QOTD: Are you changing your Gaudreau ceiling?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

I just can't believe how blind these people are. He won't slow down, Johnny Hockey is an 18 year old and I don't see him regressing next season.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by troutman

Right, Oiler fans have so much "playoff" wisdom to offer.

Yeah but isn't there only one guy in the game today who has more rings that Lowe?

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

oops...meant isn't!

[GreenLantern2814]

Coming into the season, I thought he had a chance to be the biggest sports star the city of Calgary has ever seen. If he could get his game to translate.

His game translates. My opinion has not changed, only calcified.

Biggest sports star in Calgary history. He's unique.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

^That's a bit much. Kid is not going to be Jarome Iginla.

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

oops...meant isn't!

Ah yes. I think you're probably right (just off the top of my head) that older rookies are less prone to sophomore slumps than teenagers but I don't know how significant that gap is, if it does indeed exist.

Still, any regression in Gaudreau's point totals next year (if it happens) would more likely be the result of an overall regression of team shooting percentage.

[FlamesAddiction]

He exceeded my expectations for this season already, so now I think the sky is the limit.

A lot will depend on his future line mates, but I can see him being a ppg player for sure, but under the right circumstances, I could see him putting up some 90-100 point seasons.

[Yamer]

I think he can produce 30+ goals per season, but will often be in the 80-90 point range.

He's been electrifying so far, and although I knew he had this kind of potential in him he has exceeded all expectations I had for him this season.

[ricardodw]

season #1 21 goal 72 pts
#2 25 goals 75 pts
#3 30 goals 88 pts
#4 27 goal 73 pts
#5 23 goals 66 pts
#6 23 goals 55 pts (48 games season)
#7 29 goals 69 pts
#8 27 goals 64 pts

I don't think there should be any argument that Patrick Kane is the best small player of this decade.


Gaudreau will be winning Multiple hart Trophies if he does 30 goals 80 pts on a semi-regular basis.

Patrick Kane has only done it once in his 8 seasons.. (twice counting the 48 game season).

The league has changed... Teams rolling 4 lines. The top scorers are going down in pts scored. ...Last year only Crosby went over 90 pts.... this year unless someone gets hot there won't be any 90+ pt guys in the league.

[puckedoff]

Are you asking what picture I have of Gaudreau on my (bedroom) ceiling?


Edit: And how did you know I just put up a new one?

[FlameZilla]

600glz1300ptz. Book it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Are you asking what picture I have of Gaudreau on my (bedroom) ceiling?


Edit: And how did you know I just put up a new one?

Hah - was just going to post exactly the same thing. But why did you have to change it?

Eewwww - never mind.

[jg13]

I would be surprised to not see him hit 90 points one day. Went into the season with very high expectations thought he'd hit 70 pts this year and I suppose he still does have an outside chance.

[foshizzle11]

I think he will put up close to 80 points a few times in his career, likely not annually like someone posted above. But he is capable and in a couple of years when Monahan and Bennett are rolling as two of the best centres in the league, he will get a lot of points IMO.

I would imagine that he has 60+ points every season though.

[Huntingwhale]

I always said Gaudreau was one of those top 6 or bust type players. With him you can take it even further and say he's either going to be a star, or bust. I still feel the same way. I don't think it will be too much longer until Johnny is putting up 80pts year after year if he stays healthy. He's very much proven that bust is no longer an option for him. Make no mistake, he is one of the future stars in this league and will be a household name very quickly league wide.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

^That's a bit much. Kid is not going to be Jarome Iginla.

He might be. In a sport full of plumbers, he's an artist. And he's American.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Haven't changed expectations at all. The first time I saw this kid in his frosh season at BC I knew he was going to be a star, size be damned. This kid does things at the same level as a skinny kid from up the highway.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

He might be. In a sport full of plumbers, he's an artist. And he's American.

Still though. Part of the reason people love Jarmoe more than people love their average captain was his toughness.

You rarely found a captain who would score 50 & 90, and step up to defend any teammate by fighting. That was something very special the Flames had for many years.

For my money, no one will surpass Iggy as Calgary's favorite.

[Brewmaster]

I see Johnny as being a league leader in assists and putting up at least a PPG for a few seasons. I don't think his goal scoring will ever be at the top of the league but he creates a ton of scoring chances. A big factor will be how Monahan and Bennett progress, and how long Hudler can be a top scoring winger.

[Jay Random]

At the moment, top players in the NHL are scoring at a clip of around a point per game; but this is an aberration. Remember the year Iginla won a piece of the Rocket Richard Trophy with just 41 goals? That didn't last either.

Gaudreau is the kind of player who can change the way the game is played. One reason why scoring was so high in the 1980s is that the league was full of defencemen who grew up wanting to be the next Bobby Orr, and coaches who let their players free-wheel on the chance they could make a little bit of the same magic as Gretzky. Johnny Hockey won't make that kind of change in the game by himself, but he could certainly help to set a new fashion.

Gaudreau is quickly becoming the poster boy for offensive creativity. If that idea catches on – if skilled players are encouraged to cut loose a bit – we could easily see the return of the 100-point scorer. Not, of course, in the numbers that existed in the 1980s; but quite probably in the numbers we were seeing after the '04-05 lockout. If that happens, Gaudreau himself stands a reasonable chance of being one of those 100-point players at least once in his career.

[Table 5]

One small thing to remember is that if 3-on-3 is brought in, that extends the overtime period that an offensive player can get on the scoresheet (since of course the shootout doesn't count towards points stats). More time and more open ice to create plays.

While not a huge change, I have a feeling that could give the more offensive guys like Gaudreau an extra 3-5 points a year. It might get a few more NHLers just a bit closer to 40-50 goals as well.