Freddy "The Goat" Gauthier

[Hockey Crazy]

Why did you bump this? I was terrified for a second...

 

[WTFMAN99]

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.

Gauthier is fine as the spare centre but I basically figured we'd need 2 centres this off-season. Check it out

Are the Leafs the best fit for John Tavares this summer? (Leafs Off-season)

 

[Boutette]

Gauthier is fine as the spare centre but I basically figured we'd need 2 centres this off-season. Check it out

Are the Leafs the best fit for John Tavares this summer? (Leafs Off-season)

I suppose his idea is find if the leafs want to get rid of any young player who has a great year because he has them all signing 1-2 year contracts and the team is so pressed up against the cap that the leafs would have no choice but to constantly jettison their youth, not have room to make trade deadline acquisitions or improve the D over the next 7 years to avoid going over the cap repeatedly. But hey, we get Tavares, so nothing else matters, right?

 

[WTFMAN99]

I suppose his idea is find if the leafs want to get rid of any young player who has a great year because he has them all signing 1-2 year contracts and the team is so pressed up against the cap that the leafs would have no choice but to constantly jettison their youth, not have room to make trade deadline acquisitions or improve the D over the next 7 years to avoid going over the cap repeatedly. But hey, we get Tavares, so nothing else matters, right?

If that is the only thing you got out of it, I can't help you very much

 

[IBeL34f]

Why did you bump this? I was terrified for a second...

Definitely should've been a different thread - I wasn't terrified, but I did think we'd recalled him when I first saw it.

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?

I hope you're right about the injury, and just needing time to fully recover. I've always been a big supporter of his, even before we drafted him, and do really want to see him succeed. If we don't get an established, long-term 4th-line C in the off-season, I hope he gets another serious look next year. He missed a golden opportunity this year, but I still think there's some potential there.

 

[meefer]

Why did you bump this? I was terrified for a second...

Can't imagine why you'd be terrified. I'm just curious about what Goat's future holds. As said, I like him, and while I realize his skating was never a strength, I wonder if whatever improvements he made were nullified by surgery and if he can improve the way Polak has.

 

[Prince N]

Goat is not good enough and I fear he never will be, even for the 4th line.

Personally, i give up on the guy.

 

[deletethis]

There was once a time when an organization might keep a player like Gauthier around in their farm system for years because they like the individual. There was a possibility that the player might mature late and become an NHLer in his mid to late 20's. Today the CBA makes that an expensive investment in the contract spot and the potential to lose the player on waivers when he actually does turn the corner. The last time I remember the Leafs making a longer development investment in a player was Jay Harrison who played 6 seasons in the AHL before heading off to Europe then getting a last cup of hockey with the Leafs before catching on in Carolina.

 

[Raging Bull]

Can't imagine why you'd be terrified. I'm just curious about what Goat's future holds. As said, I like him, and while I realize his skating was never a strength, I wonder if whatever improvements he made were nullified by surgery and if he can improve the way Polak has.

Polak has always been a good skater for a big guy, he struggled this year coming off surgery and no training but it's never been an issue with him.

 

[egd27]

Why did you bump this? I was terrified for a second...

Why would you be terrified?

Kudos for the bump rather than starting another thread to rehash a topic that's been around for a couple of years now.

On the first page alone we have:
2 GM threads
2 Tavares threads
2 JVR threads

 

[Hockey Crazy]

Why would you be terrified?

Kudos for the bump rather than starting another thread to rehash a topic that's been around for a couple of years now.

On the first page alone we have:
2 GM threads
2 Tavares threads
2 JVR threads

Because for a second I thought we just inserted a non NHLer into one of the best forward groups in the league.

Like the idea of a big 4C,but imo GOAT won't make it

 

[Fogelhund]

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?

Who knows what the organization is thinking with Goat at this point. I've been one of the few, hopeful that he'd become an elite Defensive C, with great size. Some of his game has improved, but that skating remains an issue. It isn't his top speed, its the first few steps. Impossible for me to say, is that just who he is, or injury. We are short C's in the system, so that bodes well for him, at least to play for the Marlies for another year. If he is fixable, it's a big off season for him though.

 

[BertCorbeau]

Why would you be terrified?

Kudos for the bump rather than starting another thread to rehash a topic that's been around for a couple of years now.

On the first page alone we have:
2 GM threads
2 Tavares threads
2 JVR threads

There was a prefix on this thread that said 'recalled/assigned' as the thread was started when Freddy was brought up to the Leafs earlier in the season. It just implied Freddy was brought back up today.

I removed it, so the discussion about Freddy can continue without the confusion.

 

[MyBudJT]

At this point, I'd trade him to Montreal for their 3rd round pick (If they'd do it)

 

[Fogelhund]

At this point, I'd trade him to Montreal for their 3rd round pick (If they'd do it)

Montreal does need a 1C.

 

[Macallan18]

Goat is not good enough and I fear he never will be, even for the 4th line.

Personally, i give up on the guy.

unfortunately so. these day the starting point is skating, which is his weak suit. and he has worse hands than hyman.
he'll be lucky to get an AHL contract.

 

[egd27]

There was a prefix on this thread that said 'recalled/assigned' as the thread was started when Freddy was brought up to the Leafs earlier in the season. It just implied Freddy was brought back up today.

I removed it, so the discussion about Freddy can continue without the confusion.

That's why you're the Global Mod Bert.

 

[justafan22]

Is he waiver eligible next year? If he is I think he gets dealt this offseason for a pick. He's had his shot, looks like it's not happening under babcock

 

[BertCorbeau]

Is he waiver eligible next year? If he is I think he gets dealt this offseason for a pick. He's had his shot, looks like it's not happening under babcock

I believe he is waiver eligible, but if he can't crack the roster next year I don't know if he gets claimed.

If a team wants to give a decent pick for him, I would move him. But at this point he's nearly waiver fodder so I don't think he'll have much value. I do think he's good centre depth for the team going forward, in terms of being able to fill in on a fourth line role if need be. I don't think he's a long-term solution though.

 

[JEI]

I think he's going to get moved this summer for a draft pick. Someone will likely roll the dice on him.

 

[Buds17]

Guess we could attempt to move him if we're concerned about (possibly) losing him to waivers. Otherwise, with some question marks at C due to pending free agency, it might be too soon to cut ties just yet, even if he's possibly been passed on the depth chart by an Aaltonen and is not viewed as much more than a depth option.

 

[Maple Leaf]

This was a dumb pick before it was even made

 

[Boutette]

Guess we could attempt to move him if we're concerned about (possibly) losing him to waivers. Otherwise, with some question marks at C due to pending free agency, it might be too soon to cut ties just yet, even if he's possibly been passed on the depth chart by an Aaltonen and is not viewed as much more than a depth option.

From the way Keefe is playing centers, it looks like he's also been passed by both Brooks and even college ATO Plouffe.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

I say give him a full year as a fourth line center with the leafs. Moore has been dissapointing and hopefully Plakenic turns it on for the playoffs. You spend a first round pick on the guy, give him every opportunity possible.

 

[ShaneFalco]

I say give him a full year as a fourth line center with the leafs. Moore has been dissapointing and hopefully Plakenic turns it on for the playoffs. You spend a first round pick on the guy, give him every opportunity possible.

He's had a few extended looks but.....I just don't think it's there