Nilsson and Makarov were so smooth at speed. Johnny is more jitterbug.
The way he almost runs on his toes reminds me of Patrick Kane getting up to speed. A lot of Johnny's skating style is tied to his stickhandling which never gives a clue as to where he's going next.
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Nilsson and Makarov were so smooth at speed. Johnny is more jitterbug.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bozek
He looks pretty smooth to me - maybe the small size contributes to him not appearing as smooth a skater.
Jitterbug is a great description. And I don't think he's a smooth skater, I think he kind of runs on his skates. RickM suggested like a young Patrick Kane. For me, it goes back again to he who can't be named: when he entered the league, he had a similar running style to his skating and people said he wouldn't be fast enough for the NHL and, like GioforPM said, 'wait until he gets hit'.
For me, that's what he meant by not as smooth as those other guys. Some guys seem to glide effortlessly. Some are choppier and look like they have to work harder or 'run'. Gaudreau is the epitome of the latter. And as a result, people will always underestimate his speed (not suggesting anyone here is).
Yeah, I wouldn't say smooth either, but the speed is there. Actually, I'm guessing it's a speed more attributed to an ability for quick transitions and turns. His overall top speed and all star type lap speed might not actually be that remarkable. Don't know, just talking out loud here. But the way he moves and the deception in how he moves, gives him speed in a very useable way.
Johnny's speed is kind of like Poirier's in that it's explosive and has a really good first step, which occasionally leads to a defencemen caught flat footed.
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Feel like that hat trick game is the leaping point for gaudreau to start lighting up the league. He's been awesome for the flames but I think this is where the whole league will begin to see how good he really is. Kind of similar to nyquist last year. I'm calling for him to be one of the NHL stars of the month of January.
Feel like that hat trick game is the leaping point for gaudreau to start lighting up the league. He's been awesome for the flames but I think this is where the whole league will begin to see how good he really is. Kind of similar to nyquist last year. I'm calling for him to be one of the NHL stars of the month of January.
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Same. From watching this game for so long, and it also being especially evident with this season's team, so much of having success in the league is attributed to confidence, and right now he's bursting with it. Johnny is already one of the most consistent young players I've ever watched, and that's why he racked up the points he did at every level leading to this point. But when he's also on a hot streak on top of that, he can start racking up multi point games like nobody's business. While he was able to dish the puck effectively since the get go, we were all waiting for him to figure out how to score at this level and in the past week or two I think he's turned the corner in that regard. I expect the floodgates to open for him in the near future, if they haven't already. Forsberg is going to have to go strong the rest of the year to keep ahead of Johnny. His confidence and ability to take the game into his own hands like he has would scare me as an opposing fan, it appears he's stepped his game up to a new level.
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Same. From watching this game for so long, and it also being especially evident with this season's team, so much of having success in the league is attributed to confidence, and right now he's bursting with it. Johnny is already one of the most consistent young players I've ever watched, and that's why he racked up the points he did at every level leading to this point. But when he's also on a hot streak on top of that, he can start racking up multi point games like nobody's business. While he was able to dish the puck effectively since the get go, we were all waiting for him to figure out how to score at this level and in the past week or two I think he's turned the corner in that regard. I expect the floodgates to open for him in the near future, if they haven't already. Forsberg is going to have to go strong the rest of the year to keep ahead of Johnny. His confidence and ability to take the game into his own hands like he has would scare me as an opposing fan, it appears he's stepped his game up to a new level.
While I don't disagree with what you're saying, let's not forget Jiri's influence and involvement in all of this. I'm too lazy to check, but I'd guess he has points on at least 70% of the goals on which Johnny has points.
While I don't disagree with what you're saying, let's not forget Jiri's influence and involvement in all of this. I'm too lazy to check, but I'd guess he has points on at least 70% of the goals on which Johnny has points.
Jiri is playing the best hockey of his career alongside Johnny it's not a one way street with those two.
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JG and Hudler have played great together. Hudler has been getting so many chances, especially in the last 4 or 5 games. Hudler could easily have 5 more goals, and probably should have. The team as a whole has been a little snake bitten.
JG is making a serious case for the Calder, which is fun to watch. Who knows, if he keeps it up he may just win it. I think If JG wins the Calder, the flames will probably make the playoffs too.
Johnny seems to finally be bringing confidence with his already stellar play and the great thing of this december is that he was still a big-time player through the 8 game losing streak. I'm so impressed with his play so far and really impressed with how well Hudler seems to be with bringing in new young talent. Monahan, Gaudreau, Jooris and Granlund have all had seemingly easy transitions to the pro game and a lot of that is thanks to Jiri. Great to see!!
A look so far at JG so far:
Spoiler!
Two goals in 16 seconds
Natural Hatty / Comeback
Dallas Game in December
Goal against the Yotes
Sets up Wideman for the 3rd period go-ahead against the Ducks
Tape to tape for Money againts Florida
Deke against Volchenkov
Seeing eye shot against the Preds
Goal against Pitty
One of my favs -- super slow mo of his pre-season goal
He just seems able to score from so many areas and so many different ways when he gets going. When he got this hot at the college level he didn't seem to look back, I can't wait to see him over the next 5 game homestand!
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The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Go Flames Go!
Felt so good to have our prized young forward outshine the oilers' "stars" in front of the home crowd. He's surpassed them all already. And we didn't need to tank to get him with a first overall pick. Smart drafting + Patient development + good coaching. That's how it's done.
And there's lots more potential in this team both in the short term and long term... When backlund returns to form after injury... When poirier, baertschi, and ferland become NHL regulars... When Bennett is ready to join Johnny on the top scoring line.
