Question of the year folks..what is wrong with Gaudreau
What is wrong with Gaudreau?
Look, Johnny has always been the smallest player on his teams since he was 10 years old, he also has been the absolute best player on these teams including the Flames for 5 years. Not only does it not make sense that the other teams/players have figured out how to play him or stop him the eye test shows his game has dramatically changed for the worst over the last year.
Where he once would make someone look foolish or take a penalty trying to check him because of his crazy skating/edgework and puck skills he now just gives up to avoid a hit, where he used to spin away with the puck in the corners or along the boards he now backs off to avoid any contact, it really doesn't make any sense at all.
What to do?
1) If he has a nagging injury...sit him till he's healthy
2) If he has a serious personal problem...sit him till it's dealt with
3) If something has happened to fracture his relationship with the team or teammates...trade him while his 99 points are still a memory
Physically hurt or mentally in a rut one things for sure, this team needs a productive happy Gaudreau for any success
Last edited by Textcritic; 02-07-2020 at 10:18 AM.
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I would be very curious to see how his fitness results were compared to previous seasons. From my point of view, his edge work is still and will always be there. But for some reason, it seems like he doesnt have that quick step, or has lost a bit on that front. Its as if his fast twitch muscles are not the same as they were the previous few years. Hence he isnt able to get that necessary separation to make a play. Couple that with his unwillingness to take any sort of contact and play a perimeter game, is a recipe for failure.
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It seems like perhaps teams have figured out how to nullify his style. He’s certainly not aggressive, far more finesse, and while he’s a terrific offensive talent it would appear opponents have discovered ways to neutralize his particular skill set, of which he himself appears to struggle to give different looks.
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His game changed at the end of last year. It could be injury or something happened in the locker room. I don't buy that it's a confidence issue or that teams have figured him out, his give a crap level is way too low for those to be true.
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It's more than Gaudreau, it's pretty much the entire team. We have just 4 returning players that are putting up a better point per game pace than last year and only 1 of the 4 has been a full-time NHLer in both seasons, that being Andersson (+2.64/82gp). Only 2 other returning players are even within 5 points per 82 games of their pace last season, those being Derek Ryan (-1.2) and Hamonic (-2.5). Giordano and Gaudreau are the worst at -36.79 (Gio) & -36.38 (Johnny).
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Look at Gaudreaus reaction here at 3:10. Non playoff game in February from 2 years ago.
Now look at his reaction from his goal against the sharks just days ago. 1:55 doesn't even crack a smile?
This isn't just a one occasion thing either. These goals reflect his emotion throughout those entire seasons. It appears to me that Johnny is not having fun. Maybe hes frustrated, maybe something is going on in his personal life, maybe he doesn't like it here or maybe a combination of things.
But for me the skill is still there and after a long break or change of scenery I expect him to be the player we saw last season. all this talk of defenders "figuring him out" after 6 years is nonsense to me. It's all in his head.
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Why is it nonsense to suggest teams that review video on the daily in a copycat league can’t find and implement a way to neutralize someone over time.
It seems just as nonsensical to say it’s all in his head and he’s not having fun.
This is not to suggest my opinion is correct as its just that, an opinion. But suggesting it’s nonsense that teams who strive daily to find ways to neutralize star players may have found a way to do so, is a bit closed minded, especially with the rebuttal that the reason for said players efforts is that he just isn’t having fun.
Why is it nonsense to suggest teams that review video on the daily in a copycat league can’t find and implement a way to neutralize someone over time.
It seems just as nonsensical to say it’s all in his head and he’s not having fun.
This is not to suggest my opinion is correct as its just that, an opinion. But suggesting it’s nonsense that teams who strive daily to find ways to neutralize star players may have found a way to do so, is a bit closed minded, especially with the rebuttal that the reason for said players efforts is that he just isn’t having fun.
I just find it almost impossible to believe that people have finally "figured him out" and he won't ever become more than a 75 point player again because defenders now know how to defend him after 400 games.
Just my opinion though.
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Putting too much pressure on himself. After last year the team's core was left untouched so they could prove themselves.
They got off to a slow start and then the pressure go to him. (them) and it snowballed from there. Now he seems disengaged as if he is giving up on the season. Little confidence left.
Ward let it slip that they’re trying to be something other than a scoring team. Hence the seemingly infinite number of dump ins and safe plays every night. It’s why the entire team’s offence has plummeted this year - simple reactionary coaching to a bad playoff series/slide at the end of last year.
Dump it into Gaudreau’s 100 times, and how many times do you think he’ll get it back?
