C Frederik Gauthier (2013, 21st, TOR) II

[Captain Timo]

If I remember correctly, most people wanted Shinkaruk who is already on to his 2nd franchise. Granted, we'd be ecstatic if we chose Theodore over him.

Yup. I remember wanting Burakovsky, but oh well. It happens, not much to sulk about. Like I said, the #21 pick has a pretty slim chance of being an impact NHLer

 

[Mad Brills*]

I remember most leafs fans were sad that mantha was a gone a pick before.

 

[ViewsFromThe6ix]

I remember most leafs fans were sad that mantha was a gone a pick before.

meh I wanted Shinkaruk

 

[Hero]

I know this thread's been dormant for 4 months, but wasn't sure where else to post this.

Using http://www.behindthenet.ca/projecting_to_nhl.php for league equivalencies it's interesting to see how early Gauthier plateud.

Gauthier PPG
12/13 - 0.967 PPG Q -> 0.27 PPG NHL
13/14 - 0.962 PPG Q -> 0.27 PPG NHL
14/15 - 0.865 PPG Q -> 0.24 PPG NHL
15/16 - 0.321 PPG A -> 0.22 PPG NHL

The NHL PPG has been steadily declining, and is down a bit more this year. But if I'm a betting man I say Gauthier is likely a 0.2 PPG in the NHL, which works out to a 15 point ish C.

Seems like at best he'll be a 15 point 4th line C, which plays a lot of PK minutes, and hopefully becomes a faceoff stud. Which is pretty much exactly what David Steckel was.

 

[TeddyBare]

I know this thread's been dormant for 4 months, but wasn't sure where else to post this.

Using http://www.behindthenet.ca/projecting_to_nhl.php for league equivalencies it's interesting to see how early Gauthier plateud.

Gauthier PPG
12/13 - 0.967 PPG Q -> 0.27 PPG NHL
13/14 - 0.962 PPG Q -> 0.27 PPG NHL
14/15 - 0.865 PPG Q -> 0.24 PPG NHL
15/16 - 0.321 PPG A -> 0.22 PPG NHL

The NHL PPG has been steadily declining, and is down a bit more this year. But if I'm a betting man I say Gauthier is likely a 0.2 PPG in the NHL, which works out to a 15 point ish C.

Seems like at best he'll be a 15 point 4th line C, which plays a lot of PK minutes, and hopefully becomes a faceoff stud. Which is pretty much exactly what David Steckel was.

I still can't believe he was ranked 8th by NHL Central Scouting

Ahead of Bo Horvat, Max Domi, Shea Theodore.

 

[ponder]

Has a shot to make the NHL, but can't see him being more than a 4C. Steckel is a pretty good comparison.

Even discounting our rookies (Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Brown, Hyman and Soshnikov), he's nowhere close to the Leafs best forward prospect. I personally have him below Kapanen, Leivo, Leipsic, Timashov, Bracco, Johnson, Grundstrom, Korshkov, etc. I wish him well, but his upside is quite limited, not sure why he gets so much attention.

 

[BDizzle*]

As many have said, he never was that offensively gifted; and that hasn't improved throughout his stints in the AHL. He does seem quite reliable defensively and for that reason I think he can carve out a role as a 4th line center.

In terms of being compared to Steckel, that is a comparison I do agree with. Steckel was also a beast on the face-off dot. I don't know if Gauthier will be as good as Steckel in the NHL in face-offs, but if so; he can carve out a respectable career. Perhaps being a bit of a journeyman along the way like Steckel was too.

 

[93LEAFS]

As many have said, he never was that offensively gifted; and that hasn't improved throughout his stints in the AHL. He does seem quite reliable defensively and for that reason I think he can carve out a role as a 4th line center.

In terms of being compared to Steckel, that is a comparison I do agree with. Steckel was also a beast on the face-off dot. I don't know if Gauthier will be as good as Steckel in the NHL in face-offs, but if so; he can carve out a respectable career. Perhaps being a bit of a journeyman along the way like Steckel was too.

He was never able to take that next step offensively. I'm just hoping for a solid 4th liner who can flip the ice at this point and eat tough minutes. Also, being a key PKer would be a great addition to that. I think him, Martin and Hyman could be a pretty good 4th line.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He can skate a bit better then Steckel, although he's going to need to get better at face-offs, Steckel was a beast.

 

[HockeyNightInBelfast]

Whilst Steckel is a close comparison, it would only be on faceoff prowess alone.

Freddy has elite hockey sense on the defensive side of the game & is not a one trick pony w/ just faceoff ability.
He has gold medal pedigree, the organisation is high on him & previous coaches have all been high on him for what he is, not for what his potential is.

He is a 4th line centre forever & there has to be some merit in having that position locked down for the next 5+ years especially given that is normally a DEFAULT position.

In this case, it's the position that Freddy was made for.

 

[Grandrift145]

Whilst Steckel is a close comparison, it would only be on faceoff prowess alone.

Freddy has elite hockey sense on the defensive side of the game & is not a one trick pony w/ just faceoff ability.
He has gold medal pedigree, the organisation is high on him & previous coaches have all been high on him for what he is, not for what his potential is.

He is a 4th line centre forever & there has to be some merit in having that position locked down for the next 5+ years especially given that is normally a DEFAULT position.

In this case, it's the position that Freddy was made for.

The only thing elite about Freddy is size

 

[Walshy7]

The only thing elite about Freddy is size

he is pretty close to elite defensively, hockey Canada thought so twice as well. He will be a 4th line pk C for us I don't doubt it. His skating has really improved a lot and he is pretty fast, he is great defensively

 

[schenneuf]

Nonis lol, what a turd

 

[Menzinger]

I think he makes the league due to his size rather than skill and will infuriate whatever pro team he ends up on.

