Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
A pre-season best on best tournament 5 years ago.
4 pts in 3 Pre-tourney games agains Europe(x2) and the Czechs. Chara was the only bruiser on Europe; there were a few stout guys on CZE but I doubt those games were particularly physical.
4pts in 3 games in the tourney. RUS, SWE, FIN. Again, a handful of guys known to be physical, but these teams were generally small and fast.
I don't recall exactly, but I suspect physicality was closer to an all-start game than an NHL game, which isn't to say that the games weren't hard fought.
Gostibehere posted 4pts in the tournament games, too. Is he still the elite offensive D-man he once seemed?
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Really, points? I mean, if it's all about points, I guess Ghost is better than McDavid, Matthews, Mackinnon, Eichel and etc. I'm talking about entire games, every shift. He was sensational in that tournament and outplayed all the other forwards in my opinion, including his linemate Nathan Mackinnon and RNH.
Physicality was not prevalent in that series, but we're still talking about best on best here. I know everyone likes to point out out that he can't take a hit and can't play playoff hockey and etc. But I'm pretty sure Gaudreau won the Final Four tournament and Gold at the WJHC. He can play in big games, but what he needs is a good breakout so he can make plays on the rush and how can he achieve this? By playing with a center that can break through a trap, push the puck up ice and dish it off to Gaudreau or to the RW with time and space.
I've said it a lot and I'm going to keep saying it, Gaudreau would be alot better if he played off the puck more because he has a great first step, exceptional instincts and the ability to cut/turn on a dime.