Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRed
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.
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Patty Kane is 33 and uses all of the attributes you mentioned for his success in the league. Time will tell I suppose.