Gaudreau's Race to the Top

[djsFlames]

The thing with those top 3 is that Stamkos and Kucherov are both very, very good players and subsequently they both help each other.

Monahan is at #13 right now, and while he's a good player and scorer in his own right, we all know who the catalyst in that duo is. And Monahan being over a PPG is in part a result of Gaudreau's efforts and skill.

This makes Gaudreau being tied for 2nd overall probably more impressive that either of the guys tied or ahead of him, individually. He's put himself there out of his own efforts and doesn't get the quite the same run support as other guys with similar elite level line mates.

Not a slight against Mony and Ferland though, they have really brought their games this season.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Where would we be without Monahan, Johnny or Smith right now

Where would any team be without their two best players and solid goaltending?

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Also disappointing how little recognition that he's receiving. I'm a little disgusted that Cullen couldn't even put in a mention of Jonny for the Hart trophy after the first quarter;

http://www.tsn.ca/statistically-spea...wards-1.924839

Just the annual Scott Cullen flames snub and Johnny has been making him eat crow since the day he stepped on NHL ice

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

The thing with those top 3 is that Stamkos and Kucherov are both very, very good players and subsequently they both help each other.

Monahan is at #13 right now, and while he's a good player and scorer in his own right, we all know who the catalyst in that duo is. And Monahan being over a PPG is in part a result of Gaudreau's efforts and skill.

This makes Gaudreau being tied for 2nd overall probably more impressive that either of the guys tied or ahead of him, individually. He's put himself there out of his own efforts and doesn't get the quite the same run support as other guys with similar elite level line mates.

Not a slight against Mony and Ferland though, they have really brought their games this season.

Monahan is tied for 8th in points, and is 3rd in goals (1 back of Ovie and Tavares, and 3 back of Kucherov). While he is the beneficiary of Gaudreau's fantastic play this season, it does go both ways.
Together, Johnny and Money are the 3rd highest scoring duo, behind Stamkos/Kucherov (70 pts) and Schenn/Schwartz (60 pts), our duo has combined for 59pts.

Monahan is the 6th highest scoring center in the league since he was drafted, I think you're under valuing his contributions to the top line. We're not talking about McDavid dragging Maroon around here.

We could potentially witness 2 Flames be in the running for hardware. Money for a Rocket Richard, and Johnny for an Art Ross (or both).

[Itse]

Feeling also seems to be raising his play to his potential. While he's obviously not on the level of Monahan or Gaudreau, he's a lot more than a passenger. It's great to see.

Kind of a forgotten story this season really.

[FiveSeven]

I feel like Jagr's words to Johnny pushed him from star to superstar.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by Itse

Feeling also seems to be raising his play to his potential. While he's obviously not on the level of Monahan or Gaudreau, he's a lot more than a passenger. It's great to see.

Kind of a forgotten story this season really.

Not sure about Feeling, but Ferland sure has raised his play! I guess Ferland is Feeling better!

[Finger Cookin]

Gaudreau's doing pretty well for a declining goal scorer.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Would have been amazing for sure... but hey, hindsight is always 20/20.

Getting Kucherov in the 2nd would have made them relax about the "darkhorse" rankings of Gaudreau around the league, and perhaps have waited until the 5th round and not the 4th to get him. It was only when Kucherov was taken immediately after the Wotherspoon pick when Button (who Feaster was giving draft control to) and company started getting cold sweats that lasted all the way up until they called Johnny's name.

They were likely counting on their secrecy to keep their interest in Kucherov hidden too, but they made the mistake of assuming that every team would be considering them as darkhorses. I think our recent pick in Fox is an example of a "let's go for it" pick rather than a "safe" pick.

That's true. I think Boston would have taken him sometime between the Flames fourth and fifth round picks. I still wonder why Calgary didn't take a shot with one of those two second rounders on Kucherov, though. Especially knowing they didn't have a third rounder and they liked both guys a lot.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Where would we be without Monahan, Johnny or Smith right now

Haven't you heard? Monahan sucks.

Even in the OP Monahan doesn't even get a mention for being 4th in goals in the league, nevermind his own thread for his race to the Richard.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Haven't you heard? Monahan sucks.

Even in the OP Monahan doesn't even get a mention for being 4th in goals in the league, nevermind his own thread for his race to the Richard.