 

[RandV]

Nonis lol, what a turd

Gauthier is just a classic Burke/Nonis pick

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Gauthier is just a classic Burke/Nonis pick

It was such a reactionary pick. Leafs couldn't hold the lead against the Bruins in game 7, so they drafted a defensive specialist C with their first pick.

I still have hope for Gauthier to be a solid 4C. I like 93Leafs idea of a Martin-Gauthier-Hyman 4th line, and having him on the PK with the likes of Hyman and Brown would be nice. Leafs have done well recently developing solid penalty killers.

Him being a PK and defensive specialist would also diversify our future Centre core.

Matthews-Nylander-Kadri-Gauthier

Plus we get the bonus right to say our C depth is all homegrown and drafted.

 

[Finnish your Czech]

It was such a reactionary pick. Leafs couldn't hold the lead against the Bruins in game 7, so they drafted a defensive specialist C with their first pick.

I still have hope for Gauthier to be a solid 4C. I like 93Leafs idea of a Martin-Gauthier-Hyman 4th line, and having him on the PK with the likes of Hyman and Brown would be nice. Leafs have done well recently developing solid penalty killers.

Him being a PK and defensive specialist would also diversify our future Centre core.

Matthews-Nylander-Kadri-Gauthier

Plus we get the bonus right to say our C depth is all homegrown and drafted.

I imagine they figured he had second line offensive potential. Being PPG in your draft year isn't THAT bad. His PPG was similar to the following players in their draft years: Bo Horvat, Lawson Crouse, Curtis Lazar, Radek Faksa, Tom Wilson and more. Not that those are all elite players, but they were drafted in spots higher (or much higher) than where Gauthier was drafted (21st ovr).

 

[PatrikOverAuston]

Edmonton is a bit weak on prospect centers, so I'd take him in return for one of our 12,000 left handed defensemen. I agree that he can be a respectable fourth line guy; I mean, Mark Letestu had 18 points in the AHL the same age, and he turned out fine. Sometimes it takes a slow, gradual climb and a couple of stops to realize a player's potential.

 

[Wolves]

Gauthier is just a classic Burke/Nonis pick

The truculence on this kid though, haha.

Some good points being made here. Unfortunate that his offensive game hasn't developed as well as we'd hoped when selected so high but hopefully he can be an effective role player. Saw him play in the World Juniors but the only time he saw increased minutes (that I noticed) was when we were up on Denmark 8-0.

 

[Aceboogie]

Still cant believe so many believed a low offense center in the CHL could suddenly morph into this shutdown monster depth center in the NHL. You still need to have some offensive ability to do that in the NHL. Guys like that in the NHL still had good junior numbers

Same goes for defensive low scoring D. Guys like Tinordi/Musil/Reinhart/Gauhtier werent a matter of "if" theyll be busts, it was when

 

[Aceboogie]

Edmonton is a bit weak on prospect centers, so I'd take him in return for one of our 12,000 left handed defensemen. I agree that he can be a respectable fourth line guy; I mean, Mark Letestu had 18 points in the AHL the same age, and he turned out fine. Sometimes it takes a slow, gradual climb and a couple of stops to realize a player's potential.

Letestu had 46 points (24 goals) in 37 games in NCAA and ripped up Jr.A before that. Jumped to 61 points in AHL after his rookie year, Gauthier has 4 points

 

[Aceboogie]

he is pretty close to elite defensively, hockey Canada thought so twice as well. He will be a 4th line pk C for us I don't doubt it. His skating has really improved a lot and he is pretty fast, he is great defensively

Team Canada has picked numerous future non NHLers to round out bottom 6 on that team

 

[Maple Leaf]

Still cant believe so many believed a low offense center in the CHL could suddenly morph into this shutdown monster depth center in the NHL. You still need to have some offensive ability to do that in the NHL. Guys like that in the NHL still had good junior numbers

Same goes for defensive low scoring D. Guys like Tinordi/Musil/Reinhart/Gauhtier werent a matter of "if" theyll be busts, it was when

Wow

Ruthless

But true

 

[BoredBrandonPridham]

Whilst Steckel is a close comparison, it would only be on faceoff prowess alone.

Freddy has elite hockey sense on the defensive side of the game & is not a one trick pony w/ just faceoff ability.
He has gold medal pedigree, the organisation is high on him & previous coaches have all been high on him for what he is, not for what his potential is.

He is a 4th line centre forever & there has to be some merit in having that position locked down for the next 5+ years especially given that is normally a DEFAULT position.

In this case, it's the position that Freddy was made for.

"Gold medal pedigree" is the kind of attribute people reach to when they try to justify a bad contract or draft pick. Right up there with Character Guy, Has A Cup Ring, Grit and Heart.

Just remember, Ben Smith hasn't been bad enough to warrant calling up Fred. So are we *sure* Fred has elite hockey sense defensively, or, is that just his strongest attribute?

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

"Gold medal pedigree" is the kind of attribute people reach to when they try to justify a bad contract or draft pick. Right up there with Character Guy, Has A Cup Ring, Grit and Heart.

Just remember, Ben Smith hasn't been bad enough to warrant calling up Fred. So are we *sure* Fred has elite hockey sense defensively, or, is that just his strongest attribute?

That's not true at all, babs loved gauthier at camp and almost made the team outright.
But he still had some room to grow and improve hence why hes not on the roster.
Your analogy is like why nylander didnt play for most of the leafs last year cause the scrubs were good enough or better then him.