[News] With the 104th overall pick, the Flames select LW John Gaudreau

[Rerun]

IMO, the kid is too skinny. An extra 10 lbs wouldn't hurt at all. What's the harm? If as a lot of people say, it will affect his game, he can lose the weight.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I would feel a bit more comfortable with Johnny at 160 lbs than at his current 150. I don't think adding 10 lbs of muscle would inhibit his game whatsoever. Who knows... it may even help in certain situations.

He is still only 21 - of course he will fill out more.

And to comment on your earlier post - the Flames (like every team) have a training staff who's job it is to work with every player over the summer to improve their abilities as players.

Like many have said, speed is the primary tool is his skillset. But they will definitely work with him to increase his strength, without sacrificing that speed.

There is no question that he will get stronger.

[GioforPM]

I can say from personal experience that you tend to put on weight as you get older.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I can say from personal experience that you tend to put on weight as you get older.

Me too... except its FAT.

[JohnnyT]

Kid had played in every game, has gotten hit and popped right back up multiple times, is right in the thick of the Calder race and there's still people saying he needs to put on weight..

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by JohnnyT

Kid had played in every game, has gotten hit and popped right back up multiple times, is right in the thick of the Calder race and there's still people saying he needs to put on weight..

I'm not saying he "needs" to put on weight. I'm just "hoping" he will put on a bit of weight.

[bob-loblaw]

He's just right for the way he plays. The only way he'd get hurt is if he got crunched into the boards and he'd never put himself in that position. I think you'd have to try to take out his knee or legs in open ice to hurt him. If you skate into him it would be like hitting a piece of paper, and his head is always on a swivel so I don't think you'd get a clean hit. He's too shifty.

I also read someplace that he's never been injured playing hockey. So far so good, and I think he could keep that streak going in the NHL.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Rerun

IMO, the kid is too skinny. An extra 10 lbs wouldn't hurt at all. What's the harm? If as a lot of people say, it will affect his game, he can lose the weight.

He's been hit hard once the entire season, one time.

Johnny is doing fine, I'm pretty sure he has hockey solved.

[FlameZilla]

The kid is light as a feather, and that suits his game. If he gets hit he pirouettes off the checker and is usually straight back on his skates and hounding someone for the puck.

It's time to stop harking on about this guy's vitals and just appreciate his skill level.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I'm not saying he "needs" to put on weight. I'm just "hoping" he will put on a bit of weight.

Agreed, but he needs to do it now for it to make sense though.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Rerun

IMO, the kid is too skinny. An extra 10 lbs wouldn't hurt at all. What's the harm? If as a lot of people say, it will affect his game, he can lose the weight.

Weren't you one of the biggest fanboys this off season?

Now that he's doing well, playing great, putting up points.. now you want him to alter his shape? Seems weird.

[sa226]

When you're that small, whats the point in gaining weight? So he can more effectively take on Weber?

Best thing he can do is continue to develop his quickness, core strength, leg strength.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by sa226

Best thing he can do is continue to develop his quickness, core strength, leg strength.

Agreed. And that probably means he’ll add a few pounds of muscle from the waist downwards. But I don’t see any reason why he should bulk up just for the sake of bulking up, as a few posters seem to be suggesting.

[heep223]

He'll work with the training staff to be in whatever peak condition his body type needs.

[The Yen Man]

At the end, it's a balance, and I'm confident in the Flames strength/conditioning coach to play to Johnny's strengths when designing his off season condition regimen. The guy is only 21, so I don't think it's unreasonable for him to pack on a few more lbs of muscle, as long as it doesn't hinder his game. Love the way he plays, just seems to glide effortlessly out there.

On a side note, I also noticed that Gaudreau seems to have the respect of other players in that he plays a pretty clean game. I haven't really seen any dirty stuff against him (except for dirtbag Ference and his slash across the wrists). I noticed the other night, after a whistle, a scrum ensued, and Suter just kind of tapped Gaudreau on the shoulder to tell him to back off. Normally, he'd get a glove to the face, or an arm around the head.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Weren't you one of the biggest fanboys this off season?

Now that he's doing well, playing great, putting up points.. now you want him to alter his shape? Seems weird.

I still am a huge fan of Johnny Hockey and he is doing great. I just worry about him and I think, in the long run, adding 10 lbs of muscle will increase his longevity..

[mile]

Originally Posted by Rerun

IMO, the kid is too skinny. An extra 10 lbs wouldn't hurt at all. What's the harm? If as a lot of people say, it will affect his game, he can lose the weight.

Most hockey players today are lean and skinny.

Gaudreau has already gotten advice from guys like St.Louis to get stronger in his legs, and not to get too bulky especially in the upper body because it hinders stickhandling. He's fine the way he is. As far as his weight goes, he said he was 160 at the start of this season so there isn't any concern there.

[Rerun]

Martin St Louis

[jayswin]

Thank you for that, Rerun. Thanks

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Martin St Louis

... at 37.

Seems super relevant since he's always been that size.