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

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

That's exactly my theory. Small guys like Gaudreau don't grind it out in the trenches. That's where a lot of those injuries happen.

Kane is small, Toews is bigger. I'd bet Toews gets hurt more simply for to play style...

There may also be an added advantage to being a small player that stems from an aggressive sports culture. Perhaps players like Gaudreau avoid hits with greater ease because larger players are not as intent on hitting them. The best hockey hits are those by big players on even bigger players. Is there a part of hitting above one's own weight class that plays in to how a player targets the opposition?

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

More to this point, I believe that Bennett has also grown an inch since the draft. I think he is 6'1" now, no?

Jg is listed at 5'9" and Bennet is still listed at 6'.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Jg is listed at 5'9" and Bennet is still listed at 6'.

Bennett measured 185 cm at training camp which is just a shade under 6'1.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Jg is listed at 5'9" and Bennet is still listed at 6'.

It's a well known fact that 'official' height and weight listings aren't that accurate. Often times the NHL statistics tables are updated only when a player is drafted and then players spend their entire careers listed at their draft height and weight.

Bennett was 6'0.25" when he was drafted 7-8 months ago. He's 18 and still growing, so by now it's feasible that he's 6'1". Bob McKenzie had him at 6'1" in all his draft profiles. FWIW his Wikipedia page has him listed at 6'1", 196lbs – which is in line with what Treliving said about Sam recently adding 15lbs of muscle. Another 10 lbs and Sam is going to be Iginla-sized.

And we all know Johnny Hockey is only 5'9" while he's wearing skates

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

And we all know Johnny Hockey is only 5'9" while he's wearing skates

And standing on the box the skates came in.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

And standing on the box the skates came in.

And pre-haircut.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

There may also be an added advantage to being a small player that stems from an aggressive sports culture. Perhaps players like Gaudreau avoid hits with greater ease because larger players are not as intent on hitting them. The best hockey hits are those by big players on even bigger players. Is there a part of hitting above one's own weight class that plays in to how a player targets the opposition?

I think the biggest part of it is that since Gaudreau has always been smaller than most other players, he has developed a style where he is hard to hit, which being more of a shifty guy. When you watch him, sometimes the image that comes to mind is Ali employing the "rope a dope" tactic - he holds the puck, knows where his options are and how the play is unfolding, then avoids a check and makes a play after that defender has committed to him - he dares them to hit him and gets away

[Textcritic]

^
I totally agree about Gaudreau. I was making the argument about small players more generally.

[CliffFletcher]

So are Flames fans no longer going to care about the size of NHL players and prospects anymore? No longer mock small, skilled players and prospects from other teams, because being small can actually be an advantage in the NHL? Or are the merits of being small unique to Johnny Gaudreau?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

So are Flames fans no longer going to care about the size of NHL players and prospects anymore? No longer mock small, skilled players and prospects from other teams, because being small can actually be an advantage in the NHL? Or are the merits of being small unique to Johnny Gaudreau?

Was this a thing? I never noticed it. Who was it directed at (Oilers don't count because we will mock them no matter what).

In general, though, team size matters IMO. Of course there are exceptions, but the skill set to make a small guy successful is pretty rare.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Was this a thing? I never noticed it. Who was it directed at (Oilers don't count because we will mock them no matter what).

In general, though, team size matters IMO. Of course there are exceptions, but the skill set to make a small guy successful is pretty rare.

Half of CliffFletcher's posts on Calgarypuck are trying to prove what hypocritical dumb dumbs we all are. Yesterday was about parroting our GM, today it's liking small players.

He doesn't get that being a sports fan and taking jabs at other teams, regardless of hypocrisy, is all part of the fun. F. U. N. fun. It's an obsession for the guy. Don't take it away from him.

[GioforPM]

Well, I didn't think the fact we are all hypocritical dummies needed proving.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by T@T

Bennett measured 185 cm at training camp which is just a shade under 6'1.

Are you sure? 185cm is exactly 6'2''.

[killer_carlson]

no, 185 cm is 72. 8 inches, which is almost 6'1

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

It's a well known fact that 'official' height and weight listings aren't that accurate. Often times the NHL statistics tables are updated only when a player is drafted and then players spend their entire careers listed at their draft height and weight.

Bennett was 6'0.25" when he was drafted 7-8 months ago. He's 18 and still growing, so by now it's feasible that he's 6'1". Bob McKenzie had him at 6'1" in all his draft profiles. FWIW his Wikipedia page has him listed at 6'1", 196lbs – which is in line with what Treliving said about Sam recently adding 15lbs of muscle. Another 10 lbs and Sam is going to be Iginla-sized.

And we all know Johnny Hockey is only 5'9" while he's wearing skates

Kind of funny that when you think about it Bennett was 7 months younger then Draisaitl and is now just getting to the same age that Draisaitl was back at the draft. I wonder if Bennett was 196 at the draft if Edmonton takes him instead of Draisaitl.

That was off topic, anyways I think JG is acclimatizing just fine.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

no, 185 cm is 72. 8 inches, which is almost 6'1

This is the correct conversion - 1 inch = 2.54cm, though a lot of people round to 2.5cm which brings the error

[Stay Golden]

I wish Hartley would match up his D pairing more suitable to the situation when Johnny and Hudler are on the ice.
Too many times it is Engelland and Diaz and those 2 bricks dump the puck in poorly and expect Johnny and Hudler to out battle in the corners. And too often recently they are both getting knocked around.
Up until a month ago Gio, Brodie, Russell and Wideman were their D and all 4 of them make plays directly to Johnny and Hudler. They draw attention away from G&H allowing them to do what they do best. Create scoring chances.
Engelland and Diaz are neither playmaking D. They panic make suicide passes and poorly placed dump ins.
I wish the the coaches would keep them away from the small Johnny Hudler line.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

This is the correct conversion - 1 inch = 2.54cm, though a lot of people round to 2.5cm which brings the error

This was my math. Apologies

[heep223]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Half of CliffFletcher's posts on Calgarypuck are trying to prove what hypocritical dumb dumbs we all are. Yesterday was about parroting our GM, today it's liking small players.



He doesn't get that being a sports fan and taking jabs at other teams, regardless of hypocrisy, is all part of the fun. F. U. N. fun. It's an obsession for the guy. Don't take it away from him.

Oh ya was he the one saying that when it comes to the Flames, everything becomes 100% unopposed homerism on this forum? Lol

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I wish Hartley would match up his D pairing more suitable to the situation when Johnny and Hudler are on the ice.
Too many times it is Engelland and Diaz and those 2 bricks dump the puck in poorly and expect Johnny and Hudler to out battle in the corners. And too often recently they are both getting knocked around.
Up until a month ago Gio, Brodie, Russell and Wideman were their D and all 4 of them make plays directly to Johnny and Hudler. They draw attention away from G&H allowing them to do what they do best. Create scoring chances.
Engelland and Diaz are neither playmaking D. They panic make suicide passes and poorly placed dump ins.
I wish the the coaches would keep them away from the small Johnny Hudler line.

+1. Johnny also likes to draw defenders in and pass to the point. I would rather have Gio or Brodie there than Engelland or Diaz