Will Gaudreau win the Calder?

[herashak]

Just like baertschi and monahan did?

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Dion

It will be interesting to see how he does when other teams start paying more attention to his play.

At some point teams are going to have someone checking him and how he deals with that will give us a better idea of just how good he can be.

They tried tonight. He baits dmen into the corner and then passes off when they try to check him. The harder they try to check him the more out of position they get.

Nashville tried to match Weber against him and we saw how that went. Johnny is a special talent that uses his size as an advantage. He makes the pass and pivots away from checks as the d are left looking one way and skating away from the puck

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think Johnny is done adjusting to the NHL.

I think the rest of the Flames need to adjust to Johnny now. They aren't used to seeing passes connect that accurately and that fast.

You are going to start seeing all the players just start shooting even if they don't have the puck the moment Gaudreau has the puck. 4 guys with constant shooting motions all over the ice, all the time, and it is up to Johnny to decide who he wants to score.

[SebC]

Yes. The first five games were an aberration.

[fanman]

Originally Posted by AcGold

They tried tonight. He baits dmen into the corner and then passes off when they try to check him. The harder they try to check him the more out of position they get.

Nashville tried to match Weber against him and we saw how that went. Johnny is a special talent that uses his size as an advantage. He makes the pass and pivots away from checks as the d are left looking one way and skating away from the puck

This. I was only able to catch the highlights of the last game in Montreal, but am still amazed at his agility. His ability to spin out of checks is unbelievable.

And if he's not spinning off of checks he's just blowing through people like they were Anton Volchenkov. He's going to take his lumps here and there but I'm no longer worried about his size being a disadvantage in the NHL.

Also, yes. He'll win the Calder. Twice for good measure.

[SHOGUN]

I think Drouin will win just by the fact that he is playing with Stamkos. Get Johnny an elite centre and he'll have no problems winning the Calder.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think Drouin will win just by the fact that he is playing with Stamkos. Get Johnny an elite centre and he'll have no problems winning the Calder.

He might not need one. While I have no doubt that Drouin will have an impressive season when all said and done, but Gaudreau now has a goal and five points in his last three games. Drouin has a goal, two assists, and is a minus-2 in his last five. Gaudreau is just getting started, and I'm not convinced that Drouin will be able to catch him even with Steven Stamkos to play with.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

... Gaudreau is just getting started...

^this
Gaudreau still very much finding his way.
Obviously, I guess all these young players are, but you have to think that when the game slows down just a tiny bit more for Gaudreau, it's going to be very scary.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Johnny is done adjusting to the NHL.

No where near this, imo, but finding his way very fast.
If you think he's done adjusting, I think you're in for a pleasant surprise.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

^this
Gaudreau still very much finding his way.
Obviously, I guess all these young players are, but you have to think that when the game slows down just a tiny bit more for Gaudreau, it's going to be very scary.

He is a clutch player.

· He was exceptional all game against the Canadiens in Calgary, right up to his near-shootout goal.
· He was great in the first period against Nashville, but then imposed his will on the game when the Flames were down by one and scored the game winning goal.
· He was one of the best players on the ice in the first period, and was instrumental in the Flames opening two goals in Montreal last night. When the outcome of the game became a matter of formality, it is no coincidence that he was a little less visible. It was also no coincidence that he was not as noticeable against the hapless Carolina Hurricanes.

As good as Gaudreau is, what makes him extra special is his "big game" accountability. He is making it count when it counts the most.

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

I think Drouin will win just by the fact that he is playing with Stamkos. Get Johnny an elite centre and he'll have no problems winning the Calder.

Drouin is playing on the third and fourth line to limit his ice time. He only played with Stamkos for a game or two. Tampa also has some really good secondary scoring with Kucherov/Palat/Johnson so Drouin may not get as many opportunities as someone like Gaudreau would have. Gaudreau also gets far more time on the powerplay than Drouin.

Granted all of this could change but at this point in time Gaudreau has a better chance...if winning the Calder is purely about scoring.

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

Drouin is playing on the third and fourth line to limit his ice time. He only played with Stamkos for a game or two. Tampa also has some really good secondary scoring with Kucherov/Palat/Johnson so Drouin may not get as many opportunities as someone like Gaudreau would have. Gaudreau also gets far more time on the powerplay than Drouin.

Granted all of this could change but at this point in time Gaudreau has a better chance...if winning the Calder is purely about scoring.

Yea, he's definitely been given the opportunity to succeed here. He's a rookie and quarterbacking our PP half the time. It's so hard to temper my excitement but last night every time he got the puck in the offensive zone I was mesmerized, such a rare gift.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think Johnny's only competition is Forsberg and Severson. Forsberg is Nashville's #1 forward (much like Johnny, they utilize a lot). Severson is playing phenomenal as a defenseman.

[RyZ]

Rediculously pre mature thread.

That being said, I'd love to see it, but since there are a whole lot of things stacked against I would go with NO if I were a betting man.

You are basically asking "Johhny vs the field" does Johnny win?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think Johnny's only competition is Forsberg and Severson. Forsberg is Nashville's #1 forward (much like Johnny, they utilize a lot). Severson is playing phenomenal as a defenseman.

If he can stick on the line with Carter and Toffoli all season, there's no way Pearson won't be in the conversation.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by codynw

If he can stick on the line with Carter and Toffoli all season, there's no way Pearson won't be in the conversation.

Yeah, there is Pearson too. But will they not give it to him due to the fact that he played for quite a bit last year?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Yeah, there is Pearson too. But will they not give it to him due to the fact that he played for quite a bit last year?

He was really close to playing too many games, but he's still Calder eligible.

[Since1984]

Also, Johnny leads the league in takeaways. Very impressive for a first year "tiny" player.

Hard to temper expectations right now but I think we have struck gold.

[terminator]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Johnny is done adjusting to the NHL.

I think the rest of the Flames need to adjust to Johnny now. They aren't used to seeing passes connect that accurately and that fast.

You are going to start seeing all the players just start shooting even if they don't have the puck the moment Gaudreau has the puck. 4 guys with constant shooting motions all over the ice, all the time, and it is up to Johnny to decide who he wants to score.

O boy, sitting in my cube and I'm actually LOL'ng to this comment. hahahahaa.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Nashville tried to match Weber against him and we saw how that went.

I didn't notice this, is this really true? If so, wow. He's certainly being taken seriously by other teams and that more than anything speaks to how he's playing.