2017 World Championships Thread

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well there was that little contract hiatus after the WC.

Also a new coach so he was forced to learn the new system on the fly, then the broken hand just as he started turning it on, then I think there was an adjustment period to the special gloves. Really the first half of his season was a waste.

[codynw]

Wasn't Gaudreau well over a point per game from like February until the end of the season?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by codynw

Wasn't Gaudreau well over a point per game from like February until the end of the season?

30 points in 30 games after the All-Star break (31 points in 42 games before the ASG).

[Teroy]

Gaudreau's success at the WC has to be viewed in the light that it's a larger ice surface, he has more room to work and fewer hits. We'll see if this equates to more confidence when the NHL game takes to the ice next season.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by Kovaz

Gaudreau's career high in PP P/60 is 4.60, set two years ago, so expecting 6+ is a bit unreasonable in my view. And the PP was 13th in xGF/60, and 12th in G/60, so although not spectacular it wasn't "awful." It just doesn't run solely through Gaudreau like in years past; Versteeg, Backlund, and Tkachuk put up better PP numbers this year than Gaudreau has at any point in his career so far.

This isn't specifically directed at you, but sometimes I feel like this forum is more worried about Gaudreau scoring lots of points than what's overall best for the team. If Gaudreau's a 70-75 point player on a team that's defensively solid and deep, we'll be fine. We don't need him scoring 90 points to be successful.

Fair point, but Gaudreau is the kind of player that you'd expect would thrive on the PP, but he doesn't here. He's a better even strength scorer than he is a PP scorer relative to the other supertalents of the league. I think that has a lot more to do with this team's PP system than with JG's lack of ability to do more damage with extra space. Tkachuk has 4.8 points/60 on 5v4 this year, I can't believe that Gaudreau can't do at least that good.

Also, definitely a fair point on that last bit. It would be better if everyone had great individual production but wins definitely have to come first.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Gaudreau's success at the WC has to be viewed in the light that it's a larger ice surface, he has more room to work and fewer hits. We'll see if this equates to more confidence when the NHL game takes to the ice next season.

Well, I think in the light of these mitigating factors from last season ...

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

... a new coach so he was forced to learn the new system on the fly, then the broken hand just as he started turning it on, then I think there was an adjustment period to the special gloves ...

... there is good reason to believe that his success in this tournament should bode well for how he feels coming into the season next year. There wasn't really any point in 2016–17 that Gaudreau appeared completely comfortable and content, and this was a HUGE departure from his first two NHL years.

He will be better next season.

[GoJetsGo]

Johnny was dominant in the US's win over Russia today. Made some brilliant plays.

Two outstanding passes that set up gimmie goals.

[bdubbs]

Those Gaudreau passes...

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Unlike the World Cup where he also dominated?

But had a contract dispute hanging over his head and missed training camp with a brand new coach. This year should be a better, easier start.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I really don't think that Gaudreau is doing that much better in the WC because of skilled linemates. I think a lot of it has to do with him finding time out there. He isn't being hacked to death like he has been this past season, and the opposing teams aren't zeroing-in on him as much as the teams in the NHL was this year. Teams have been really good at taking time and space away from Gaudreau and forcing him to move the puck faster.

Given that, he still posted up a strong PPG, even given his issues (training camp, new system, injury (including probably some pretty sore wrists for long stretches) as well as now being the focus of team's defensive attention). He found a way to get better (though I argue his turnovers have been more glaring this season as he tries to force things too much) and ended up posting a PPG for the last half or so.

People talk like he had a miserable year production wise. That just isn't true.

[djsFlames]

He was a turnover machine this year and that's why it felt like he didn't do much more good than bad out there. Less goals, and less PP production.

The first two seasons his overall game was more impressive. Didn't throw errant pucks to the wrong guys, less complaining and a bit more creativity out there which helped his totals.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

He was a turnover machine this year and that's why it felt like he didn't do much more good than bad out there. Less goals, and less PP production.

This is exactly the kind of hyperbolic, overstated stuff that got really annoying this season, completely slanting things off the deep end.

He lead the team in scoring despite playing ten less games than most everyone else. That feels like it did more good than bad.

He's young, and struggled for several reasons this year. Development isn't linear.

There's just no need to be spinning it with terms like "turnover machine" and suggesting he hurt more than helped.

It's just not necessary.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

This is exactly the kind of hyperbolic, overstated stuff that got really annoying this season, completely slanting things off the deep end.

He lead the team in scoring despite playing ten less games than most everyone else. That feels like it did more good than bad.

He's young, and struggled for several reasons this year. Development isn't linear.

There's just no need to be spinning it with terms like "turnover machine" and suggesting he hurt more than helped.

It's just not necessary.

You rarely hear me criticize Johnny but I feel it's fair to say he turned the puck over way too much last season. It's a part of his game he has to work on. When I talk to a people regarding the Flames outside of this forum Johnny's turnovers come up in conversation a lot. You can analyze all you want as to why he turned the puck over so much last season but the bottom line is that it's something that's correctable to I'm not overly worried about it. Still though I believe discussing his turnovers is fair game until he corrects that area of his game.

[Corral]

It is a slight concern that Gaudreau seems to be more himself on the international ice where the play is less physical. The book is out on him in the NHL and he will need to learn how to play thru the hacks and slashes and/or the Flames need to give him a linemate who will create space for him. The turnovers were because he didn't want to hold the puck.

[Enoch Root]

I agree that Gaudreau was turning the puck over too much this year. He needs to work on that.

Doesn't mean he's a crappy player, or that we should trade him. Just means that he needs to improve that aspect of his game.

[Robbob]

I don't know if it was just my personal observation, but to me it seemed he was still creating the same amount of opportunities. I think he just had a little less puck luck this season. I do agree that he seemed to have more space once Ferland was on the line, but even against the ducks I thought he had some decent chances.

He is still young and playoffs are a learning experience. Even McDavid had the same stat line as Gaudreau through the first 4 games against SJ. I'm not worried as I think the start of the season will be a smoother start with all the business put aside.

[GoJetsGo]

There's a difference between saying he needs to watch turning the puck over and calling him a "turnover machine".

As I said, it's not the fact there's deserved criticism. It's the example in that post of people who skew it and go off the deep end.

[Bunk]

I think linemates for him will be key.

I'm leaning more toward a Tkachuk-Monahan-Gaudreau line

With Bennett on Backlund's wing, with Frolik as the second line.

Tkachuk-Monahan-Gaudreau
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Jankowski-Ferland
4th line who cares

[IgiTang]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

There's a difference between saying he needs to watch turning the puck over and calling him a "turnover machine".

As I said, it's not the fact there's deserved criticism. It's the example in that post of people who skew it and go off the deep end.

Imagine his production had he not been a "turn-over machine".

Johnny turned over the puck a ton because he was rushing plays. It wasnt a matter of puck luck, the guy is about as precise as they come when passing.

With him knowing hes gonna get hacked to death, he tries to force a play early or to the wrong spot.. A bit of maturity may help his composure but I really think some players stepping up to handle the guys that are taking liberties on Johnny would go a long way.

I think another solution would be to be to try Bennett on that right side again. But Ferland was no slouch on the RW of that line last year.

Its a tough call with no clear solution.

[Weitz]

If you are the top forward in the NHL in turnovers and lowest in turnover differential I think that constitutes being called a "turn over machine".