[News] Pronman's top 10 Flames prospects

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by bax

You're not "bucking the trend". Don't get me wrong, Johnny has huge upside and I hope he becomes a star, but scouts have said Mcdavid is the best prospect since Crosby.

Not really fair to compare Gaudreau to Mcdavid in my opinion. Gaudreau is much older than him.

In all reality McDavid will be the better player however I don't think I am out of line when I group JG in with the elite prospects.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

I think Gretzky is a fair comparison to Gaudreau in terms of STYLE of play, but they are obviously nowhere close in terms of LEVEL of play.

Yeah, Gaudreau had 2.0 points per game in NCAA, giving him an NHLe of 60-something.

At the same age, Gretzky had already scored 300 points in the actual NHL, and then put up 2.7 points per game in the actual NHL, with 92 goals and 212 points in one NHL season. At the same age as Gaudreau is now.

Their style of play is very similar, and I think its fair to point that out. But you can't compare someone to Gretzky without emphasizing very strongly that the kid is not even on the same planet in terms of actual ability. Because he's not.

Not even close.

Its like saying your GF looks like Scarlet Johanssen. Even if she has the same hair, and a strong resemblance in facial features, if you dont mention thst she also weighs 200lbs, the comparison doesnt really hold any validity.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I think Gretzky is a fair comparison to Gaudreau in terms of STYLE of play, but they are obviously nowhere close in terms of LEVEL of play.

Yeah, Gaudreau had 2.0 points per game in NCAA, giving him an NHLe of 60-something.

At the same age, Gretzky had already scored 300 points in the actual NHL, put up 2.7 points per game in the actual NHL, with 96 goals and 212 points in one season.

Their style of play is very similar, and I think its fair to point that out. But you can't compare someone to Gretzky without emphasizing very strongly that the kid is not even on the same planet in terms of actual ability. Because he's not.

Not even close.

Its like saying your GF looks like Scarlet Johanssen. If you dont mention thst she also weighs 200lbs, the comparison doesnt really hold any validity.

I don't think anybody is calling JG the next Gretzky, they just see the game the same way. That and you can't compare anyhow because the game has changed dramatically. Does anybody honestly believe Gretzky would put up those kind of points in todays NHL? Personally for me when I watch JG play I see a more skilled Paul Kariya.

[bax]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

In all reality McDavid will be the better player however I don't think I am out of line when I group JG in with the elite prospects.

To each their own I suppose, I just think your expectations are a little heavy for JG and may set you up for disappointment

[Poe969]

I see about 3000 goals and 6000 points from JG's career.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I see about 3000 goals and 6000 points from JG's career.

Wow, can't wait to read the thread later and laugh at how little faith you had in him.
Can't believe you'd sell him that short.

10000 points or bust.

[Enoch Root]

As BAKCHECK said, you can compare style without suggesting that the level is the same.

No one is suggesting that Gaudreau will be comparable to Gretzky in level (I hope), but I have seen Gaudreau a lot, and for me, the closest comparable in style is Gretzky.

I hate even saying it, and I have avoided saying it as much as possible, but honestly when I watch him, that is who he reminds me of.

In thinking back, another player who had some comparisons to Gretzky in the way he played was Dale Hawerchuk.

And now that I think about it, in some ways (elusiveness and vision), Hawerchuk is a pretty good comparison for Gaudreau.

I have also always thought that Datsyuk is a good comparable as well, especially with respect to making amazing plays and an ability to steal pucks.

So after giving it more thought, I think I am comfortable saying that I think (style-wise) that Gaudreau is some sort of a combination of Hawerchuk and Datsyuk.

(that way I don't have to mention Him, because yeah, any comparisons to Him are only going to get laughed at)

By the way... Hawerchuk was also pretty small (especially at 18) and the league was down right nasty in 1980. But he was fine leading the Jets as an 18 year old because - like Gaudreau - he was slipperier than an otter covered in baby oil, and he knew how to win puck battles while avoiding danger (something Baertschi needs to learn). For the same reasons, I am not too worried about Gaudreau.

[Poe969]

lol. I think now we can say it's reached "oiler-esque" levels.

Johnny Hockey is a really good prospect, he's played one game and scored one goal. I'm excited as hell to see him play more in the NHL but I'm not going to expect him to be the best player to ever play for us. It's going to be fun but I'm not going to bet the farm on him being anything spectacular although it would be nice if he did become something spectacular.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I'm excited as hell to see him play more in the NHL but I'm not going to expect him to be the best player to ever play for us.

I'm pretty sure nobody has ever said he would be. Yes, some of us have high hopes (not expectations), but I don't think anyone here is expecting him to be the messiah.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I think Gretzky is a fair comparison to Gaudreau in terms of STYLE of play, but they are obviously nowhere close in terms of LEVEL of play.

Yeah, Gaudreau had 2.0 points per game in NCAA, giving him an NHLe of 60-something.