Sure, he could be and should be competing harder - but the way the Flames are playing is not suited for Johnny’s game when he’s on. This team wants to grind and play a slow game. Johnny doesn’t fit - and pretty much no one else does either it would seem. Boring ass hockey, and incredibly ineffective on top of it.
Our breakout is so, so slow. How many odd man rushes do we generate thanks to a quick transition on a nightly basis? It seems low - very low.
Last edited by ComixZone; 02-07-2020 at 07:08 AM.
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I just find it almost impossible to believe that people have finally "figured him out" and he won't ever become more than a 75 point player again because defenders now know how to defend him after 400 games.
Just my opinion though.
I believe he will return to his former self as well. Perhaps not at a 99 point level but certainly more than what he’s offering at present. In order to get there though, he needs to adapt and evolve his arsenal, not just stick with the same box of tools. This is likely where our opinions converge in that he’s probably not having fun in that he’s not getting results with his current methods, but until he adds to the repertoire there’s a good chance not much is going to change if in fact there’s truth to teams discovering a way to generally defend his current efforts.
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Where is the evidence teams are playing him differently now? I’d believe it if teams were pressuring him more, or being more physical, but they’re not.
Johnny’s less engaged and isn’t dangerous when he has the puck. Looks frustrated. I agree that the vision is still there. But he’s not the gamebreaker like he used to be.
I have a few guesses but they’re only based on speculation. I miss Johnny Hockey
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Teams are taking away his favourite options. He’s become frustrated and demoralized.
Gaudreau needs to learn how to adapt his game. To add more tools to his arsenal. And most importantly, not get frustrated and blame refs, coaches, and linemates for his struggles. He can’t control what other people do, only what he does. This is what Burke meant when he said he’s surprised Gaudreau hasn’t become a pro yet.
Another thing pros do is take diet and training seriously. Players like Crosby and MacKinnon take part in intense off-season camps with other top pros. Gaudreau practices stickhandling with his dad. He may have been able to get away with relying on raw talent and puck skills when he was younger, but neglecting training will eventually catch up to a player.
Then there’s the location thing. If he’s not having fun (and it’s pretty clear he isn’t), then the homesickness will only be worse. I suspect in the back of his mind, Gaudreau is already looking forward to the day when he’s playing back East close to home.
And I’m NOT saying this is a huge issue, but in a recent behind the scenes article in the Athletic, Flames players went on about how Gaudreau is terrified of flying. He hates it more than anyone else on the team. I expect that would play into any desires he has to play closer to home and on a team that flies far less.
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I wonder if AGM Chris Snow’s diagnosis is affecting the team emotionally and particularly JG if they were pals.
At the highest levels of competition, many of the players have similar skills but it is the emotion or caring that drives them forward. If that isn’t there, it makes the elite player just a regular player.
I also blame systems overall. Is there no possible way to get players that are creative and defensively responsible onto the ice at the same time?
Tiger Woods became very human as a golfer when his personal life fell apart, he totally lost his game.
Johnny probably scored at will in junior and college, and lit it pretty good for awhile in the NHL too. The game has gotten faster in the last few years, and the league has done nothing to favor a smaller (and let's face it slower) player like Gaudreau. He's not a fast guy, he's shifty. If teams figured out not just how to play him, but really how to play the Flames as a whole last year, and the goals stopped coming easy peasy, suddenly that swagger is gone.
We've seen Johnny go from a guy who you just knew was going to score on a breakaway, for example, to a guy who now you think will probably flub it, that extra move isn't there, the last second elevation, whatever, it just isn't working for him, and that stuff's taking its toll (see above videos). He's not having fun, not feeling it, not engaged. Are there other issues? Injury? Dunno. But the guy we are watching is no good without the puck, and .... not that good with it either. Right now.
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I have a few guesses but they’re only based on speculation. I miss Johnny Hockey
Well, it's been pretty well documented that Johnny's off ice activities include things that are not conducive to playing great hockey and staying in tip top shape.
Now, the answer likely lies there, although I wouldn't rule some sort of injury that is affecting his shot. He has never had any kind of decent shot, but it's downright putrid now. On break-a-ways, he simply stuffs it in to the goalie's pads.
I don't think it's that teams are playing him different, because I don't see any evidence of that, but I'm not a real "hockey guy", and maybe I just don't pick up on that type of subtle difference.
It pains me to say it but there is enough smoke around #2. I would think big ern would be all over it. I have heard similar stories from multiple sources that makes me think it's credible. Not sure it would necessarily explain the whole decline but probably playing some role.
Hope he gets it sorted before 20/21 season.
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Question of the year folks..what is wrong with Gaudreau
