I like John Gaudreau

[robertsfan]

I like Gaudreau; nice guy, little guy who made it big. He is the reason my gf became a hockey (and Flames fan) and why I can stay home on Saturday nights in the winter to watch HNIC without getting any lip.

It just isn't working out for him or the Flames when it really counts. I'm more disappointed at Monahan and think the Flames kept the two playing together for too long.

[Chonger]

Johnny "get the #### out of Alberta" Gaudreau

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[Moneyhands23]

I like him, but its definitely time to trade him. Maybe at the deadline, but it's time.

[Erick Estrada]

I will be a little sad to see him traded in the offseason as he kind of took the baton from Iginla as a franchise forward and was the main reason to watch this team for years now. Like Iginla he probably didn't get the center he truly deserved to maximize his potential and without him we would probably be looking at 11 straight years missing the playoffs going back to 2009/2010. It's clear now that maybe his heart is out east and I don't hold that against him as the heart wants what it wants. As frustrating as the last year has been I have enjoyed watching him represent the team I cheer for and appreciate what he's brought to the team.

[Huntingwhale]

I don't even blame Gaudreau for somewhat disappearing in the playoffs. This is a 160lbs player (at the very most) who is being asked to win board battles and physically go up against veteran players who are well above 200lbs every night and looking to take him out. The fact his career has gone as well as it has, is actually a testament to his skill.

I remember before he signed, he never was a sure thing. Plenty of people, myself including, thinking he might top out as a 40+ point top 6 guy and I would have been happy with that. I never expected in my wildest dreams he might be an Art Ross dark horse and be the star player he is. Yes it sucks he couldn't translate his game during the playoffs. But that's not his skillset. Could he have done more. Yes he could have. But at the very least, his frame is a valid excuse.

I'm down for trading Johnny if he has clearly stated he has no desire to re-sign, or if a killer deal comes that the team can't ignore. But I do think the Flames will miss him greatly. There goes not only our best offensive threat, but one of the best in the league. That is hard to replace and the Flames will miss him dearly. But it must be done if he plans to walk and I hope the GM gets an answer from him sooner then later.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I like him, but its definitely time to trade him. Maybe at the deadline, but it's time.

I agree with this. He brought a ton of excitement to the franchise, and he’ll do well elsewhere. But it’s time.

[Young Guns]

I actually think Monahan will be better without Johnny. When you play center you are the third guy that has to come back and play low in the defensive zone. (while Johnny just skates around in no mans land) Then in the offensive zone as a center you would kinda hope your wingers will help fore-check. Maybe throw a hit to create a turn over....Maybe be the first guy to the puck instead of slowing down and letting the other guy go first. Help cycle the puck a bit instead of panicking and turning it over to avoid any type of contact.

It has to be exhausting when your constantly doing the dirty work for another player.

[Looch City]

I like Johnny too, I think he's a great player with great potential when he truly competes.

Unfortunately, I don't like him on the Flames anymore.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by Young Guns

I actually think Monahan will be better without Johnny. When you play center you are the third guy that has to come back and play low in the defensive zone. (while Johnny just skates around in no mans land) Then in the offensive zone as a center you would kinda hope your wingers will help fore-check. Maybe throw a hit to create a turn over....Maybe be the first guy to the puck instead of slowing down and letting the other guy go first. Help cycle the puck a bit instead of panicking and turning it over to avoid any type of contact.

It has to be exhausting when your constantly doing the dirty work for another player.

I kind of agree

Monahan was a star rookie and earned a spot on the team as an 18 year old without Gaudreau. I don't think it's fair when people say Gaudreau does all the work on that line

Ideally Monahan is a #2 centre on our team with a couple hard working wingers. I think our top 9 could be significantly improved if we can trade Gaudreau for a more complete top line centre or right winger and go with:

Hall - Lindholm - RW for Gaudreau
Tkachuk - Monahan - Mangiapane or Dube
LW to bump Lucic down - Bennett - Dube or Mangiapane

[ComixZone]

This constant push for Lindholm to play centre is baffling. It’s not his position. He’s also just like the other players on that old era 1st line. He vanishes when things get tough.

Dude is a right wing - and one of the only ones we have.

