Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814
Marty St Louis was dominant until he was nearly 40.
Gaudreau is as durable and elusive as any superstar in the game.
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JG's speed, agility and hands, and the ability to do everything at top speed, make him who he is -- all of which decline with age.
St. Louis was essentially a cube of muscle on skates, and one of the smartest players of his era. He remained effective because his vision and decision making were elite, and his physique made him pretty much bulletproof. Totally different players.
I think JG will have to change his game significantly to remain effective past 31/32. Even Gretzky saw a huge drop off in his effectiveness once his ability to elude physical plays declined as he slowed down and lost agility. For those reasons I'd be pretty hesitant to pay Gaudreau for 8 years.