Can we just have one post where something nice is said about Monahan and someone doesn't turn it into 'haven't you heard CP thinks Monahan suck's'

It's nothing personal it's just getting old.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Can we just have one post where something nice is said about Monahan and someone doesn't turn it into 'haven't you heard CP thinks Monahan suck's'

It's nothing personal it's just getting old.

Sean Monahan is awesome, he's got an awesome first name, an awesome release and amazing chemistry with Johnny and to a lesser extent Ferland.

We are lucky to have Johnny, Monny and Tkachuk here for many years to come.

[browna]

Originally Posted by FiveSeven

I feel like Jagr's words to Johnny pushed him from star to superstar.

True. I am sure he’s heard it from new teammates and from other players around the league complimenting him at the ASG and in the off-season and just in general, but when you get the leagues all time second leading point getter it means something more.

And it’s not patronizing compliment or nicety or classy gesture; said 2nd all time leading scorer is around him now, daily, for 7 weeks or so now, so they’ve gotten to know each other and Jagr has seen him in practice and in games and understands. Go back after Mono’s 2nd goal last night and Jagr on the bench with Mono laughing and joking when complimenting Mono on the goal. Jagr too old to be handing out false compliments, so when he sees something he likes and sees that talent, it’s legit.
That can only boost JG and SM and their confidence levels and potential.

[flamesforcup]

This will probably be one of his peak years. We cannot waste it.

[Huntingwhale]

I don't think it will be a wasted season of Gaudreau's. Pretty much every season plays out exactly like this. The team looks extremely porous to start, everyone freaks out, then the team finally starts to figure it out and makes a strong push to the playoffs. No one should be surprised it's playing out like this. Almost always the Flames dig themselves in a hole and spend the entire season climbing out.

The difference this season is that the big 3 (Monahan, Johnny and Smith) are carrying the team right now and have given us a decent start. Smith single handedly got us a bunch of wins that equate to extra points early on. Johnny and the entire top line has been on a tear. Eventually the whole team will figure it out. Hamonic isn't going to continue to suck. Brodie should eventually clean himself up. At some point the depth we had last season will come alive.

Only this time we won't be digging ourselves out of a hole to make the playoffs. We're keeping pace, and that's what's important.

We are very fortunate we have good players at important positions to carry us right now, while we wait for the rest of the team to figure it out. We didn't have that in past seasons. And it's not just the Flames. Almost all teams in the race have 'issues' they want fixex. Parity runs rampant throughout the league.

[Heavy Jack]

Huntingwhale nails it with the above.

The whole forums seemed ready to jettison Johnny and Mony last year just before Johnny went down with injury for 10 games. People were freaking out about him; even when he came back from injury he had 8 points in 4 games and then cooled right down before the team figured itself out in the 2nd half. This is the first season in long memory I can remember us being in the top 3 in the pacific at this time of the year; if we hit the ground running when we get closer to the 2nd half this team could be deadly and the positive definitely has to be the fact that we are keeping pace right now with the pace setters.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

That's true. I think Boston would have taken him sometime between the Flames fourth and fifth round picks. I still wonder why Calgary didn't take a shot with one of those two second rounders on Kucherov, though. Especially knowing they didn't have a third rounder and they liked both guys a lot.

I think it's because we already had taken Baertschi, a much more known commodity and in a similar fold as Kucherov (skilled scoring winger) that the two 2nds were spent on picks that still had a solid case for BPA and addressed organizational needs at the same time, a projected top 6 center and bottom 4 dman.

Once Tampa Bay called Kucherov's name that day, I can't imagine what must have gone through Button's mind right then. He must have spent that entire time sweating bullets while simultaneously cursing Sutter for dealing away the 3rd and praying that everyone thought Johnny was too tiny.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Johnny has been proving the skeptics wrong at every point of his career. He's too smart and too competitive to let obstacles stop him. He's been able to adapt his game.

[Enoch Root]

Lightning lose 5-2 to the Penguins tonight, with no points for Stamkos or Kucherov. That opens the door for Johnny to climb further if he can get on the scoresheet again.

One point puts him alone in 2nd, 2 points would tie him with Stamkos, and 3 points leaves him alone on top.

[starseed]

The lightning will also have played one more game after tonight. Essentially almost two games to catch the scoring lead with 2 points!