As a long time STH, I put Gaudreau in the same category as Fleury. In the Young Guns Era, when we had a dearth of highly skilled players, one of the main things that kept me continuing to pay for my STs each year was the thrill of watching Fleury. I believe it's having players like this on the roster that is really important. IMO to trade Gaudreau, and not replace him with someone exceptional, would be a significant loss to the organization. Just look at the number of people wearing his sweater to see how important he is.
As for what is affecting his drop off in play, I believe it is complicated, and is probably a combination of factors. First of all, considering his size, the fact that he was a fourth round pick, and that he is playing in a league with men who are significantly larger and tougher than him, it's almost a miracle that he is able to do what he does. I think in order for him to play his best, his overall condition has to be almost perfect. I believe it should not be surprising to see slight changes in his conditioning, players learning to defend against him, and a host of other potential issues that may affect his game.
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