Gaudreau Progress / Development

[Bezer]

I keep him up the whole year even if he has to sit a game or two. Just let him figure it out, which he will.

[btimbit]

Reminded a bit of Backlund last year. Slow start, not getting the ice time, explodes.

I'm not worried. Even if he ends up in the AHL that's not the worst thing that could happen.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Life as a Flames prospect

#1. Unrealistic expectations

#2. Being labeled a bust when there is a failure to meet said unrealistic expectations.

[chubeyr1]

Easy to hate on Johnnys production so far.

Is he finding his game? Nope! Are many flames finding their games? Nope!

The kid needs to play with skilled players. I watch so many shifts as the team dumps the puck in when they could pass and carry it into the zone.

Colborne and Raymond seem like horrible linemates for him.

As much as I think he deserves to be on the flames, I think the AHL might serve him well for a year. Nothing against Johnny. WE need to clear out a lot of players, we are gonna suck bad this year.

Still I would like to see him paired with Monahan and Hudler. I would like to see the kid get a lot of pp minutes. We are gonna shelter him though, and stagnate him.

Never the less, Johnny belongs in the league.

[burn_this_city]

Lock this thread if he scores the shootout winner?

[FBI]

Yeah I tried the reverse jinx but it didn't work.

Obviously and it should be clear from my first post that I'm not calling him a bust.

Just trying to get some useful conversation going.

[Stay Golden]

In Johnny we trust. If he can get the ice time he will work through this. Its way too early right now Johnny is buried in the roster. Hartley should give him the occassional 2nd line and see the difference of results.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

In Johnny we trust. If he can get the ice time he will work through this. Its way too early right now Johnny is buried in the roster. Hartley should give him the occassional 2nd line and see the difference of results.

He's doing a lot of the little things right away from the puck. I think Hartley is treating him similar to Monahan last year. Start slow and give him manageable tasks and minutes and allow him to get acclimatized. Being on the road for 6 of the first 7 doesn't help either - especially when the plan is to give him favorable minutes this season (like Monahan got last year).

[CaptainCrunch]

Game 4 Time to Crush.

[Camronius]

So hows about that Backlund kid? He looked pretty lights out today.

[Icon]

I'm torn on whether or not to drop him from my fantasy league

[stemit14]

I'm not ready to panic at all yet... It's very early and he hasn't been used to maximize his potential yet. I'm sure he'll get his game going on this road trip at some point.

It's a similar situation to baertschi as last year believe it or not... Over-compensating for the defensive game that Hartley stresses for the young guys.

Watch the games closely and you'll find gaudreau is consistently down low in his own zone helping out the defence and is also the guy deep on the forecheck in the offensive zone applying pressure up ice when the other team has possession and is preparing to breakout. These are good things for him to be doing but they also mean he is rarely the guy getting the puck in the neutral zone with any kind of speed... A position where gaudreau's skills can be deadly. Even watch the last few games how often it is Raymond or colbourne skating it through the neutral zone while Johnny is catching up to the play.

Also, he has been doing a lot of what baertschi did last year when he gets the puck along the boards in his own zone... Simple chip plays just to get it out. He is doing well defensively and we have all heard the same comments from management and the coaching staff that he's got amazing skill and just needs to develop his defensive play. Seems like he is doing what the coaching staff stressed but is almost taking it so far that it is making him hesitate to use his skills. The same thing we saw with baertschi.

Not trying to be too critical of him or the coaching staff. I think it's great that the young guys are forced to learn defensive play... It's just frustrating when we keep seeing these young players lose touch with their confidence because of this. He and baertschi were both used more and more sparingly since their defensive game brought nothing more than the 4th liners and their offensive game was compromised because the criticisms of their defensive game.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think if he is still struggling after 10 games, he should go to the AHL.

I am sure he will get there eventually, but he might just need some confidence and the AHL is a good place to get that.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by FBI

Yes I know it's only been 4 games..

He is looking timid and tentative, what do you think might help improve his play?

Firstly I'm not sure why Hartley isn't giving him any PP time.. Gaudreau thrives on this so if the kid is going to be up, it seems like a waste and probably takes his confidence down a notch.

Second, why the hell are we using the dump and chase method when Gaudreau is on the ice, it hardly ever works and that is not his game whatsoever. He needs to carry the puck and make some nice plays..

I'm a little confused on what is going on here. Does he need to go down to Addy to get some confidence back? He has been hit a few times, is he being intimidated out there?

I am super excited about this kid but bummed about how things have been going so far. Suggestions for him to improve?

Not sure exactly what the problem is, but whatever it is, one can be sure that it is Hartley's fault and he is not using him correctly or playing with the right players or right situation. Or.....or, if it's not that it's most definitely something Burke said to him in the hall.

But what we can be sure of is that it absolutely has nothing to do with the fact that he's 160lbs rookie who is only on his 5th NHL start and is still getting used to the pace of play and developing his NHL game. For sure it's not that, but likely our idiot coach and GM and Prsident's fault....... For sure.

[Rerun]

Absolutely zero chemistry with Joe and Mason. I just don't think Johnny is feeling the love. Time to find Johnny a couple of new girlfriends.

[jg13]

Game 4. Ice time being sheltered. Hasn't looked bad. Not worried.

One thing I hope to see more of is using him on 4 on 4 and on the PP when he has some more space to create. Not only is he lethal when he has space but it should build confidence as he adjusts to NHL game.

[RedMileDJ]

Why does this thread exist? It's been 4 games.

...start worrying after the next one...

[Huntingwhale]

The real problem with Gaudreau is the expectations people have of him. Yes he is a special talent. Yes he has star potential. But he's also an undersized rookie who is going to have an adjustment period while getting used to the NHL game.

[dino7c]

he did some nice things out there tonight...points will come

its not he's getting eaten alive in his own end like an Oilers 1st rounder

[djsFlames]

#### this thread. Completely idiotic. 4 games, half of which he played through sick. Didn't see tonight but last game he was one of the better players out there. Consistently making the right and smart plays.

Come back to me in a couple weeks when you might actually have grounds to make such a claim...