Quote:
Originally Posted by FanIn80
I don’t know if he’s peaked, but what I do know is that, unlike college, he’s playing against fully-grown, adult men. He’s regularly giving up 40-60lbs and 8-12” of reach against the people checking him. It’s also a league that will literally do anything to win and continue earning a living. These aren’t college boys who are thinking about the after-game kegger.
Johnny’s a -really- small guy, and he’s taken a lot of punishment over his first few years in the NHL. It’s really no surprise he’s turned into a perimeter player.
I’ve often said I’d love to see Johnny and Chucky on the same line. I think Tkachuk would just demolish anyone who took a run at Johnny.
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I don’t see it this way at all. Gaudreau is extremely competitive. He’s not going to get any Selke votes ever, but how many elite scoring wingers are known for their good defensive play. Heck Kucherov spends half of his defensive zone shifts cherry picking out at center ice.
Also, Gaudreau may be small, but he’s also extremely elusive and always has head up. There’s a reason he’s so durable and has only been injured on a dirty slash to his finger. A guy like Taylor Hall on the other hand is the exact opposite, he’s just as talented and even though he’s bigger, he plays recklessly and is extremely injury prone.
Gaudreau has always been a perimeter player. But he’s one of the best perimeter players in the game, so he can get away with it. It’s usually the lesser talented guys who generally have to play in the muck. But that doesn’t mean he can’t still be effective. Geoff Ward’s style is all about puck pursuit and forechecking for your chances, maybe Gaudreau just needs to start playing with players who are harder and faster on pucks.