[News] Gaudreau named NHL 1st star of the week

[FiveSeven]

I'm with Bennett and JG. Sometimes having two players who want the puck equally as bad isn't a bad thing as long as they're both making all the right plays and feeding off of eachother.

Think Toews and Kane, not Johnny and Colborne style lol.

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Look at his history:
1st year USHL: ROY
1st year college: ROY
2nd year college: Hobey Baker finalist
3rd year college: Hobey Baker by a landslide
1st year NHL: ROY finalist
2nd year: Hart conversation
3rd year: watch out

He's off to a great start and it's only his 2nd season. 7th in overall scoring 11 points behind Kane on a 5th place Pacific division team does not put him in Hart conversation. He's also not a superstar yet. He's on a hot streak. Let's be a little more realistic.

That being said, he's very impressive with it being his 2nd year!

[Street Pharmacist]

Consider where he would be with a competent power play. Most even strength points in the league now, but only 7 PP points compared to Seguin/Benn and the like.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

He's off to a great start and it's only his 2nd season. 7th in overall scoring 11 points behind Kane on a 5th place Pacific division team does not put him in Hart conversation. He's also not a superstar yet. He's on a hot streak. Let's be a little more realistic.

That being said, he's very impressive with it being his 2nd year!

This season isn't at the halfway point either. Johnny's road to success has been paved with those who underestimated him.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Consider where he would be with a competent power play. Most even strength points in the league now, but only 7 PP points compared to Seguin/Benn and the like.

In fairness, he's abused 3-on-3 more than those guys. He's 7th in 5v5 scoring

[spuzzum]

I didn't underestimate him. I said he's not in Hart conversation given his current stats and the current standings of the team.

[SixtySix]

What is your criteria for a "superstar"?

[CroFlames]

The argument was: is he in the Hart conversation?

The answer is obviously yes since we are conversing about it. Is he a shoe in as a finalist, that's debatable.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

The argument was: is he in the Hart conversation?

The answer is obviously yes since we are conversing about it.

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by SixtySix

What is your criteria for a "superstar"?

Someone who sells millions and millions of records and likes wearing fur and sunglasses indoor.

[heep223]

Elliotte Friedman mentioned that Gaudreau will be in the Hart conversation if he keeps this up, and if the Flames make the playoffs. When he speaks I listen

[Oling_Roachinen]

With the Hart you always got to define it, do you mean the best player or the actual definition of "most important to his team." Doesn't really matter for Kane as he runs away with it either way. But using the latter definition, I think you can remove Benn and Seguin as they 'cancel each out' and the team is just far superior. And with Price out, there's no real standout MVP goalie. Holtby is playing great, but he's playing on a team with Ovechkin and Backstrom.

Karlsson playing at over a PPG as a defenseman is too good to overlook.

So in terms of actual MVPs to their teams I think you got:
1. Kane
2. Karlsson

And then when you look at offense, Gaudreau is putting up the same pace as Hall and Tarasenko. Gaudreau's GWG are only behind Pavelski and he leads the league in OT points (regardless of how you feel about 3on3 there's no denying those points convert directly to points in the standings). I think a case could be made for Gaudreau. Although I think Brodie is the real MVP.

[Trailer Fire]

I don't think anyone is saying he is a favourite. If he keeps up his torrid pace he's on, yeah, he is in the conversation. Much like saying Johnny or Monahan were in the Lady Byng conversation. Chances are (great) that he won't win, but he is in the running.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by FiveSeven

I'm with Bennett and JG. Sometimes having two players who want the puck equally as bad isn't a bad thing as long as they're both making all the right plays and feeding off of eachother.

Think Toews and Kane, not Johnny and Colborne style lol.

Monahan is much closer to a Toews-type player than Bennett. If there's any comparable for Bennett on the Hawks, it's probably a younger Hossa.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Monahan is much closer to a Toews-type player than Bennett. If there's any comparable for Bennett on the Hawks, it's probably a younger Hossa.

Not even close. I'd say a far, far more talented Andrew Shaw. There's no comparable for Bennett on their team. The closest to Hossa we have is Frolik

[Coach]

I'd disagree with the Shaw comparison, just because the talent level is so different, but I agree, there's not really a hawks comparable.

I would say Matt Duchene would be a good comparison/projection.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

He's off to a great start and it's only his 2nd season. 7th in overall scoring 11 points behind Kane on a 5th place Pacific division team does not put him in Hart conversation. He's also not a superstar yet. He's on a hot streak. Let's be a little more realistic.

That being said, he's very impressive with it being his 2nd year!

The Hart trophy is the who is most valuable to their team. Where are the Flames without Gaudreau? I don't think he won't win it, and probably won't be a finalist, but I think he's absolutely in the conversation.

I also disagree that he's not a superstar. With that talent and being well over a PPG I think it's ridiculous not to call him a superstar at this point.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

With the Hart you always got to define it, do you mean the best player or the actual definition of "most important to his team." Doesn't really matter for Kane as he runs away with it either way. But using the latter definition, I think you can remove Benn and Seguin as they 'cancel each out' and the team is just far superior. And with Price out, there's no real standout MVP goalie. Holtby is playing great, but he's playing on a team with Ovechkin and Backstrom.

Karlsson playing at over a PPG as a defenseman is too good to overlook.

So in terms of actual MVPs to their teams I think you got:
1. Kane
2. Karlsson

And then when you look at offense, Gaudreau is putting up the same pace as Hall and Tarasenko. Gaudreau's GWG are only behind Pavelski and he leads the league in OT points (regardless of how you feel about 3on3 there's no denying those points convert directly to points in the standings). I think a case could be made for Gaudreau. Although I think Brodie is the real MVP.

Take Gaudreau off this team and where are the Flames? Basement? Are we even in many games?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Monahan is much closer to a Toews-type player than Bennett.

Not at all. Bennett is a lot closer to Toews than Monahan, maybe not in polish but style and skill. Bennett/Toews share a similar dominance in board-play, aggressive defensive play, high level puck skills, and speed. Monahan and Toews have almost nothing in common except 30/30 statlines achieved playing nothing like each other, and general ice-water in their veins.

If there's any comparable for Bennett on the Hawks, it's probably a younger Hossa.

Another comparision I don't remotely see.

I would say Matt Duchene would be a good comparison/projection.

Nah. Maybe Sam is similar to Duchene in terms of lack-of-finish, but Duchene is a north south player who uses his speed to generate chances who I've never seen as a true centre.

Bennett is really an east-west player with an advanced cycle game. I`d actually compare Sam more to a poor man`s combination of Crosby with a Perry-type ****-disturber style thrown in. Really when Sam has the puck in all three zones, it's Crosby that comes to my mind minus Crosby's absurd vision, flawless passing skills, and ridiculously OP backhander.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Take Gaudreau off this team and where are the Flames? Basement? Are we even in many games?

Wait, just to be clear I was arguing in favour of Gaudreau here.

But yeah, without Gaudreau they are probably in the basement. (I think they are probably even worse without Brodie).

But without Karlsson the Senators aren't sniffing the playoffs and really without Kane, given the way the rest of the team outside of his line has played, Chicago might not be in the playoffs without him.