Gaudreau Progress / Development

[Erick Estrada]

Flames are unexpectedly 3-2 so far so quite frankly why does it matter to so many how Gaudreau is being used? Sure it would be nice if he had a few goals/assists but team success matters more than individual success as this thread is a little too much "Oiler fan" for me worrying about individual points/performance when the team is performing well.

[PeteMoss]

Through five games, the Flames have been dominated in possession in four of them.

Pretty hard to get points when the team never has the puck.

In the rare situations when he's on the ice and they have possession deep he makes some decent plays and generates chances. If/When the Flames have the puck more, he'll start producing.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Wha? Where was I lumping all posters? I was talking about some very specific posters. I fully understand the wide spectrum of viewpoints here, weird takedown attempt.

Question, do you find no problem with people comparing Gaudreau to Gretzky or Kariya? My point was that talk like that unfairly builds expectations on a player who's clearly going to need seasoning.

I have absolutely no problems with the comparisons to Gretzky and Kariya whatsoever. In fact, I have been one of the posters making them.

And I'll say it again: I have watched him play a lot over the last 3+ years and his playing style reminds me more of Gretzky than anyone else I have seen since the Great One played. That doesn't mean that I think he will be as good as Gretzky, it simply means he plays a similar game and does similar things (like changing direction in a phone booth and being able to find and pass it to a team-mate 60 ft away, seemingly with eyes in the back of his head).

Does that mean I have unrealistic expectations of him? No. I have been watching rookies in this league since Bobby Orr. I am pretty familiar with how it usually shakes out.

More to you post, do I think my comments will result in higher expectations from other posters? Again no. My expectations are that - as with pretty much every rookie - that there will be fans (and this is true for every team) that have wildly unrealistic expectations, whether other posters make comparisons to Gretzky (or whomever) or not.

Fans seem to over-rate kids and under-rate vets. It happens over and over. And my (or anyone else) comparing Gaudreau (or anyone else) to Gretzky (or anyone else) will change that not at all.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

The entire overtime last night was 4 on 4. he didn't play a single second. Isn't it in the teams best interest to expose him to situations in which he's likely to succeed?

Lets just say they put him in on 4 on 4 and the other team scored. Would that hurt his confidence? Maybe maybe not. Lots of time, we just have to trust the coaches have a time table for giving Johnny more responsibilities.

[Vulcan]

I think Johnny's progressing just fine. I'm surprised how he hangs in there when battling and checking some big opponents. As for those suggesting he play with Backlund, yeah he'd score more but he isn't ready for first line duty playing against the best forwards in the NHL. He's got a big strong centre able to make some room and a decent vet on the other wing. If it was Darryl coaching he'd probably be on the 4th line like Lomabardi and Kobasew were when they broke in.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

The entire overtime last night was 4 on 4. he didn't play a single second. Isn't it in the teams best interest to expose him to situations in which he's likely to succeed?

Understand what you're saying but I disagree with you.

The point is to give Johnny time to figure out how he has to play 5 on 5 in the NHL. Giving him time playing 4 on 4 doesn't address that learning process; 4 on 4 very different than 5 on 5. Teaching him to succeed in 4 on 4 won't necessarily transfer to the situations wherein the game is mostly played.

I think he's doing just fine. Tenacious on the puck when chasing, and he's definitely figuring out where he can and can't get space and time. In the first 3 games you could definitely see him flipping quick, premature passes as he was worried about pressure and/or overly aware of not holding the puck too long. His passes in Chicago were much better than the previous games, and I could see that he's taking that extra split second to make incrementally better passes.

I say stay the course.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Through five games, the Flames have been dominated in possession in four of them.

Pretty hard to get points when the team never has the puck.

In the rare situations when he's on the ice and they have possession deep he makes some decent plays and generates chances. If/When the Flames have the puck more, he'll start producing.

Noticed this.

I saw Gaudreau's line cycling the puck in the offensive zone ONCE in the entire chicago game. I mean they had a couple rushes up ice and he made the one nice move, but I've rarely even seen his line able to maintain the cycle for a full shift. I partly blame his linemates and the D for not being able to hold the zone for any sustained period but we've barely been able to see Johnny do things in the offensive zone because it seems to be a one and done deal with his line. They'll make a rush, but then the play instantly moves back the other way. That's why I hate that he's with Colborne and Raymond, who can't seem to cycle effectively. Also Colborne has (despite his assist total) become a bit of a puck hog when in the opposition's end. I've seen Johnny try to feed him many times, but rarely does Colborne seem to actually look for Johnny out there.

Really frustrating situation as a fan but if he can break through and start to make things happen in a tough situation like this, then he should be much better for it as a player.

