Confirmed with Link: Frederik Gauthier signs a 2 year 2-way contract

[crump]

Likeable guy. Hard not to root for him. Maybe he has rehabbed his injuries, hope he works hard and makes it a hard decision at #4 C

 

[supermann_98]

4th line PK centre this season. Book it.

I definitely see that too. All they need is 4-5 ES minutes outta him and he can play first line PK, probably no more than 10 minutes a game total.

 

[ToMaLe]

4th line PK centre this season. Book it.

nah, we will waste another 2nd round pick for one.

 

[i1]

nah, we will waste another 2nd round pick for one.

Hopefully that was a Lou thing

 

[Mr Hockey]

I dunno if his skillset is a match for an upcoming serious contending leafs team. I do see him on a bigger slower NHL team in the future.

 

[Damisoph]

I'm sure the habs would be interested in a big Francophone centre as the main piece in a Jeff Petry trade

 

[Boutette]

Freddy is a good AHL 4th line center. I think that's all we need to know here. He's already been passed by the likes of Brooks and Lindholm and probably by at least Ferguson by the end of the year where it comes to center depth. If he somehow makes it to an NHL squad, its not going to be the leafs.

 

[Duckrider]

Bottom line. He has to improve his foot speed to be a NHL player. He had a very serious injury and surgery last season, that lead to him needing to learn to walk and skate again. Perhaps this off season, he will work on his weaknesses and become a shut down #4C, primarily PK and a total of 8-10 minutes per game max.

With Kadri, Tavares and Matthews, we won't really need an offensive guy on the #4C, but a shutdown, and PK specialist we could use. He's got a big body, skates well enough when at speed, but not a great first few strides... but he's big and that takes time.

No real risk to us, if he just becomes an AHL player either and the two year contract likely means nobody will pick him up on waivers and keep him on their roster.

But he had to relearn how to skate, not fix it. I had not caught a game of the Marlies this season until the playoffs and I didn't recognise him. I think now because of his injury he has a chance. Before it, i'd have to agree with you, just not good enough.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Can't have enough centre depth.

While true, he is not center depth he has shown he cannot play at the NHL level

 

[Buds17]

While true, he is not center depth he has shown he cannot play at the NHL level

He has received call-ups though. That's not an opportunity afforded to just anyone. The goal is to win games.

 

[Clark4Ever]

While true, he is not center depth he has shown he cannot play at the NHL level

He's shown flashes. I think he has the ability to be an effective role player for us if he can be consistent.

 

[ToneDog]

He was drafted after imploding in 2013 because he was a good face off man. Babs loves his size. The timing is perfect for Freddy. If he does not take the ball and run with it this time, he may be done as a Leaf. Get 'er done Freddy.

 

[Hotlanta]

My case for the Goat at 4th line center:

JT averages 20 min TOI
AM34 averages 18 min TOI
Kadri averages 17 min TOI - 2 min PP TOI will be played with one of AM34 or JT so nets 15 min TOI

This leaves the Leafs with 7 min TOI remaining. We average 4:30 on the PK per game and none of those 3 will be PKing for the Leafs. In our top 9 we will have Kapanen, Johnsson, and Hyman who PK, and Brown on the 4th line until any injuries. All our PK is missing is a defensive center who can average 2-3 min on the PK a night and play the remaining 2:30 of the game 5on5. I think Gauthier can easily handle this job. The good news is he will have a great player in Brown beside him, who is really getting the short end of the stick as he will only get 2:30 5on5 and 2-3 min on the PK. Hopefully there is room on the PP, but that might be hard with 8 offensive players and possibly Zaitsev/Dermott ahead of him. Probably should have just kept Martin to get some energy going in a 2-3 min role per night, but I guess Leivo can have a shot at it since it is very minimal time.

However, I would not feel comfortable moving Gauthier up to a bigger role, so I would prefer we leave Lindholm in the minors to play top line minutes, and then call him up in case one of the 3 headed monster gets injured to play a bigger role than the Goat.

 

[thewave]

Goat is up for the job of a 8min a night C. He will likely be able to handle this and as far as depth goes we also have Nylander and Marleau to do spot duty in the event of injury. We are fully set and have some other 4th C options sitting around. We are a 3 line team officially now that has a burner line to be used when we are blowing teams out.

 

[Mess]

Babs loves Freddy G because he likes players with size that have defensive awareness and can us that size and strength their advantage.

 

[aingefan]

He had a nice playoff last year, has had some bad luck, and could probably rotate in and out in a specialty role.
He’s a really smart guy, and is really well liked by everybody, for whatever that is worth.

 

[GoldenGOOSE]

Likeable, I wish he had Tom WIlson's personality with that body of his though.

 

[pspot]

can he be paul gastaud?

 

[Liminality]

can he be paul gastaud?

I used to hope he'd develop into that sort of guy but I think that's asking too much anymore. I thought Gaustad was an excellent role player.

 

[Daisy Jane]

a big issue with Fred is that he does nothing with his size.

 

[BertCorbeau]

TBH I think that the Goat has the inside track to the #4C spot to start next season. Really when I look at the situation it's between him and Lindholm - and no doubt it will be a battle in training camp. The big thing is that Lindholm can slide to the Marlies as he's on a 1 year ELC (waiver exempt) and Gauthier requires waivers. Lindholm will have to decisively outplay Gauthier in camp for that spot.

Ennis isn't a centre (and has poor FO numbers) and Jooris hasn't really proven to be much either. Solid FO numbers but he's never been an NHL regular for a full season. Seems like more of a 13th forward sort of guy.

Management could have seen Gauthier's playoff performance as an indicator that he should be given the chance next year .. Also given the strength of the Leafs first 3 lines, the Leafs can shelter the 4th a bit as well.

 

[Menzinger]

Babs loves Freddy G because he likes players with size that have defensive awareness and can us that size and strength their advantage.

If he loved him, the Leafs wouldnt have traded 2nd round picks for 4Cs the last two seasons or signed Moore in free agency.

 

[Once]

The internal competition for that 4th line centre will be interesting as there are 3 guys fighting for it.

Gauthier brings size, defensive instincts, and face-off abilities. Jooris brings sandpaper but I'd prefer him on the wing. Lindholm, from what I know, is a more dynamic centre than the others. In my opinion his play complements the leafs play style best.

I do like the GOAT. He plays the top diamond very well on the pk; has good stick positioning; and takes up a lot of space in the d-zone with his wingspan. This will likely be his final tryout.

 

[Gallagbi]

TBH I think that the Goat has the inside track to the #4C spot to start next season. Really when I look at the situation it's between him and Lindholm - and no doubt it will be a battle in training camp. The big thing is that Lindholm can slide to the Marlies as he's on a 1 year ELC (waiver exempt) and Gauthier requires waivers. Lindholm will have to decisively outplay Gauthier in camp for that spot.

Ennis isn't a centre (and has poor FO numbers) and Jooris hasn't really proven to be much either. Solid FO numbers but he's never been an NHL regular for a full season. Seems like more of a 13th forward sort of guy.

Management could have seen Gauthier's playoff performance as an indicator that he should be given the chance next year .. Also given the strength of the Leafs first 3 lines, the Leafs can shelter the 4th a bit as well.

Wouldn't surprise me if he starts the season on line #4, but I don't see it lasting.

 

[thewave]

a big issue with Fred is that he does nothing with his size.

What? He used his body a fair amount when in the NHL. He even fought and crushed some guys pretty good. I was shocked he was pretty physical although not Martin level. He more used his size along the wall, heck he even drove to the net like a power forward a couple times.