how players develop. I think the impact of coaches on an individual is unpredictable and that's because ultimately players need to fight the mental inertia in their game to work hard and develop new habits.
For example, Gaudreau isn't scoring less on that super-sharp-angle shot because his aim has suddenly gone bad. More likely is that goalies and defenders have figured out he'll resort to that if he's funneled to certain parts of the ice. Are we to believe he hasn't been provided video, stats and coaching suggestions about this play? I suspect he has. And I'd be willing to bet he's been provided some suggestions to mix up that play and keep his options open. So the next step is for Johnny to mentally commit and work to develop new habits. Some good players fight hard through these hurdles and develop their games whereas others keep wondering why their skill isn't working as well as it used to.
At least that's how I see things. I appreciated your post.
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Gaudreau has definitely been figured out. He'll come in wide on the left wing, where he basically has 3 plays:
1) Attempt the dipsy doodle to get inside the dman and attack the net
2) Button hook back, and look to pass to some one in the slot, cross seam, or just back to the dman
3) Continue going wide, carry puck behind the net
Dmen are definitely playing more conservatively and not giving him option 1. Option 2, is is HIGHEST utilized play, so if the opposition is in position, as long as everyone covering their intended man/lanes this is not a high risk. Option 3 is extremely limited, as now he's got himself a board battle if he can't beat the dman wide, as such, his best option at that point is the extremely low % bad angle shot.
Here's where I think Gaudreau's size is really a problem. Other players always have the chip the puck behind the d and try to win the puck back play. Gaudreau simply can't make these kind of plays, as it's a no-contest puck battle against him. He just isn't that kind of player. As much as we'd like to see it, he isn't willing to get into any kind of contact along the boards.
I think the NHL figured that out late last year, and obviously the avs. It's not a huge secret. Playing smaller skill guys physically is a no brainer as you get into tighter checking/playoff hockey. However, I do think Gaudreau has realized he's hit a wall in the league also.
I think he can still be a tier 1 player in the league, however, he does need another play driving player on his line to take some of the heat off. When the flames did NOTHING in the offseason, I think gaudreau has hit a frustration point, where it's kind of like being told to continue trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole repeatedly.
Him paired up with Monahan, and whoever else on this roster on the RW, is NOT going to get him out of this. The flames just don't have a high end puck distributing center. Backlund, well not only has he greatly regressed but he has always been better suited as a responsible, cycling the puck type game. I think him playing with a Center who can carry the puck thru transition themselves and drive the offence would bring less heat/focus on him, which would allow him to be more effective/successful in his above 3 plays.
Unfortunately, this is why I think flames need to trade Gaudreau. Getting that kind of Center is damn near impossible by trade/free agency. Every Center that can play that game has to be drafted (usually in the top 5-10) and once a team has this, they are rarely traded or hit free agency. A trade to a team like buffalo this summer makes a lot of sense in my mind. They have that C already, and are desperate to get back to the playoffs. How many other teams fall into that scenario (ie. a team that has a top level C, and are willing to part with assets to get that elite winger)??