[Volica]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Through five games, the Flames have been dominated in possession in four of them.

Pretty hard to get points when the team never has the puck.

In the rare situations when he's on the ice and they have possession deep he makes some decent plays and generates chances. If/When the Flames have the puck more, he'll start producing.

Is it just me or does it feel like Toronto 2013-2014 2.0.
The winning seems unsustainable; they've only carried the game against the Oilers... the rest of the games it's been pretty one-sided possession wise.

This kid thrives with the puck, you can tell, the problem is, he rarely has the puck when pretty much every Calgary line is just dumping the puck to get a quick change after each assault.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by monkeyman

The entire overtime last night was 4 on 4. he didn't play a single second. Isn't it in the teams best interest to expose him to situations in which he's likely to succeed?

Their best interest is to win the game. Which they did.

[saillias]

Yeah Colborne is tied for team lead in points right now, all assists so not sure how much better Johnny can do for line mates. We want to make excuses for him, but really I'm not sure he's adapting to the NHL pace/size right now. I mean, that 0 doesnt lie. He isn't scoring or making other guys score.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Volica

Is it just me or does it feel like Toronto 2013-2014 2.0.
The winning seems unsustainable; they've only carried the game against the Oilers... the rest of the games it's been pretty one-sided possession wise.

This kid thrives with the puck, you can tell, the problem is, he rarely has the puck when pretty much every Calgary line is just dumping the puck to get a quick change after each assault.

Hey, I hate the Oilers as much as anybody, however, by no means did the Flames carry the game against the Oilers.

Bottom line is the Flames record at this point is more than flattering, IMO.

Gaudreau has shown very little. Tough jump for him.

[Volica]

Originally Posted by timbit

Hey, I hate the Oilers as much as anybody, however, by no means did the Flames carry the game against the Oilers.

Know what, thinking back, you are absolutely right. I think I just thought of that score and was like 'we did it boys'.
Weren't the first two Calgary goals complete breakdowns on the Edmonton end, and Ramo had +40 shots.

Absolutely right. My bad.

[shogged]

I agree with the posters suggesting this is more about easing jg into an 82 game season then it is about performance. Add in the flu that he faced early on (along with half the team) and the slow start begins to make more sense, at least in my eyes. I still haven't forgotten the feeling of watching him play in the young stars and pre season games where he had you on the edge of your seat everytime he touched the puck. Tons of hockey left for him to find his groove.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Volica

Is it just me or does it feel like Toronto 2013-2014 2.0.
The winning seems unsustainable; they've only carried the game against the Oilers... the rest of the games it's been pretty one-sided possession wise.

This kid thrives with the puck, you can tell, the problem is, he rarely has the puck when pretty much every Calgary line is just dumping the puck to get a quick change after each assault.

Its unsustainable, but I don't think anyone is tricking themselves into thinking this is a good team.

They've also played a touch schedule. You'd expect them to play even with Vancouver at home and Edmonton anywhere, but road games against St.Louis and Chicago are not going to be kind to even the better teams in the league let alone the Flames.

Schedule eases up now for a while - Colubmus/Winnipeg on the road and then a five game home stand against a bunch of Eastern teams and Nashville.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Volica

Is it just me or does it feel like Toronto 2013-2014 2.0.
The winning seems unsustainable; they've only carried the game against the Oilers... the rest of the games it's been pretty one-sided possession wise.

Nobody is thinking that getting outshot and out-possessed to the extent that we have been is sustainable. The consensus is definitely that we are getting lucky and also have had great goaltending.

I would also point out that we didn't even carry the game against the Oilers....just the third when they got totally deflated and their fans turned against them. EDIT: I see that this has been pointed out already.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I wish the Flames would send him to the AHL for some playing time. Hartley doesn't trust him, so send him down and give Addy some help.

[sureLoss]

Gaudreau sitting tonight per Millions

[heep223]

Originally Posted by New Era

I wish the Flames would send him to the AHL for some playing time. Hartley doesn't trust him, so send him down and give Addy some help.

You might get your wish, looks like he's not on the PP at morning skate. Not to jump to conclusions but this could be a hint...

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Gaudreau sitting tonight per Millions

Sometimes that's good for a young guy to watch from the top and see the play develop easier.

[BChockeyJunkie]

The fact that some people on CP judge a player on point totals is beyond me.

He has not been put in a role to produce.
-His line mates
-His Ice time
-His Backchecking

I totally understand bringing him in slow and not putting alot of pressure on him early But what I don't understand is why do they play him with his current line? AND HOW DO YOU KEEP HIM OFF THE ICE IN OT 4v4......??? What? 2 games in a row?!?!?!?

I think he is a B+ so far, and with more chances given by the management the more "numbers" you will see.