Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
Gaudreau in the right situation can be an excellent checker and defensive player. I think it was Darryl last season who called Gaudreau the best checker on the team and I agree to a certain extent. Maybe I’d have Lindholm at the top with Gaudreau a close second, but regardless, it was close.
Gaudreau might not be great defensively in the prototypical way one would expect, he obviously has his issues along the boards and can be soft at times and miss an assignment or two. But he was spectacular back checker last season and has a sneaky good stick check that I don’t think many appreciated enough. I know for myself, I definitely miss his exploits on our top line, especially with how rudderless our current top line has looked.
But yeah, I’m with you on one thing. He chose a bad team that just started their rebuild. I do wonder if he ultimately feels some regret not making his career the priority like other hocker players who value winning and fit first and foremost. It can’t be fun being the #1 guy the media goes to everyday asking why your team lost yet another game for years to come.
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Sutter said he was a good checker, he didn't say he was good defensively.