Freddy "The Goat" Gauthier

Mess

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Feb 27, 2002
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He was never very talented offensively, but he was around a PPG in the Q in his pre-draft year. That part of his game just didn't progress at all, which is slightly strange.

I didn't find it strange at all.

Freddy G's size was like a man child in the Q against little waterbugs so he could get some points alone in junior simply because he was too big for some players to handle him.

There is and never was any offensive upside here. This was always a 4th line checking C at the NHL level (if things worked out) where he would put up 10-12 points a year on average. His strength to the Leafs would be defensively and on the PK and FO dot giving the 4th line some size/strength and cycle ability.
 
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Battle Lin

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Dec 18, 2015
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if only he could toughen up his game some and drop the gloves when needed, then we dont even need to waste a spot on martin, hes a beast of a man so he can easily work on it
 
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thewave

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Jun 17, 2011
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Goat groomed by hockey Canada because his intellect, size and straight ahead speed to be a shutdown C specialist. We did the sane with him and now he is installed and given his fair chance.
 

Martin Skoula

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Oct 18, 2017
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I don't have high hopes for him finding his mean side. Most of these 6'6+ guys that were always bigger than their age group seem to have that side of their game toned down. The really gritty ones tend to be average sized or hit a really late growth spurt like Parayko.
 

zeke

The Dube Abides
Mar 14, 2005
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forget meanness. his size is an asset regardless.

more important is that he show some ability to control the puck and forecheck effectively.
 
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Apotheosis

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Mar 27, 2014
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Toronto, Ontario
Matthews-Nylander-Kadri-Gauthier down the middle sounds really enticing for next season (assuming Nylander makes the switch to C).

Matthews-Marner top line (please for the love of God, no Hyman)
Nylander-Kapanen sheltered offensive line.
Kadri-Brown secondary offensive line/optional match-up line.
Gauthier-Hyman grinding and match-up line.
 

Man Bear Pig

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Aug 10, 2008
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Matthews-Nylander-Kadri-Gauthier down the middle sounds really enticing for next season (assuming Nylander makes the switch to C).

Matthews-Marner top line (please for the love of God, no Hyman)
Nylander-Kapanen sheltered offensive line.
Kadri-Brown secondary offensive line/optional match-up line.
Gauthier-Hyman grinding and match-up line.
Lol at the thought of Hyman not being on Matthews wing. That'll be babcocks dying wish. He would just want to see it one more time.
 
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Slyfox

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Dec 12, 2016
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He's faster and a better skater from last year. He created chances just doesn't have any hands or a decent shot. Give him someone else than Martin and we can have a fourth line that can score.
 

Faltorvo

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Feb 18, 2008
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226ose.jpg

For starters it's "The mighty goat" to you sir ;)
and he looks like this

images
 
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ponder

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Jul 11, 2007
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Vancouver
In just 33 even strength minutes so far this year he’s already -4. He can’t keep up with the play yet, I’d send him down. Moore isn’t a great 4C, but he’s an upgrade on Gauthier.

Our bottom line and bottom pairing have been big issues this year, though, they get dominated basically every night. They can very quickly undo good work from the other lines/pairings. I’m hoping that Zaitsev coming back, plus more time for Dermott (hopefully) can fix the bottom pairing - I’d like to see Rielly/Hainsey, Gards/Zaitsev and Borg/Dermott as the D pairs. The 4th line, though, I think we’ll need to make a trade deadline move.

A move for a Boyle level 4C would make a big impact on this team, especially if paired with line adjustments like swapping Komarov/Brown, and benching Martin most nights. Marleau/Kadri/Brown and Komarov/<Boyle-level-4C>/Leivo could really turn our bottom 6 into a strength, while it’s currently a weakness.
 
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deletethis

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Mar 17, 2015
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There are many other pattern seekers like myself who post here. Can any of you point me to an example of a full time NHL forward (not a goon) who has produced as poorly as Gauthier has in the AHL to date? I haven't been able to find one example, maybe Gauthier is about to become the first ever sub 0.35 PPG AHL forward who isn't a fighter to become an NHL regular?

I hear the names of Boyle and Gaustad but have you seen their AHL production? Definitely better producers and both considerably more physical/prickly players as well.
 
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Maplebeasts

I See Demons!!!!!
Oct 26, 2014
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Barrie, Ontario
I think one day you'll get

Hyman-Matthews-Marner
JVR-Nylander-Kapanen/Brown
Leivo-Kadri-Kapanen/Brown
Martin-Gauthier-Shosh

Fully groomed that is a serious forward group
No offense man but that 4th line made me want to barf. No way in hell does Martin or Sosh have any kind of future here. Even Leivo I'm a little skeptical of.
 

BM14

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Dec 7, 2012
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No offense man but that 4th line made me want to barf. No way in hell does Martin or Sosh have any kind of future here. Even Leivo I'm a little skeptical of.
Korshkov will have a place on the Leafs before Sosh/Timoshov
 

BoredBrandonPridham

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Aug 9, 2011
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it might be time to give Aaltonen a shot. Gauthier hasn't been very good at all sadly

If you want to give a player a chance at the NHL you can’t just give them 5 games. You need to give them time to adjust and learn to play with some new players. They need some development then you evaluate their learning curve.
 

BlueBaron

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May 29, 2006
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No offense man but that 4th line made me want to barf. No way in hell does Martin or Sosh have any kind of future here. Even Leivo I'm a little skeptical of.
Well you could be right, we are always going to look to upgrade and Martin's cap hit may one be too much for the 4rth line. Hard to say about Leivo. I'm not sure what you expect from a fourth line but the one above is pretty typical.
 

meefer

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Jun 9, 2015
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Bangkok
I've been thinking of how long it has taken Polak to regain a semblance of an NHL defenseman this year and in the last 3/4 weeks he's started to show definite improvements, at least to my eyes. Could it be that it correlates to almost being one year since his injury against Washington? Which leads me to wonder if the same issue (severe leg injury) has affected Freddy G in the same way. While never blessed with great skating skills, might we see a better skating Gauthier come the fall, when it will be past a year since his surgery and he'll have had a off-season to 'fine-tune' his stride? I'm guessing Goat is nearing the end of his time with the Leafs and as a RFA he might be offered a 1/2 year contract to prove himself. I like the guy, hope he can manage to upgrade his skating, but have no idea if this is possible. Anyone care to offer an opinion?
 

wingman75

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Dec 3, 2008
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The QC
The fact that the organization has now made deadline deals in back to back seasons after having a decent look at him makes what @Brown Dog says seem true.
I though he might be able to do it, but it really doesn't seem like it.

We're going to be in the market for 2 new C's next season.
 
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