[Geeoff]

I think Gaudreau on someone's 2nd line will make for a very dangerous team

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Young Guns

I actually think Monahan will be better without Johnny. When you play center you are the third guy that has to come back and play low in the defensive zone. (while Johnny just skates around in no mans land) Then in the offensive zone as a center you would kinda hope your wingers will help fore-check. Maybe throw a hit to create a turn over....Maybe be the first guy to the puck instead of slowing down and letting the other guy go first. Help cycle the puck a bit instead of panicking and turning it over to avoid any type of contact.

It has to be exhausting when your constantly doing the dirty work for another player.

Disagree. I think Monahan hurts Gaudreau. He can't skate and keep up with the play, he is scared to battle when the physicality ramps up, he needs to go.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

This constant push for Lindholm to play centre is baffling. It’s not his position. He’s also just like the other players on that old era 1st line. He vanishes when things get tough.

Dude is a right wing - and one of the only ones we have.

Which is why I said try to get a centre for Gaudreau, but that's obviously easier said than done. Also Lindholm was drafted as a centre a ND played mostly centre in Carolina. Just like Bennett, Lindholm played the wing for us since he's capable and it filled a hole

Whatever the Flames do, unless they hire a real coach and have a true #1 goalie, nothing else really matters

[Hemi-Cuda]

Won't commit to proper nutrition, won't commit to offseason conditioning, won't commit to physical playoff hockey, I honestly can't understand why anyone defends this guy. His entire hockey career has been him riding by on pure skill alone. That allowed him to have a couple of flashy regular seasons, but in 2 consecutive playoffs and even the regular season before covid hit he just wasn't a factor. Unless he makes drastic changes in how he prepares himself, I don't see him ever reaching 90 points again. Teams have figured out how to shut him down after Colorado provided the blueprint, I honestly think he's peaked as an NHL'er. I'm not expecting much in return given that, but the Flames need to trade him anyway just to move on

[Monahammer]

It's not about the individual player's skill- it's a culture thing. As the poster above me points out, Johnny displays a notable lack of commitment off ice to success on ice. Him being the highest point generating forward on the team immediately thrusts him into a leadership role. Other players take after the highest producing player. Do we really want other players coming into our club to take after Johnny's off ice habits?

The answer is #### no and it has been for a long time.

[mrdonkey]

Thankful that he played here and gave us something to watch amidst all the mediocrity and head scratching decisions made around him. There's really going to be no out of market draw for this team at all once he's gone.

That said, it's plain as day the guy is only here because he has to be. Best of luck in Jersey or whatever.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Disagree. I think Monahan hurts Gaudreau. He can't skate and keep up with the play, he is scared to battle when the physicality ramps up, he needs to go.

But you like Gaudreau because he does all those good things????

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Disagree. I think Monahan hurts Gaudreau. He can't skate and keep up with the play, he is scared to battle when the physicality ramps up, he needs to go.

Those that think Monahan was doing the dirty work and held back by Gaudreau are going to be in for a rude awakening if the Flames don't find a solid replacement for Johnny on the wing. Monahan can do one thing really well and that's shoot the puck and finish around the net. Everything else in his game is more suited to 2nd/3rd line center role.

[Flame On]

Johnny is a polarizing figure who's shadow I think has blinded some to other pieces who are equally as responsible for the team's inability to have success. My ire is focussed on Monahan which I feel only now people are waking up to his true nature. In 30 playoff games in his career he has 4 even strength goals and only 8 points I mean wtf!

We've had poor defensive but dynamic players before, but the coaches were able to play around that. This team is a patchwork of mismatched styles. Not overly big and punishing, not too scrappy and tenacious, not overly skilled and not overly quick. There's a lot of teams like that but then you need exceptional coaching to tie it all together and the Flames do not.

So by all means trade Johnny if he's not going to sign back here, that just makes good asset management sense, but don't complain when he does way better elsewhere with teams that address these issues as matter of course, and we're left with the same problems.

[manwiches]

Everybody talks about trading Gaudreau to a team where he will flourish with a play driving center.

Food for thought. Why don't we trade for a play driving center, and see him flourish with us? I love Monahan, but he can bump to 2C, and we trade for a bonafide 1c. Yes, I am aware assets need to go the other way, but something to consider

I love Monahan as a 2C, and then see Gaudreau with that real 1C.

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