QOTD: Are you changing your Gaudreau ceiling? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bingo · 03-20-2015, 07:01 AM

I quietly had him leading the Flames in scoring this year, and to be honest he would be if not for such a great season by Hudler.

But even I am starting to think I need to move the ceiling on this guy from the 20 goal 60 point view I had of him. You'd have to think he'd get better after a rookie season and learning the ropes.

You? Have you adjusted his ceiling based on his rookie season?

Poe969 · 03-20-2015, 07:08 AM

Honestly, the sky is the limit with this kid.

Rerun · 03-20-2015, 07:14 AM

23 goals 42 assists for 65 pts total this year.

Next year... 30 goals and 55 assists for 85 pts total

Textcritic · 03-20-2015, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poe969

Honestly, the sky is the limit with this kid.

No doubt. He has been playing at a consistent 70 point/season clip since game 6 this season — in his ROOKIE SEASON.

But it's not just about him, either. As Monahan gets stronger and more assertive, Gaudreau's production is bound to improve even more. A +90 point season in the near future would not surprise me.

Thor · 03-20-2015, 07:17 AM

I think some people are missing the poll question, its not asking what his ceiling is next year, but his ceiling career wise. I tend to think 30+ goals, 90 points but he's obviously got potential to go even higher.

fanman · 03-20-2015, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

But it's not just about him, either. As Monahan gets stronger and more assertive, Gaudreau's production is bound to improve even more. A +90 point season in the near future would not surprise me.

^This. If Gaudreau and Monahan continue to play as linemates past this season, I can see both their production levels increasing as they gain experience and confidence.

So nice to have 2 young players with this much potential, and not only potential but actually showing it on the ice.

#-3 · 03-20-2015, 07:22 AM

If we are talking ceiling no reason to chance my mind, it has always been high for me. From his 2nd season with BC you thought he was a guy who could score 90-100 pts in his career.

What's changing for me is how likely I think it is.

mrkajz44 · 03-20-2015, 07:23 AM

I see 30 goals, but not 30+. One of the benefits of being a rookie is there is not a ton of tape on you and its hard to predict exactly how you will play. After a year or two, I think the league will adjust somewhat. Still, 30 goals per year is nothing to sneeze at.

Erick Estrada · 03-20-2015, 07:30 AM

I tend to think without Hudler both of Monahan and Gadreau's numbers would be lower but I think he's still learning and will get better as his mental book on players grows in pages as he's never faced any of the opposition this season before and I think it took him a while to realize that some of the moves and shots that worked in college doesn't fly with NHL goaltenders. That said the league will also form a book on him and how to take him away and if we know one thing about the NHL is that coaches are really good at trying to thwart creativity. I don't see why he can't hit 80 points given what he's done in his first full season of NHL hockey.

JiriHrdina · 03-20-2015, 07:35 AM

Hard not to get carried away. Such a unique talent

EldrickOnIce · 03-20-2015, 07:49 AM

League leaders are point per game guys now. So 80 is the new 100.
Anything is possible - but I'll limit it to that point per game pace for now. Suggesting more implies he leads the league

Gaskal · 03-20-2015, 07:53 AM

Patrick Kane 2.0

flylock shox · 03-20-2015, 07:53 AM

I don't think Monahan is a natural linemate for Gaudreau. In a few years, with Bennett and a power forward as linemates, I think he tops out at 90 points with around 30 goals. That's assuming he stays injury free and plays 82 games.

Table 5 · 03-20-2015, 07:56 AM

I think most years he'll get between 20-30 goals, with perhaps one year just over 30. Looking at his most hopeful comparable, Patrick Kane, there's a guy who's only scored 30 goals once in his career (actually Kane overall doesn't have the most spectacular numbers, although with him of course it's his timing that's amazing).

However it's playmaking that is his real forte, so if he keeps playing with the right guys, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a monster 70 assist year at some point. I'd expect 40-50 assists most years though.

Sylvanfan · 03-20-2015, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

League leaders are point per game guys now. So 80 is the new 100.
Anything is possible - but I'll limit it to that point per game pace for now. Suggesting more implies he leads the league

Yeah, that's why I picked 30 goals and 80 points. Players who score at that clip are becoming top 10 scorers in the entire league.

Patrick Kane as a 18-19 year old had 20 goals and 70 points. His career high is 30 goals and 88 points. In my opinion Kane has an edge on Gaudreau, and it's no slight on Gaudreau. Kane was a top pick and has been the Western Conferences top scorer two years ago, and was the top scorer this year before his injury.

Parallex · 03-20-2015, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bingo

You? Have you adjusted his ceiling based on his rookie season?

Not really, with Gaudreau he was always going to either be a superstar (if his skills translated) or a complete bust (if they didn't)... it's pretty obvious that they translate. He's only going to get better as the Flames themselves get better, he might plateau for a year or two here but when Bennett and others really arrive and give the flames better offensive depth he'll be even harder to contain.

savardandjokinen · 03-20-2015, 08:05 AM

Johnny gaudreau>Edmonton

Five-hole · 03-20-2015, 08:07 AM

"Ceiling" to me is a funny word. Some guys come out of nowhere and put up great seasons, arguably highly exceeding their ceilings. See: Cheechoo, Jonathan. Is Cheechoo's ceiling a 50 goal scorer? Or did he simply get hot for an entire season?

It's not out of the realm of possibility that Gaudreau and his linemates get hot one season, much like Iginla/Conroy/McAmmond did one year. Is Conroy really a 70 point player? Is McAmmond really a 20g/50p player? No, they just all clicked at the same time. If the same thing happens for Gaudreau (and it's arguably happening this year notwithstanding Johnny's and Monny's ages), it's possible he hits 80, maybe even 90 points.

So is that his "ceiling"? I guess. I'd rather talk about what we can expect out of him most years, which I think is 25 goals and 65-70 points.

Or maybe I'm just being overly cautious / pessimistic.

RyZ · 03-20-2015, 08:08 AM

I think he can be a point per game guy in his prime, which would generally land him in the top 10 point scorers in the league. Nothing to sneeze at.

Itse · 03-20-2015, 08:08 AM

I went with 90 points, but the ceiling has always been high for this kid, so that hasn't really changed. Getting there is still unlikely.