News Article: Gauthier plays all-round game well beyond his years

[theIceWookie]

Gotta agree with you here. He didn't suddenly get way better since the draft only a short while ago. He went when he did for a reason, so articles like this aren't reasons to get excited all of a sudden. It's not like scouts didn't see Q games.

Jordan Staal (#2 overall) was drafted ahead of Phil Kessel (#5 overall) in his draft year, showing the level of talent he has and because size and defense in the NHL matter.

Gauthier wasn't ranked nor drafted top 5 in his draft, but if the Leafs can get a poor man's Jordan Staal, then Leafs would consider that pick successful.

Draft position rarely has any bearing on how a player develops. Just because he didn't go top 5 doesn't mean he can't be succesful.

Scouts and scouting services make mistakes all the time, both good and bad. Let's stop pigeonholing him or putting unrealistic expectations on him and let him develop and then see what we get.

By all accounts Gauthier projects fairly well to be a third line center in the likings of Martin Hanzal. That's actually a fantastic player. However it's important to note that Gauthier did only just play his first CHL season and put up some impressive numbers as an 18 year old rookie. He's also shown some nice glimpses in international competition, things that point to him potentially having some more offensive potential than previously thought. It remains to be seen if this is true or not but to say it's not happening is just as dumb as putting the expectation on him to develop into a top line center.

 

[JAMmer124]

Jordan Staal (#2 overall) was drafted ahead of Phil Kessel (#5 overall) in his draft year, showing the level of talent he has and because size and defense in the NHL matter.

Gauthier wasn't ranked nor drafted top 5 in his draft, but if the Leafs can get a poor man's Jordan Staal, then Leafs would consider that pick successful.

Jordan Staal has not turned out to be worth a top 5 pick. Top 5 picks should be cornerstone players, especially 2nd overall.

There's no reason to say that Gauthier can't be like Jordan Staal, both big centres that are incredibly sound defensively. When drafted, Staal was noted to be the safest pick in the draft because it was near guaranteed he'd be at least a 3rd line centre, but there were some concerns about his offence translating.

 

[HeroNtF]

Wasnt gauthier only 17 last season ? Either way its going to be fun tracking his season in the q.

 

[morrielly]

Gotta agree with you here. He didn't suddenly get way better since the draft only a short while ago. He went when he did for a reason, so articles like this aren't reasons to get excited all of a sudden. It's not like scouts didn't see Q games.

this was written before he got drafted to the leafs at 22.

 

[hockeygeek]

Jordan Staal has not turned out to be worth a top 5 pick. Top 5 picks should be cornerstone players, especially 2nd overall.

There's no reason to say that Gauthier can't be like Jordan Staal, both big centres that are incredibly sound defensively. When drafted, Staal was noted to be the safest pick in the draft because it was near guaranteed he'd be at least a 3rd line centre, but there were some concerns about his offence translating.

280 points for a "defensive" forward before his 25th birthday. I'd say his offence translated nicely. It would be nice for Gauthier to become a Staal type player.

 

[blueberrie]

He had a good tournament.. only player to play all 3 games. Was the first line center and stuck there while other centers (Domi, Monohan) got converted to wing. Good to hear.

 

[KuleminFan41]

280 points for a "defensive" forward before his 25th birthday. I'd say his offence translated nicely. It would be nice for Gauthier to become a Staal type player.

He's done well, but even Bozak has scored 47 points in a season, the most J.Staal has had was 50(for both guys, shortened seasons). Not saying Bozak is better, Staal is by miles but Staal isn't exactly that guy you'd want in the final minutes when your team is down and in need of a goal.I think thats more so whats being said about him and his offensive side , but defensively you'd want him out in those finals minutes to close out a game for sure.

 

[zeke]

Jordan Staal (#2 overall) was drafted ahead of Phil Kessel (#5 overall) in his draft year, showing the level of talent he has and because size and defense in the NHL matter.

actually, it showed how NHL GMs that are slave to your cliches end up overrating size, and making bad draft picks. Jordan Staal is not the kind of player you want to end up with from a 2nd overall pick, Phil Kessel, on the other hand, is.