At the same age, Gretzky had already scored 300 points in the actual NHL, and then put up 2.7 points per game in the actual NHL, with 96 goals and 212 points in one NHL season. At the same age as Gaudreau is now.

Their style of play is very similar, and I think its fair to point that out. But you can't compare someone to Gretzky without emphasizing very strongly that the kid is not even on the same planet in terms of actual ability. Because he's not.

Not even close.

Its like saying your GF looks like Scarlet Johanssen. Even if she has the same hair, and a strong resemblance in facial features, if you dont mention thst she also weighs 200lbs, the comparison doesnt really hold any validity.

Big Gretzky fan here so it was actually "only" 92 goals.

[Steve Bozek]

How about comparing his upside to a Kent Nillson with heart.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Well Gaudreau just turned 21 and only has one NHL game on his belt. Bust.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Can't we all be exicted about Gaudreau without being ridiculous and comparing him to all-time legends?

Context is important. The Gretzky comparisons largely come from that fact that if you physically created the world's best player - you wouldn't end up with Gretzky. You probably would end up with Mario. Size, speed, frame, reach, wheels, etc. He had it all

Gretzky didn't have a lot of those elite physical attributes. What he had though was off the chart hockey sense - including the ability to somehow not get hit. Similar to Johnny that was something that people were concerned about when it came to 99. It helped he had monsters like Dave Brown and Semeko watching out for him - in an era where they could actually intimidate.

Anyways, any comparisons to the Great One are dangerous. But there is something similar with Johnny when it comes to his hockey sense giving him a chance to succeed beyond what his physical limitations would dictate.

So if you try to understand the comparisons there is something there.

Or you could just dismiss it without much actual thought.

[Freddy]

In addition to the Art Ross, the Hart, the Selke, and the Conn Smythe; if Johnny Hockey doesn't also add at least one Vezina I'll be disappointed.

[Poe969]

How many shifts on D will he have to play before he's considered for the Norris as well? I mean when he becomes the quarterback of our PP will that be good enough?

[codynw]

If Johnny doesn't win the Jack Adams this year, I'll be pissed.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Poe969

lol. I think now we can say it's reached "oiler-esque" levels.

Johnny Hockey is a really good prospect, he's played one game and scored one goal. I'm excited as hell to see him play more in the NHL but I'm not going to expect him to be the best player to ever play for us. It's going to be fun but I'm not going to bet the farm on him being anything spectacular although it would be nice if he did become something spectacular.

He will be spectacular, because he is. He is not going to lose his spectacular skills. The only question in my mind is whether he will survive

[Poe969]

You're right, he won't lose his spectacular skill but will it translate to the NHL? It did for one game but will it flourish or not? If it doesn't increase then he may not pan out as he'll be playing against men who will soon learn how to play him. He's not only going to have to stay as good as he is but he's going to have to adapt his game to play against the best players in the world.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

I think Gretzky is a fair comparison to Gaudreau in terms of STYLE of play, but they are obviously nowhere close in terms of LEVEL of play.

Yeah, Gaudreau had 2.0 points per game in NCAA, giving him an NHLe of 60-something.

At the same age, Gretzky had already scored 300 points in the actual NHL, and then put up 2.7 points per game in the actual NHL, with 96 goals and 212 points in one NHL season. At the same age as Gaudreau is now.

Their style of play is very similar, and I think its fair to point that out. But you can't compare someone to Gretzky without emphasizing very strongly that the kid is not even on the same planet in terms of actual ability. Because he's not.

Not even close.

Its like saying your GF looks like Scarlet Johanssen. Even if she has the same hair, and a strong resemblance in facial features, if you dont mention thst she also weighs 200lbs, the comparison doesnt really hold any validity.

I don't think anyone here is putting them on the same level, so I think you can chill. We all know what 99 did.

It's a comparison of playing style. Which I agree with.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Context is important. The Gretzky comparisons largely come from that fact that if you physically created the world's best player - you wouldn't end up with Gretzky. You probably would end up with Mario. Size, speed, frame, reach, wheels, etc. He had it all

Gretzky didn't have a lot of those elite physical attributes. What he had though was off the chart hockey sense - including the ability to somehow not get hit. Similar to Johnny that was something that people were concerned about when it came to 99. It helped he had monsters like Dave Brown and Semeko watching out for him - in an era where they could actually intimidate.

Anyways, any comparisons to the Great One are dangerous. But there is something similar with Johnny when it comes to his hockey sense giving him a chance to succeed beyond what his physical limitations would dictate.

So if you try to understand the comparisons there is something there.

Or you could just dismiss it without much actual thought.

Excellent points! With Mario, you knew what he was going to do but he did it anyway because...he was Mario and you couldn't stop him. Gretzky froze teams with his creativity: you never knew what he was going to do next, just that he was going to burn you. Johnny has SOME of that creativity, in addition to great puck skills, which is why we are so excited about him.