If you are going to come into a thread with the purpose to rag on a kid, at least put some effort into it. I would have guessed at the same thing you just did after seeing 'winger', 'rookie' and '5'8"'. "Defensively lacking". Haha. Sorry, but you have just been caught making up facts. You either haven't seen him outside of a few highlights, or you are just plainly writing a nice piece of fiction to try and give your argument some merit.
I will not go and say that Gaudreau should be considered for the Selke. He is a rookie, and is prone to making mistakes and getting out of position. With that being said, the kid looks about as disinterested playing defence as Datsyuk. He backchecks LIKE Datsyuk. Before you make a rebuttal citing how dare I compare Gaudreau to Datsyuk, focus on the word 'like'. He backchecks LIKE Datsyuk does. I have seen a number of plays now that the puck has been turned over and he skates back HARD (often beating another Flame who was closer initially) and puts pressure on the puck-carrier. He has even managed to strip the puck carrier a number of times.
I don't know what Gaudreau you have been watching, but it isn't one that is described as 'a floater' on the defensive side.
You may argue that he is not an elite defensive player, and I will counter with "well, of course he is not". The LAST thing he is playing defence is disinterested, however. Just pure fabricated garbage by you in trying to troll this thread.
Please provide more effort in your trolling. This is about a 2/10 from you. Even Devonator trolls this thread at a much higher level.