John Frickin Gaudreau!

[badger89]

Originally Posted by saXon

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/03/29...stay-in-school

Eric Francis with an opinion most Flames fans don't want to hear.

Nothing to see here. Francis is just trolling again.

[Enoch Root]

Pretty simple really...

How can Francis get the most readers and the most discussion about his article?

Say something stupid and controversial. Nothing to see here.

[sureLoss]

Mike McMahon @MikeMcMahonCHN
Johnny Gaudrean has been named NE Player of the Year by the New England Hockey Writers

Mike McMahon @MikeMcMahonCHN
Gaudreau won the Leonard Fowle Award (MVP) and Herb Gallagher Award (Best Forward)

[Imported_Aussie]

Yeah, once he wins the Hobey Baker, there is nothing more he could really aspire to on an individual level. And if he is this dominant in leading his team into the Frozen Four, and hopefully to a title, then there is nothing left at the college level in terms of on ice achievement remaining. He could spend time in the gym bulking up, or he could finish his degree, but those are things he can do over a longer period of time as a pro.
And on the bulking up - it would be good to see how his game transitions to the pro level before he undertakes any more physical transformations - being more of an elusive player with vision, he doesn't want to bulk up in a way that inhibits his movement on the ice

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Yeah, once he wins the Hobey Baker, there is nothing more he could really aspire to on an individual level. And if he is this dominant in leading his team into the Frozen Four, and hopefully to a title, then there is nothing left at the college level in terms of on ice achievement remaining. He could spend time in the gym bulking up, or he could finish his degree, but those are things he can do over a longer period of time as a pro.
And on the bulking up - it would be good to see how his game transitions to the pro level before he undertakes any more physical transformations - being more of an elusive player with vision, he doesn't want to bulk up in a way that inhibits his movement on the ice

There isn't anyway.

He just put up the most productive season in the NCAA in more than a decade (closer to two).

His two line-mates are both moving on, meaning he would spend next year playing with a couple newbs

In all likelihood, the team won't be anywhere near as good and his situation will not be as good.

That is a breeding-ground for bad habits to creep into his game

It is a pretty clear and undisputed fact that young players need to be challenged in order to keep improving. Returning to BC entails a high degree of risk that he would have a wasted season, or even a regression.

I would think he will hear similar comments from his agent

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

In all likelihood, the team won't be anywhere near as good and his situation will not be as good.

They'd still be pretty damn good...

I mean in this scenario they'd be losing Hayes, Arnold, and Brown (among other less important parts) but they'd still (presumably) have their second tier of offenive talent + McCoshen/Santini/Demko + a returning Gaudreau + incoming freshmen Tuch/Milano/Sanford.

... that looks like a pretty strong team even if Gaudreau leaves.

[GoodUncle]

LOL!!! That would have been wicked funny!!!

Originally Posted by fotze

After he signed your jersey, you should have pulled out a contract from under it and said "HA HA, I'm Brian Burkes assistant and you just signed with the Flames!!!"

[Lanny_McDonald]

The awards keep piling up. Gaudreau was named to the New England Div-I All Star team, along with Hayes, by the New England Sports Writers Association. Gaudreau was also named the winner of the Herb Gallagher Award as best forward and the Leonard Fowle Award for most valuable player. Johnny Hockey won both in 2013 as well. The last player to win both awards in back-to-back seasons was Chris Drury.

[GoodUncle]

Not to mention Fitzgerald, Cangelosi, Calnan, Matheson, AND #21 MATTHEW GAUDREAU. There's some real talent there.

Originally Posted by Parallex

They'd still be pretty damn good...

I mean in this scenario they'd be losing Hayes, Arnold, and Brown (among other less important parts) but they'd still (presumably) have their second tier of offenive talent + McCoshen/Santini/Demko + a returning Gaudreau + incoming freshmen Tuch/Milano/Sanford.

... that looks like a pretty strong team even if Gaudreau leaves.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

In all likelihood, the team won't be anywhere near as good and his situation will not be as good.

Actually this season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Eagles. They played 8 or 9 freshmen on a regular basis this year. 5 of their 6 regular defenseman are freshmen or sophomores and their starting goaltender is still in his draft year.

The Eagles may not be as good offensively next year, but with the additional experience and development on the back end they could be a better team overall.

[dammage79]

Just read a tweet saying his Dad would be more comfortable signing if Feaster was still gm.... This is getting a little too TMZ for me now. Hope he still signs but the family quotes are getting weird.