Gauthier wasn't ranked nor drafted top 5 in his draft, but if the Leafs can get a poor man's Jordan Staal, then Leafs would consider that pick successful.

of course they would. Jordan Staal is a very good #2 NHL centre. Any team should be ecstatic if they can draft a player like that in the bottom of the first round.

 

[IBeL34f]

Jordan Staal isn't a top 5 pick if that draft is redone.

I'd put him in the same class as Johnson, Backstrom and Lucic. After Toews, Giroux and Kessel, the other 4 could go in any order to fill out the top-7.

On an unrelated note, looking at the entirety of that draft, it's really quite amazing how many NHLers we turned out. The majority of household guys in the League drafted after the 2nd round in 2006 are Maple Leaf draftees.

 

[JackJ]

Jordan Staal has not turned out to be worth a top 5 pick. Top 5 picks should be cornerstone players, especially 2nd overall.

False with every year is different. Some years only the first few are cornerstones while other years the draft is deeper.

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Nothing like a Toronto friendly media to build on the hype on a young player.

Since we're already artificially raising the bar on Gauthier, it only means people are going to be drastically disappointed in a few years.

WGAF about how a player performs at a tournament? Tournaments have always been awful measuring sticks. Until Gauthier impresses in the AHL(not likely) and shows us something at the NHL don't get your hopes up too much.

 

[Mystifo]

Nothing like a Toronto friendly media to build on the hype on a young player.

Since we're already artificially raising the bar on Gauthier, it only means people are going to be drastically disappointed in a few years.

WGAF about how a player performs at a tournament? Tournaments have always been awful measuring sticks. Until Gauthier impresses in the AHL(not likely) and shows us something at the NHL don't get your hopes up too much.

Check the date of when this article was published before you go to the "Toronto Media Inflating a player" defense.

I am quite sure you will find it interesting.

 

[King Mapes]

Jordan Staal (#2 overall) was drafted ahead of Phil Kessel (#5 overall) in his draft year, showing the level of talent he has and because size and defense in the NHL matter.

Gauthier wasn't ranked nor drafted top 5 in his draft, but if the Leafs can get a poor man's Jordan Staal, then Leafs would consider that pick successful.

Well Kessel had a bad year and brutal combine. But even that aside, Pens previous 2 picks were Sid and Malkin. They needed a Staal. If they had a time machine, Toews might be the guy they'd want.

But Pens drafted their future goalie in 03, 2 superstars the next 2 years and then needed that great 2 way guy. If someone else had 2nd, I'd bet he'd drop. It was based on a big need.

 

[Pierre Gotye]

Check the date of when this article was published before you go to the "Toronto Media Inflating a player" defense.

I am quite sure you will find it interesting.

What does that even matter? The tone and general gist of the commentary is the still the same.

Remember Justin Pogge once had a great tourney too. Now where is he?

 

[Mystifo]

What does that even matter? The tone and general gist of the commentary is the still the same.

Remember Justin Pogge once had a great tourney too. Now where is he?

Well if you are going to pretend that it is MLSE media boosting the kid up when in fact he was not even property of MLSE at the time the article was written it means everything.


I mean the kid is getting praise for being solid defensively. They were not going "This kid is the next coming of Bob Gainey." All they were doing is the same thing NHL central scouting does for every prospect they point out their strengths and what they need to work. I.E they point out that Gauthier is a solid defensive forward for his age and that if he works on his board play he could seriously become a regret for any GM who passes him over.

You are just turning a simple article into some larger than it actually is. Ironic no?

 

[The Blue Devil]

Gotta agree with you here. He didn't suddenly get way better since the draft only a short while ago. He went when he did for a reason, so articles like this aren't reasons to get excited all of a sudden. It's not like scouts didn't see Q games.

