Yup. I still worry that someone will catch him given his size
Anyone can get caught. I really don't think size has a lot to do with it in a game as fast and violent as hockey. If anything, his size and edge-work probably play in his favour in regard to avoiding hits.
Anyone can get caught. I really don't think size has a lot to do with it in a game as fast and violent as hockey. If anything, his size and edge-work probably play in his favour in regard to avoiding hits.
Yeah you're right. I meant if he does get caught, the impact on him would be worse.
I'd definitely have Ekblad as well. Forsberg at least has a good supporting cast behind him, Ekblad and Gaudreau do not have that.
If the voting was held today, it's Forsberg. But I do think Ekblad will take it, especially if the Panthers make the playoffs after just finishing in 29th last year.
Say that happens AND the Flames make the playoffs with JG as the highest scoring forward (both distinct possibilities) - There's a decision I wouldn't want to have to make.
Not since Iginla in his prime has anyone here cared about a Flame around here, besides friends who are Flames fans. We would kinda just talk amongst ourselves.
At a Christmas party, every hockey conversation that came up eventually ended with Gaudreau. More recently, especially after we played the Leafs, I regularly get texts from people about how amazing this kid is. One friend is 100% obsessed with him. He watches Flames games to watch him, and is seriously contemplating a Gaudreau jersey. He is also the most die-hard Leaf fan I've ever known.
As a rookie, this kid has changed the entire public perception of the team. Their hot start certainly helped, but he's been a catalyst for sure. It was always fun to be 'that guy' around here, but it's definitely way more fun now! Gaudreau, in his rookie year, is slowly becoming a household name in SW Ontario. It's unreal.
I had some of my UK friends come over and we watched the Anaheim game. None of them really follow the NHL, and I hadn't talked about Gaudreau at all, but every time Johnny had the puck my friends were dazzled by him. They were asking 'who's that guy?', 'whoa, that guy has skills!'
Johnny Hockey is exactly the kind of talent that will bring new fans to the sport. In one package he proves to outsiders that the sport is extremely skillful and that it's not just a blood sport for huge thugs and goons (a common misconception around my area about 'ice hockey').
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Yeah you're right. I meant if he does get caught, the impact on him would be worse.
I am not sure that it would be any worse than if he was bigger. The major cause of concussions in the sudden stop when a player is moving fast and gets nailed or when their head hits the ice (it isn't necessarily direct contact with the head). I don't think that changes whether the player is big or small. If anything, Gaudreau has less distance to fall if he does get hit.
The rules also protect him somewhat because it will be difficult for a really big player to hit him while avoiding his head. I think a lot of big players are forced to not even bother, lest they take a penalty.
Gaudreau has top notch awareness out there though. I think most of the time, he knows exactly where everyone is on the ice and keeps his head up.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
People are talking about the Calder coming down to between Gaudreau and Forsberg, but I think Ekblad could win if he continues his strong season.
Historically, voters almost always give the edge to defensemen because it's such a harder position to learn in the NHL. If Ekblad finishes top 3 in rookie scoring and plays 20+ min a game, he'll probably take it.
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Historically, voters almost always give the edge to defensemen because it's such a harder position to learn in the NHL.
Historically? I went back 50 years in Calder voting and the only time that was remotely true was when Barrett Jackman squeeked out a win over Henrik Zetterberg in 2002-2003
Every other time a defensemen won it they either lead their rookie class in scoring or were within spitting distance of it(10 points). Ekblad on pace to finish 30+ points behind Forsberg historically will not get him close.
So if we're talking actually historically vs your personal perception of things, there would be no precident for Ekblad beating Forsberg assuming both maintain their current point production.
Last edited by Dan02; 12-24-2014 at 08:39 AM.
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We're really witnessing something special with this kid. I've never seen anyone play like him, he doesn't fall into a category like other players. In my life I've never seen anyone spin off checks like he does or pivot the puck with his stick like he does.
Gaudreau kind of pivots with his feet, wrists and shoulders but keeps his waist the same and can pull a 180 with the puck like a vehicle with a rear steering axle and it seems weird but he scored with it yesterday. Never seen anyone do that, it freezes the opposition because they are just staring at him like wtf is going on.
I have. But his is the name that cannot be spoken.
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Just browsing through some stats this morning and I saw a couple things that jumped out.
Filip Forsberg (20 years old) - 13 Goals, 19 Assists, 32 Points, +25, 4 game winners
Johnny Gaudreau (21 years old) - 10 Goals, 17 Assists, 27 Points, +9, 2 game winners
They both have August 13th birthdays, Forsberg is just a year younger. That kid can play. I know this is a Gaudreau thread but damn, Forsberg is lighting it up in Nashville.
Just want to point out that Forsberg has 98 pro games under his belt (47 AHL and 51 NHL) whereas Gaudreau has 36 (all NHL).
Discounting the AHL games, Forsberg has 38 pts in 51 NHL games.
How many points do you think Gaudreau will have after 51 games? A lot more than 38 I bet.
I am not sure that it would be any worse than if he was bigger. The major cause of concussions in the sudden stop when a player is moving fast and gets nailed or when their head hits the ice (it isn't necessarily direct contact with the head). I don't think that changes whether the player is big or small. If anything, Gaudreau has less distance to fall if he does get hit.
The rules also protect him somewhat because it will be difficult for a really big player to hit him while avoiding his head. I think a lot of big players are forced to not even bother, lest they take a penalty.
Gaudreau has top notch awareness out there though. I think most of the time, he knows exactly where everyone is on the ice and keeps his head up.
definitely agree with you. Remember he played college, which is filled with big boys. He's had to deal with this his whole life playing with bigger stronger players, probably a reason his vision is so good, always needs to be aware of where everyone is on the ice.
It's more the head fakes and quick hands that made me say that.
About the player not named: when he came in (and I'm old enough to remember) people also said "wait until he gets hit".
I see what your saying, he has that elusiveness and that ability to stop and start and then disappear. We saw how quick he can be when he is "darting" around people behind the net and that backhand pass behind the net for a goal in the World Juniors was unreal. That other goal he scored from behind the net on his knees threw everyone off and is stuff you never see.