[dammage79]

@noahlove definitely a debate within the household. Father told @davegisaac he's be more comfortable if Feaster, who drafted Johnny, was GM.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Actually this season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Eagles. They played 8 or 9 freshmen on a regular basis this year. 5 of their 6 regular defenseman are freshmen or sophomores and their starting goaltender is still in his draft year.

The Eagles may not be as good offensively next year, but with the additional experience and development on the back end they could be a better team overall.

BC will always be solid, that's not the point.

Gaudreau was on the best line in the NCAA by quite a bit. He played with 2 seniors who were not only drafted, but both look to have a real shot at the NHL. They were both physically dominant as well.

It is fun being on top of the mountain.

If he goes back, his line-mates will be nowhere near what he had this year - regardless of how good the team is.

He will be in a position where he is constantly compared to the season before. And it is simply not possible to do much better than this year was. You only get so much ice-time and the line is only going to be so good, regardless of how dominant JG is.

My point is this: there is no way that the situation can be better for him, hockey-wise, than it was this year. No way. And it would almost certainly be worse.

That is a situation ripe for regression, or at least no growth.

Sure there are other factors like finishing his degree and playing with his brother, but with respect to hockey, it would be a HUGE mistake to go back.

[automaton 3]

He has nothing left to prove in the NCAA. He has an NHL contract waiting for him with a team where he will get a shot. He would be remiss not to take this opportunity and run with it.

He can finish his degree anytime.

[thymebalm]

I think the quotes from the parents are actually probably to help Johnny leverage the best contract he can out of the Flames?

These are just standard negotiation tactics that news-hungry hockey bloggers are taking to the exTreMeZ.

[FlamingLonghorn]

I hope he goes pro and signs an ATO with the Heat as I have tickets to the Abbotsford game in Austin on the 19th. If he does I might try and go to San Antonio the previous 2 nights as well.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

There isn't anyway.

He just put up the most productive season in the NCAA in more than a decade (closer to two).

His two line-mates are both moving on, meaning he would spend next year playing with a couple newbs

In all likelihood, the team won't be anywhere near as good and his situation will not be as good.

That is a breeding-ground for bad habits to creep into his game

It is a pretty clear and undisputed fact that young players need to be challenged in order to keep improving. Returning to BC entails a high degree of risk that he would have a wasted season, or even a regression.

I would think he will hear similar comments from his agent

Not disagreeing with you about Johnny's situation, but BC plays so many freshman right now (They are the youngest division 1 team in the NCAA) including Demko (The youngest player on the team) that I have little doubt they will be nearly as good as this team is. They'll be different, but they will be good. No doubt they will be a top 5 team next year.

[DT77]

A few days old now, so I apologize if it's been posted. Opinion piece re: Gaudreau being a unanimous choice for the Hobey Baker:

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/new...d_thoughts.php

"On film it's great [to think you know what he's going to do] but live it's like the first time I played against Mario Lemieux," he said just minutes after seeing Gaudreau post a 3-3-6 line against Sam Brittain. "It's like, 'Why don't people go pressure him?' Then you get out on the ice against him and everything's moving except the puck, and you're buckled. That's what happens when you play creative players."

Video at the end of his third goal of a hat-trick vs. Denver.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

I think the quotes from the parents are actually probably to help Johnny leverage the best contract he can out of the Flames?

These are just standard negotiation tactics that news-hungry hockey bloggers are taking to the exTreMeZ.

How much negotiating needs to happen here?

Burke: Here's the rookie Max with all possible performance bonuses.

Gaudreau: *signs*

[868904]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

There isn't anyway.

He just put up the most productive season in the NCAA in more than a decade (closer to two).

His two line-mates are both moving on, meaning he would spend next year playing with a couple newbs

In all likelihood, the team won't be anywhere near as good and his situation will not be as good.

That is a breeding-ground for bad habits to creep into his game

It is a pretty clear and undisputed fact that young players need to be challenged in order to keep improving. Returning to BC entails a high degree of risk that he would have a wasted season, or even a regression.

I would think he will hear similar comments from his agent

Another thing, I think most agents or "family advisors" get paid when their players sign contracts, the agent probably does not want to risk having Gaudreau play his senior year and get injured or regress and miss out on a big commission or pay day.

You have to think the agent would be pushing for Johnny to go pro.