[News] Gaudreau named Hockey East's Player of the Week

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by fotze

Too bad the clip of his stickhandling through a couple guys, going behind the net and then bizarrely backhanding a pass back to the side clip isn't there. That play impresses me more than those goals. Gretzky esque.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Playing against grown-ass men, too. Incredible.

Any time you play well against ass men whether grown or young is impressive

[Coach]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

My goodness. I would freaking hate playing against this guy as a dman. Just constantly making everyone look like fools. It's like he knows he has surpassed that level of hockey and is doing everything possible to make it hard for him. And he's making everyone else look silly iin the process.

[strombad]

People occasionally make loose Patrick Kane references in regards to Sven, something that Sven will never come close to because he's not that type of player.

But if you're looking for a Kane-type to go along with our Toews-type guy in Money, then Johnny Hockey is the only real shot.

If that kid can translate to the NHL, it's going to be serious. Still a long road ahead and a lot of doubts, but damn, that swagger.

[stemit14]

I do think gaudreau's game could translate to the NHL because one of his most impressive skills is how difficult he is to check. We saw it in the world juniors last year and in these highlights. He's so hard to contain and somehow slips through defenders... Reminds me of brad Marchand in some ways. His game isn't as physical obviously but they are both small players with great hands who don't get rocked by defencemen very often.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by fotze

Too bad the clip of his stickhandling through a couple guys, going behind the net and then bizarrely backhanding a pass back to the side clip isn't there. That play impresses me more than those goals. Gretzky esque.

Skip to 0:50. Try and catch the pass.

This one is my favourite as well. I swear I watched it at least a dozen times to figure out what the hell just happened. Once you can manage to track the puck, it is awe inspiring how seamlessly he seems to be able to move it and place it at will.

[dammage79]

A year in the AHL to adapt to the game a little more? and then all Heck breaks loose as he make an impactful rookie debut in 2015.

I am pumped he's doing so well. Hopefully they can sign him at the end of this season and convince him to skip his senior year.

[bluloc]

Good for him, but I doubt he'll ever be a regular in the NHL.

[JobHopper]

Johnny Gaudreau skates good, has good drive and hustle, good hand skill but he's quite small.

5'9" 150 lbs. I would like to see him in the CHL at this point but will still be interesting how things unfold here for him.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Those are last season's stats. Gaudreau is a junior now

http://www.uscho.com/stats/overall/d...men/2013-2014/

Still in a league of his own.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Johnny Gaudreau skates good, has good drive and hustle, good hand skill but he's quite small.

5'9" 150 lbs. I would like to see him in the CHL at this point but will still be interesting how things unfold here for him.

A) I think your weight is off, I thought I remember him being around 160 at this point.

B) He will be too old to play in the CHL next season

C) If he is doing this to grown men, how would playing against 16-17 year olds help him? He is so far beyond CHL it's not even funny.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by MattyC

A) I think your weight is off, I thought I remember him being around 160 at this point.

B) He will be too old to play in the CHL next season

C) If he is doing this to grown men, how would playing against 16-17 year olds help him? He is so far beyond CHL it's not even funny.

I wouldn't worry, JobHopper thinks Bob Hartley should be the GM. He must be having one of "those" days.

[ricardodw]

His brother has only played in 1 game for BC... 1 goal in 1 game.

Is that going to be enough to get Johnny G. to go pro at the end of this season? or will he really want to play with his brother?


Hard to imagine him not picking his NHL team if he stays the whole 4 years at BC and becomes a UFA.

Flames have to sign him at the end of this year or look hard to trade him.

Arnold is a senior and from his stats line is having a great year. Any insights on how committed he is to being a Flame? Or How committed the Flames are to signing him?

[flamesfan55]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Which one? The first time or second time he did it in the same game?

Haha true. I liked the second breakaway video. Puts the puck aroun the dman then chases it down. He has some serious speed.

The 1 on 3 is pretty nice also. He has great hockey IQ. He does it so simple buts he's always a step ahead of everyone on the ice.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by MattyC

A) I think your weight is off, I thought I remember him being around 160 at this point.

B) He will be too old to play in the CHL next season

C) If he is doing this to grown men, how would playing against 16-17 year olds help him? He is so far beyond CHL it's not even funny.

You're right he is 20 already. He's currently listed at 150 lbs on the Flames site.

He's a bit of a tough call right now with his size being the main concern. Outside of that he seems to have all the other assets to be a good player.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I had to chuckle about the part where he's credited with scoring the game winner in an 11-0 game.

He's an exciting prospect but Sven looked equally as good in junior scoring highlight reel goals but in the NHL he hasn't found any space. Time will tell with these small guys and there will likely need to be patience as they aren't going to be able to jump into the NHL as easily as a bigger guy.

Open yourself up towards being optimistic.

Gaudreau looks better than Sven ever did.

The last player to do what Gaudreau is doing was Paul Kariya. He's a special prospect.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

You're right he is 20 already. He's currently listed at 150 lbs on the Flames site.

He's a bit of a tough call right now with his size being the main concern. Outside of that he seems to have all the other assets to be a good player.

BC has him listed at 5'8 159. If he can push to 170-175 by the beginning of the 2014-2015 season I think that will be good. As most have said, his size really doesn't seem to be much of an issue so far. There are players who can use small stature to an advantage and he seems to be one.

The main point is he needs to play pro-hockey ASAP. He is far beyond Junior and far beyond college if what we have seen over the last 2 years is any indication. He may need a little time in the AHL to get used to pro-sized opponents, but I can't see him being kept off the big club for long.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dammage79

A year in the AHL to adapt to the game a little more? and then all Heck breaks loose as he make an impactful rookie debut in 2015.

I am pumped he's doing so well. Hopefully they can sign him at the end of this season and convince him to skip his senior year.

Highly doubt it.

5-10 games maybe, to get the systems down, but he is a very smart hockey player and the coaches will quickly see how talented and how elusive he is.

The AHL will do little to nothing for him. He is like a really talented Russian - it will either be Patrick Kane-ish or bust.

And my money is all on him being the real deal

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

His brother has only played in 1 game for BC... 1 goal in 1 game.

Is that going to be enough to get Johnny G. to go pro at the end of this season? or will he really want to play with his brother?


Hard to imagine him not picking his NHL team if he stays the whole 4 years at BC and becomes a UFA.

Flames have to sign him at the end of this year or look hard to trade him.

Arnold is a senior and from his stats line is having a great year. Any insights on how committed he is to being a Flame? Or How committed the Flames are to signing him?

I think Gaudreau signs here this season. The reason for staying was more to help his little brother transition to BC and get in the flow of things, don' t think he was just to play a full season with him.

Arnold will sign here this season. IMO it was why there was no hesitation to move Horak, I think we will see a couple more moves like that this season.

The team will be looking to make space for Gaudreau, Arnold, Agostino, etc on the AHL roster for late this season and moving into next year, and guys that have some value but maybe haven't taken the next step yet will be moved.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by ramizle

Would that even still qualify a breakaway? Seemed like a 3 on 1 to me..

He's treating it like a breakaway from his own blue line on. The fact that there are three defenders in his way is not a concern