Really good Gaudreau article

[BigRed]

We have this debate every time. Gaudreau says all the right things and seems to be a stand-up kid, but only time will tell. Schultz-like tactics are exceptionally rare, but Gaudreau is shaping up to be a rare talent, so who knows?

[The Yen Man]

People are understandably worried because they see something special in this kid. He's got amazing vision, and it'd be a real shame if Calgary lost the kid before they even had a chance with him. I'm personally not too worried, as I think he'll sign next year.

[simmer2]

While it would be great for him to sign early with the Flames, purely based on his size he is better off staying in College through his Senior Year.

I don't care how talented you are, 5'5 and 150lbs in the NHL is not a recipe for success.

Let him bulk up, mature, play top hockey then join the Calgary Flames.

We are finally in a position where we don't need to rush prospects, so let's not do that with a potential star like Gaudreau.

[BurningSteel]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Why don't these stupid embedded NHL.com videos not open in Safari.. Ergh!!!

Because Apple sucks big hairy Chelios balls!!

[Crumpy-Gunt]

I think Gaudreau signs after this upcoming NCAA season. But even if he goes back to BC as a senior I am not too worried about him not signing here. I went to the rookie camp at winsport and could tell Johnny gets along well with the guys by the way they seemed to be getting on. He and Monahan had good things to say about each other. Hes good friends and team-mates with Bill Arnold, has been playing against Kenny Agostino since they were kids in New Jersey. Not to mention we have the lure of a lot of playing time with a young rebuilding team. I cant see many other teams who could offer him the latter.

Conclusion: nothing to worry about really. At least not until he declares he is going back for his senior year which I cant see as his main reason for going back to BC is to get a chance to fulfill his dream of playing on a team with his brother.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by simmer2

While it would be great for him to sign early with the Flames, purely based on his size he is better off staying in College through his Senior Year.

I don't care how talented you are, 5'5 and 150lbs in the NHL is not a recipe for success.

Let him bulk up, mature, play top hockey then join the Calgary Flames.

We are finally in a position where we don't need to rush prospects, so let's not do that with a potential star like Gaudreau.

All of the stories about him mention that he has some bad off-ice habits, especially related to his diet of Mountain Dew and Skittles. That seems to be the biggest concern with him and I think the Flames would like to get him in the system and working with the team's nutritionists and trainers, whether in Calgary or Abbotsford.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by simmer2

While it would be great for him to sign early with the Flames, purely based on his size he is better off staying in College through his Senior Year.

I don't care how talented you are, 5'5 and 150lbs in the NHL is not a recipe for success.

Let him bulk up, mature, play top hockey then join the Calgary Flames.

We are finally in a position where we don't need to rush prospects, so let's not do that with a potential star like Gaudreau.

He is a bit bigger than that. I got a chance to meet him this summer and he looks heavier than me (mostly because I am taller and longer than he is) and I am 6 feet tall and 170lbs. If I had to guess he is about 5 foot 7 or 8 and a lean 165-170. He will not be 200lbs no matter how long he stays in the NCAA. I think a goal weight for him would be around 180 which he could realistically be at by next year. There are quite a few players in the NHL right now who are under 5-9 and south of 180 but still doing OK for themselves. Theo Fleury was undersized and he did just fine. Marty St.Louis is another example.

Also if Johnny were to get bigger just for the sake of being bigger and got above 180ish I think he would lose on of his main assets which is his agility, acceleration and almost ghost like side to side movement on the ice. That much new weight wouldn't be good for a guy who has been small and successfully so.

What we should be doing is trying to build up tough, strong group of power-forward type RWers to take pressure off the likes of Tim Harrison and Emile Poirier when trying to supplement the undersized Sven and Johnny. I dont mind us being small yet skilled at LW if we can have big Cs and RWs.

[Enoch Root]

I think at camp they had him at 5'8" 158 or something like that. He figured he'd be 170ish by the end of this year

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Fire

They would burn a year in order to get Gaudreau signed. No doubt about it.

quoted for the truth. For Gaudreau he would also get a nice little signing bonus to play out the remaining games. I would assume they would throw a similar contract that they gave Knight so for paying a handful games he would get those game cheques plus the 90k signing bonus and then another 90k July 1st.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Robbob

quoted for the truth. For Gaudreau he would also get a nice little signing bonus to play out the remaining games. I would assume they would throw a similar contract that they gave Knight so for paying a handful games he would get those game cheques plus the 90k signing bonus and then another 90k July 1st.

Let's make sure we're clear on this. I'm saying the Flames will sign Gaudreau to a contract some time in March when BC's season ends. Gaudreau will get his signing bonus and get his paychecks for being signed. He will likely even get in a few games to get his taste and some experience to build on toward next year's camp.

Having said that, I can't see the Flames let him play more than 9 games, burning a year off of that ELC. I think that Gaudreau would be involved with the team but would likely see limited action, just like the Flames have done with every other signed junior or college age prospect that has come along in the past decade. Why would they and what benefit would it give them? The player gets his bonus and paychecks. The team gets their full standard ELC. Why would the team throw away a season of rights when they don't have to? They hold all the cards. What pressure does Gaudreau, or any other player, have to force the team's hand? The threat of playing his senior year? The Flames still own his rights for another 16 months.

[bucksmasher]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I agree with this Gretzky comparison... No one will ever be as dominant as he was but gaudreau's style is a lot like his. Gretzky never used size or strength to beat other players... He just had without a doubt the highest hockey IQ in the history of the game. It's like everyone else was playing checkers while he was playing chess. Good players were thinking 3-5 seconds ahead of the play while Gretzky knew where the puck would be 20 seconds ahead of the play. Gaudreau has an unbelievable hokey IQ as well as some of the best natural skill I've ever seen.

I can't stress how important it is for the flames to sign this kid and have a spot for him next year... The flames more than any other team in the NHL should know that the size of a player means nothing if he has the skill and determination to overcome it... One of the greatest players the flames ever had was 5'6" and at his peak he was one of the best players in the world

c'mon, god doesn't even know where the puck's going to be in 20 seconds

[Deelow]

Originally Posted by bucksmasher

c'mon, god doesn't even know where the puck's going to be in 20 seconds

It's going to be in the Oilers net.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by New Era

Having said that, I can't see the Flames let him play more than 9 games, burning a year off of that ELC.

He is 20 years-old, so there is no 9 game burn for Gaudreau if he signs this year. If he signs and plays for the Flames in the 2013-14 season, this season would be the first year of his ELC.

I believe he could leave BC, sign a contract that starts in 2014-15 with the Flames, and play out the remainder of the regular season and playoffs with Abbotsford on a PTO, but one game in Calgary would start the clock on his NHL contract (just like happened with Hanowski last year, he only played 5 games in Calgary but is now in the second year of his ELC).

[Lanny_McDonald]

Thanks for the correction and information!