World Championship Thread

[Ulrith]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

US has been putting shots on net, but they're mostly shots from the outside that Vaselevsky (sp?) isn't having any trouble with. On top of that the Russian D has been brutally efficient at clearing the front of the net. It's a war zone around that goalie crease.

Makes sense, thanks. Not bad for an almost entirely KHL defense

[BlueCharlton]

The US obviously struggled today. The whole team seemed to be fighting it a little bit. The goaltending was average, a lot of the goals scored against the US were high quality chances, but it would have helped if the goalies could have made a big save along the way. The powerplay was a problem for the US today. Outside of zone time and a few chances they were pretty dismal on the powerplay.

As far as Gaudreau goes, he also was fighting it a bit today as well. You can tell he has skill, when he had the puck on the powerplay he was very dynamic and often did create good chances. One thing I have noticed is that he excels at carrying the puck in and letting the team set up. He can draw the defenders back and create space allowing his team mates to get open. I don't think I saw the team fail at getting set up in the zone when he carried the puck in.

Outside of the powerplay he didn't really do much. Neither did anyone. As stated, they had a lot of perimeter shots but the team failed to generate high quality scoring chances. Everyone including Gaudreau lost a lot of puck battles, which is one of the many reasons why the US struggled to generate good chances.

If anything, I think this serves to help temper our expectations of Gaudreau. He will have to get bigger, faster and stronger in order to fully utilize his skill at the NHL level. I still think he will make the team next year, and I think he will put up points, especially if he plays on the powerplay. But if he is to be successful, especially in 5v5 situations, he has a bit of work to do.

[Table 5]

The US team definitely showed their age today. It looked like men against boys out there for most of the game.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I don't think we were watching the same game then. Gaudreau was most definitely the best American player today. I saw him make 2 noticeable mistakes the entire game (one of which he hustled back to break up). Other then that he was making plays all game. He setup 3 scoring chances that all would of gone in if say a finisher like Monahan was receiving them. It's easy to see why he consistently puts up points just about every game.

This game did nothing to temper my expectations. Gaudreau is the next Pat Kane, Monahan is his Toews and Poirier will be their Pat Sharp.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

This game did nothing to temper my expectations. Gaudreau is the next Pat Kane, Monahan is his Toews and Poirier will be their Pat Sharp.

Ha ha....oh man...if only.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I sure as hell hope you're right.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Igster

Ha ha....oh man...if only.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I sure as hell hope you're right.

I had Poirier pegged as our Matt Duchene over Sharp, but yeah. Similar hopes.

[dino7c]

have to mute the TV with the dumb asses and their whistling...he knocked out a guys teeth and that guy is bleeding all over the ice, its 5 mins check the rule book

[BlueCharlton]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I don't think we were watching the same game then. Gaudreau was most definitely the best American player today. I saw him make 2 noticeable mistakes the entire game (one of which he hustled back to break up). Other then that he was making plays all game. He setup 3 scoring chances that all would of gone in if say a finisher like Monahan was receiving them. It's easy to see why he consistently puts up points just about every game.

This game did nothing to temper my expectations. Gaudreau is the next Pat Kane, Monahan is his Toews and Poirier will be their Pat Sharp.

We were watching the same game, except I wasn't doing it through beer glasses

He was very good on the PP, and those chances he created were probably on the PP. For the most part, he didn't do anything spectacular 5 on 5. The goal he was on for was mainly created by Abdelkader. He was the first on the puck, but if Abdelkader didn't come in and lay a hard hit to get the puck that's probably a dead play.

I hope he turns into a Kane type player, but realistically I think that is his ceiling. I hope I am wrong, but Gaudreau hasn't done anything at the NHL level to show he IS the next Kane.

[polak]

Originally Posted by BlueCharlton

but Gaudreau hasn't done anything at the NHL level to show he IS the next Kane.

Really?
After that one game he played in the NHL this season I had him pegged in the Gretzky area.

[Hackey]

Kane was drafted first overall for a reason. It's no fluke he is the player he is. Gaudreau still has a lot to prove.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Kane was drafted first overall for a reason. It's no fluke he is the player he is. Gaudreau still has a lot to prove.

I think Gaudreau might have a chance at becoming a smaller Jordan Eberle.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Kane was drafted first overall for a reason. It's no fluke he is the player he is. Gaudreau still has a lot to prove.

Kane has two cups, a Conn Smythe, PPG player.

If Gaudreau turns into that I'll be amazed, but I'm not getting my hopes up that far

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think Gaudreau might have a chance at becoming a smaller Jordan Eberle.

So our TDPG will go up?

[Tailgator]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think Gaudreau might have a chance at becoming a smaller Jordan Eberle.

That's harsh. What'd Johnny ever do to you?

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by BlueCharlton

We were watching the same game, except I wasn't doing it through beer glasses

He was very good on the PP, and those chances he created were probably on the PP. For the most part, he didn't do anything spectacular 5 on 5. The goal he was on for was mainly created by Abdelkader. He was the first on the puck, but if Abdelkader didn't come in and lay a hard hit to get the puck that's probably a dead play.

It seems like you're the one that needs to adjust his exceptions. He's not going to dominate in every game he's ever in. Who would think that? That entire US team was under siege the entire game.

As for his play away from the PP, I disagree. I saw him chase down opposing players on the back check several times at even strength. That stood out as it was play away from the puck. All in all, while he didn't stand out the way he does when he's putting up multiple points, he still showed flashes of brilliance and was solid in a game his team was completely out-played in.

Originally Posted by BlueCharlton

I hope he turns into a Kane type player, but realistically I think that is his ceiling. I hope I am wrong, but Gaudreau hasn't done anything at the NHL level to show he IS the next Kane.

This should really go without saying, but there are very few who are speaking literally with the Kane comparisons. The fact some people feel the need to state the blatantly obvious is beyond me. Really? He's not automatically a con smythe and 2 time cup winner? Thanks tips. The comparisons to Kane are largely stylelistic. They play similar games and Gaudreau, if successful in the big show, will be of that style of player. To suggest he's Kane's equal at this point (or projects that way) is so outrageous it should really shouldn't even need to be explained.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think Gaudreau might have a chance at becoming a smaller Jordan Eberle.

lol...

Oiler fans.

[sketchyt]

I spoke with a couple college/former ECHL'ers after Gaudreau's game against Vancouver (I heard they're no good).

Always interesting to hear the perspective of guys who played at high levels. Anyways, their take was that he had an impressive game but won't be able to take 82 games of contact. They pointed specifically to him getting taken down chasing after the puck with Yannick Weber, said that was a far more dangerous play than it seemed and only a small and inexperienced guy like Gaudreau would get knocked down like that.

A full year in the AHL with some call-up time would probably do him good.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I think Gaudreau might have a chance at becoming a smaller Jordan Eberle.

If he had a terrible work ethic I'd agree with you.

[Cole436]

I don't want us to RNH Johnny.
He may have the skills to play in the NHL, but if he's not physically capable of it yet maybe a year in the AHL wouldn't be the worst thing.

[VladtheImpaler]

I will be thrilled if JG turns out as good as Huselius. Mind you, I was biggest Juice fan on CP, so that would be a good thing in my eyes.