Prospect Info: #21OA - RW Julien Gauthier - Val-d'Or, QMJHL

[Oldracer]

Liking what I see at rookie camp

 

[Moosetache]

Liking what I see at rookie camp

yes, I am liking it too....he seems to do the things you can't teach well......I'm much more comfortable teaching a guy to pass more than teaching him how to put the puck in the net. He has that in spades. That shot is just ridiculous.

Another thing that is important to goalies (noted from a good goalie friend of mine)....its much harder to stop a guy who shoots the puck WHILE he is still skating. As opposed to a guy who hesitates his stride in order to shoot the puck (if that makes sense).

I had never considered that before until he said that to me one night. I of course then tried to shoot without hesitation in my stride and almost killed myself.

 

[DaveG]

Makes total sense to me, even coming from another sport for perspective. I used to drive other teams goalies NUTS in soccer because they never knew when my shot was going to come, I never really advertised it by slowing my pace down significantly. Harder to stop a shot you can't really time or prepare for.

 

[geehaad]

I never really advertised it by slowing my pace down significantly.

From back in Dave's playing days:

 

[DaveG]

No that's about my current speed

 

[garnetpalmetto]

From back in Dave's playing days:

I believe in Dave's playing days, the ball was still the head of a recently vanquished Dane...

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'd like to see Gauthier show a bit more TBH. He's got a certain carelessness with the puck which won't fly in the NHL. He's a good shooter I agree, but how many clean shots is his style of player going to get in a game? 2 or 3?

I feel like I'm looking at a guy whose upside is in the 20-goal range, probably a safer bet for 15 on an average campaign. That means he NEEDS to be better in handling and distributing the puck if he's going to really contribute offensively.

 

[geehaad]

Isn't that pretty much what we knew about him before the draft, though? It seems that he is what had been advertised...to me, anyway...and it's only been 2 weeks since the draft.

 

[Joe McGrath]

If he didn't have these weaknesses to his game, at his size he's a top 10 pick easily.

 

[NotOpie]

I'd like to see Gauthier show a bit more TBH. He's got a certain carelessness with the puck which won't fly in the NHL. He's a good shooter I agree, but how many clean shots is his style of player going to get in a game? 2 or 3?

I feel like I'm looking at a guy whose upside is in the 20-goal range, probably a safer bet for 15 on an average campaign. That means he NEEDS to be better in handling and distributing the puck if he's going to really contribute offensively.

I don't know about that. He's so good with the puck in close. With his size and strength I can see him adding 7 or 8 "greasy" goals especially considering his hands when below the dots. He's the guy who can flip the rebound over the sprawling goalie's pads and glove. I'd say he has 55-60 point potential with more goals than assists.

 

[DaveG]

I don't know about that. He's so good with the puck in close. With his size and strength I can see him adding 7 or 8 "greasy" goals especially considering his hands when below the dots. He's the guy who can flip the rebound over the sprawling goalie's pads and glove. I'd say he has 55-60 point potential with more goals than assists.

Yep, I would say a 30-25 season at some point wouldn't be out of the question for him by any means, maybe even 35-25 if things are really clicking with our offense somehow.

Isn't that pretty much what we knew about him before the draft, though? It seems that he is what had been advertised...to me, anyway...and it's only been 2 weeks since the draft.

Yeah pretty much. Right now prospect camp is more about seeing potential holes in players games, and who might be standing out among the other guys we drafted. I didn't pay too much attention to Fleury, Bean, or Gauthier for that reason compared to the time I spent focusing in on Smallman, Filipe, and Elynuik.

 

[NotOpie]

I'm kinda anxious to see if Zimmer lives up to my expectations during the scrimmage tomorrow.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I don't see 30 goal potential there at all. Skinner is a 30 goal player. Think back to what he looked like as a rookie, the goal scoring toolbox he brought. Gauthier isn't on that level.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I don't see 30 goal potential there at all. Skinner is a 30 goal player. Think back to what he looked like as a rookie, the goal scoring toolbox he brought. Gauthier isn't on that level.

Why would you compare him to such a different player. Wayne Simmonds scored 30 goals last year and I can assure you he didn't have Skinner's tool box as an 18 year old.

 

[Stickpucker]

Congrats on the pick Canes fan.

Gauthier has a very high ceiling I have a great feeling you are gonna fall in love with what this kid can do for your team.

He was underutilized in the WJC and I really think he's got something or prove after being benched so many times in that tournament for no reason.

I'm pulling for you guys this year, I really admire what Bill Peters is doing for your team.

Thanks good chap. Heres to hoping for a fun season.

 

[DaveG]

Why would you compare him to such a different player. Wayne Simmonds scored 30 goals last year and I can assure you he didn't have Skinner's tool box as an 18 year old.

Exactly. Completely different players. Simmonds, Marchand, Saad, Palmieri, and Jenner all hit 30 goals last year and all would appear from watching them to be nowhere near as skilled as Skinner.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Why would you compare him to such a different player. Wayne Simmonds scored 30 goals last year and I can assure you he didn't have Skinner's tool box as an 18 year old.

I compared him to Skinner because that's the only 30 goal guy who's shown up at a Canes rookie camp in over a decade

Anyway, Gauthier's puck skill is a problem unless he was just having a TERRIBLE day of it. At the pro level a winger has to be able to put the puck on another guy's tape, not in his skates, and he has to be able to receive a crisp pass, not bobble it and then settle it down. Gauthier has good hands in front of the net, no doubt, but that doesn't matter much if he's a black hole in the possession game.

 

[Moosetache]

It doesn't take a lot to score from the top of the crease. Get in the right spot and just keep whacking at the puck. There is a stat out there that like 80% of goals in hockey are scored on the ice.

 

[w e l o s t b o y s]

not sure how great of a skater Zykov is but Gauthier just burned past him in that drill where they race for the puck at centre

 

[NotOpie]

not sure how great of a skater Zykov is but Gauthier just burned past him in that drill where they race for the puck at centre

To repeat, Zykov is not a fast skater. He's "okay" and has agility. He's no speed burner.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It doesn't take a lot to score from the top of the crease.

Yes, it does... your team has to get the puck and work it into a scoring position first. For that to happen on a regular basis, your players need to be competent in moving the puck.

 

[dogbazinho]

I always worry about drafting already filled out huge guys as you wonder how much of their numbers come from just being bigger than everyone else. When they get in the NHL they no longer have that advantage and have to use other attributes that may have never developed.

 

[lakai17]

Hasn't Gauthier been having a decent pre season? Any chance he makes the team or whats his season projection?

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

Hasn't Gauthier been having a decent pre season? Any chance he makes the team or whats his season projection?

49 goals 32 assists

 

[Ole Gil]

Hasn't Gauthier been having a decent pre season? Any chance he makes the team or whats his season projection?

I'd say with Dzingle hurt, he's probably a lock to make the team. Whether he can stay up is another question.

But he was beating dmen 1v1 routinely.