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

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Locke

And a +7. Wild.

-4 in his last 5 though

[GoJetsGo]

Starting to see a lot of "he's struggling" comments because he's had a few turn overs the last few games.

I think he is fighting it a bit, but it's worth remembering he plays a high risk game and he's been encouraged by both coaches and management to NOT stop playing his style of game because of turn overs. I remember Burke going so far as to telling him he'd be sent down if he got down on himself about the turn-overs resulting from his attempts to be creative.

It's quite possible the long season and intensity in this playoff push is weighing for him, but some people were suggesting he needs to be sat.

Some of the over-reactions are perplexing.

He's still a point a game player despite him fighting it a bit as of late. If he wasn't showing some growing pains, he'd *currently* be a top line, elite player.

People need to remember he's a rookie. Struggling a bit in February of his first season and still scoring at a point a game clip isn't really struggling. It's part of a learning curve / growth.

[Resolute 14]

As an aside, Kucherov in the second round and Palat in the seventh. The lightning hit two home runs outside of the first round that draft. And Namestnikov has potential too.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

-4 in his last 5 though

Yeah, which isn't great but not all that concerning. I think people are forgetting he's a rookie and will continue to struggle for stretches. We've been a bit spoiled since his initial five games and I've seen some expectations raised to above the rookie player that he is.

Monahan Finished -20 last season.

Also Gaudreau picked up his first penalty minutes of his NHL career vs the Bruins, 4 entire minutes. I hope that didn't ruin his Lady Byng chances.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Gaudreau clearly hit a wall.

...and he still has points in five of his last six games.

He is giving up the puck more frequently and not as confident in the offensive zone. He is elite as he still puts up points when having a bad game. He can play like crap and then set up the winning goal.

[Hockeyguy15]

You don't get a plus for PP goals and I believe he has been getting points on the PP recently.

[foshizzle11]

why do you get a minus when you are in the penalty box and the other team scores but you don't get a plus when you score on the PP? I don't understand that.

Anyway, JG might be "struggling" but people have to remember that he is new to this league, he is a rookie. He will make mistakes. I wouldn't say he is truly struggling considering what he has done so far this season. He and everyone else needs to stop giving up the puck in key areas of the ice.

[SuperMatt18]

Gaudreau will always put up points since he is just that good, especially on the PP.

Still IMO he has hit a wall at 5 on 5 and looks fatigued in my opinion.

Not as dynamic, that extra step is missing, and you can tell from some of the pucks that have gotten away from him that he seems fatigued.

Still works on the PP because he is so good with space, but having a hard time creating space 5v5 right now.

In retrospect him having that time at the all-star game off might have been a better outcome in the long run.

[Dienasty]

Not to mention that teams are matching up top D pairings against him.

When him Monahan, Hudler jumped the bench Chara and Hamilton went right on. I think that was part of the reason Hartley moved Gaudreau to another line. Made Julien make a decision on who to match Chara up against.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As an aside, Kucherov in the second round and Palat in the seventh. The lightning hit two home runs outside of the first round that draft. And Namestnikov has potential too.

Button wanted Kucherov too, didn't he?

[442scotty]

Once some of our players like Bennett, Poirier etc show up next year it will be a lot harder for teams to key on Johnny. They will have a whole team to worry about. He will be fine in any event

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Button wanted Kucherov too, didn't he?

Johnny and Kucherov were the two players Button kept off the list. He wanted to play those by ear. As soon as the Lightning picked Kucherov Button said he wanted to take Johnny if he was still around in the 4th round since they didn't have a 3rd round pick.

[stemit14]

After the mention that gaudreau is struggling I bet he has another breakout game tonight so everyone has to eat their words just like they did when after the game he sat early in the year.

I'm not criticizing everyone that is saying he's struggling cause there's a fair argument for it I guess... But this kid seems to take it to another level when people doubt him.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by foshizzle11

why do you get a minus when you are in the penalty box and the other team scores but you don't get a plus when you score on the PP?

When on the PK or the PP, nobody gets pluses or minuses for PP goals. The only exception is in the event of a short handed goal, the PK gets a plus and the PP gets a minus.

You don't get anything for sitting in the box in any scenario.

[theoforever]

His puck fighting started when he had that little wrist accident, perhaps related.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by theoforever

His puck fighting started when he had that little wrist accident, perhaps related.

That was the other thing I noticed. His recent struggles started the very next game. At first I though he might have been actually playing through an injury, then I thought maybe it just freaked him out a bit (though not likely) and then I wondered if maybe he's just not used to the wrist guards (which he's now wearing because of that incident)...

But none of that really explains losing an edge when turning around at the blueline. I think fatigue seems a bit more probable.

[ForeverFlameFan]

It's only his rookie year, he'll get used the the 82 game schedule soon enough.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Once some of our players like Bennett, Poirier etc show up next year it will be a lot harder for teams to key on Johnny. They will have a whole team to worry about. He will be fine in any event

Bennett and Proier are going to make it harder for teams to key on JG? If that were the case with Poirier, he'd already be here. Bennett, fair ball tbd. Don't like the expecations some have for our future rookies, the likely hood of Poirier being an impact player for the Flames next year to the point that he will take heat off of JG or any or our top line is not likely.

[AcGold]

I think he needs to sit just to get his first step back. He's looked slow for 5 games, needs some rnr. Not surprised he's getting worse. He's never played so many games and it's tough competition.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Hartley gave him very little ice time in the 3rd period of the Boston game if I recall correctly. Look for a big game from Johnny tonight.