Because the scout said he holds his defensive game in high regard he should've gone #1? Pretty sure he never said anything about a high powered offensive game which is usually what gets you drafted so high.

 

[Bravid Nonahan]

What does that even matter? The tone and general gist of the commentary is the still the same.

Remember Justin Pogge once had a great tourney too. Now where is he?

You should make NHL teams aware of your logic. Why are they wasting millions of dollars sending scouts to these tournaments to watch the kids? THey should listen to Pierre Gotye, HFBoards poster extrordinaire.

 

[The Blue Devil]

What does that even matter? The tone and general gist of the commentary is the still the same.

Remember Justin Pogge once had a great tourney too. Now where is he?

This wasn't Toronto media building him up and it's not about a tournament. Maybe you should actually read the article before coming in on your high horse. The article talks about his great defensive play in the QMJHL throughout the entire season.

 

[theIceWookie]

What does that even matter? The tone and general gist of the commentary is the still the same.

Remember Justin Pogge once had a great tourney too. Now where is he?

Because it completely invalidates your point.

It's not a media member tied to the Leafs, doesn't quote anyone in the Leafs scouting department, and is actually based on the comments of a scout commenting on the majority of Gauthier's season, not some small tourney.

So it matters a great deal actually.

 

[7even]

False with every year is different. Some years only the first few are cornerstones while other years the draft is deeper.

I think we're safe in saying there are at least 2 every draft.

 

[Mess]

actually, it showed how NHL GMs that are slave to your cliches end up overrating size, and making bad draft picks. Jordan Staal is not the kind of player you want to end up with from a 2nd overall pick, Phil Kessel, on the other hand, is.

of course they would. Jordan Staal is a very good #2 NHL centre. Any team should be ecstatic if they can draft a player like that in the bottom of the first round.

It shows that centers have more value and importance than wingers.
&
A big 2-way centers are more desirable than small soft scoring wingers.

Pens already had generational franchise centers in Malkin and Crosby drafted Staal and it resulted in Pens winning a Cup. You would think a scoring winger would have been an obvious choice.

However Gauthier is a big 2 way center so Leafs drafted a more important position and focused on size and 2 way play with their selection.. Martin Hanzal rather than Jordan Staal potential is the more likely result here as the closer comparable.

 

[zeke]

No, it shows that the Pens made a bad pick by ignoring the importance of production at the junior level.

They could have had elite players like Toews, Backstrom, or Kessel, but followed your cliche of drafting big and drafting defense, and messed up the pick.

And while I'm happy to hear your expert analysis of Gauthier's comparables, I'll remind you that you brought up Dave Morrison's words as your main argument, and it is Dave Morrison's words that used Jordan Staal as a comparable.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

No, it shows that the Pens made a bad pick by ignoring the importance of production at the junior level.

They could have had elite players like Toews, Backstrom, or Kessel, but followed your cliche of drafting big and drafting defense, and messed up the pick.

And while I'm happy to hear your expert analysis of Gauthier's comparables, I'll remind you that you brought up Dave Morrison's words as your main argument, and it is Dave Morrison's words that used Jordan Staal as a comparable.

I'd say they did pretty will with Staal and the Championship he helped them earn.

 

[The_Chosen_One]

I'd say they did pretty will with Staal and the Championship he helped them earn.

You'd sort of expect that with Crosby, Malkin, MAF and the rest. If Pittsburgh could go back to the 2005 draft, they definitely would have selected Kessel or Toews over Staal.

 

[wulfio*]

What does that even matter? The tone and general gist of the commentary is the still the same.

Remember Justin Pogge once had a great tourney too. Now where is he?

no... Rask had a great tourney. Canada had a great team.

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I don't know why you people are arguing draft position. NHL draft is the biggest crap shoot of all the major sports except arguably baseball.

This isn't basketball. Not all top 5 picks are expected to be cornerstones, or capable of being cornerstones. In fact, very rarely do cornerstone players come up in the draft. And some of the best players in the league are in rounds 3+, and even undrafted.