You have to take his stats with a massive grain of salt. Through 6 games, 4 were against two of the worst teams in the NCAA - and against a legit team he managed 1 assist in 2 games played. Hell, 6 players on the team are currently PPG.
Also saying he has been the best player on the ice isn’t saying much when no one else on the team was drafted before the 4th round.
Way to early to use that type of hyperbole
I don't have to take anything with even the slightest grain of salt. The first line of my post declared he would be hard to keep off the team IF he kept playing the way he was playing.
And as someone who has seen EVERY shift he has skated in the NCAA this season, I can tell you he has played right up to the level of his production would indicate. CC and Colgate are not power houses but there are very good players on both teams - many 2-4 years older than Gildon. UNH has a few gifted offensive players (including 3 seniors) and another true freshman standout on D who have frankly taken a back seat to Gildon thus far. Being drafted doesn't equate to instant production in NCAA hockey. Did you miss Bellows' performance last season?
He was outstanding on both ends against Lowell as well. If you're going to hold his production in the UML series or the UNH schedule against him, we'll have a hard time putting a roster together (but more on that later)!! His production, his defense and his confidence with the puck have been notably apparent. His transition to college hockey has been smooth and he deserves a long hard look for this team as a result. He is currently a different player than the one who was sent home from summer camp.
Your post indicates you likely haven't seen many of his shifts - if any. You appear to have also forgotten that UNH has been among the worst teams in college hockey lately. Gildon is easily the most important player in UNHs strong start. While it's a team game, more than any other player he is the reason UNH has been beating the Colgates and CCs and not losing to them as the often did the last few years. More than any other he is the reason UNH is currently allowing just 2.00 goals per game after allowing nearly 3.5 last season (including 5 to CC). More than any other player, he has picked up the offensive slack after Tyler Kelleher's graduation. Watch him play and you will see this. If you still don't think he should be on the team - I don't care. No one else has picked him since I posted. Dismissing his early performance, however, is to simply be unaware.
The D often projected to make the roster ahead of him might not meet your standard either, Im afraid.
Gildon: 6-1--7 +6
Anderson: 3-3--6 E
* but four of his six points came against Merrimack! Avg schedule (if you buy into Bemidji being more than one of the better teams in a bad league), otherwise poor. He's out.
Krys: 0-4--4 +1
* tough schedule, he's in I guess
Samburg: 0-3--3 +1
* all three points in one game vs MC. Out.
Peeke: 0-3--3 +4
* Atrocious schedule. Points against Sacred Heart only. Nope.
Hughes: 1-2--3 +3
* Played one good team. No points against Clarkson. Out.
Martin: 0-1--1 +4
* One point against that schedule? Out.
Lindgren: 0-1--1 -1
* Good schedule at least - running out of bodies. So in I guess.
I sure hope Fox and Kemp start strong!
And just for good measure - Cale Makar is only 0-3--3, +1 against a schedule that outside of OSU has been pitiful...