Tkachuk had a few ten-bell chances last night and just couldn't finish.
One of those was because his stick broke
He's going to need better sticks if he wants to STICK in this league. He won't if he keeps BUSTing them.
I've been pretty clear on how much I love Tkachuk, I don't think he played bad last night either. But man, what a good experience for him to see what the NHL is all about and where he needs to be. Man he is going to be special.
His daddy, but with less PIMs and points due to the eras they play inWhat sort of player would you compare him to? What's your projection?
His daddy, but with less PIMs and points due to the eras they play in
What sort of player would you compare him to? What's your projection?
It's really tough, in todays NHL, prime Perry is probably the closest. But Tkachuk has way more skill and softer hands IMO. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he had a better career than Bertuzzi did and played a very similar game. Guys with that size, that can muck it up, score, pass, and have hands like butter, are basically like unicorns. I can't think of another exact like Tkachuk player in the NHL. If he can improve his skating, he's going to be unstoppable like Lindros was.
It's really tough, in todays NHL, prime Perry is probably the closest. But Tkachuk has way more skill and softer hands IMO. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he had a better career than Bertuzzi did and played a very similar game. Guys with that size, that can muck it up, score, pass, and have hands like butter, are basically like unicorns. I can't think of another player exactly like Tkachuk (or even really close to) in the NHL. If he can improve his skating, he's going to be unstoppable like Lindros was.
Bertuzzi is who I was thinking of as well.
What sort of player would you compare him to? What's your projection?
In lieu of his goal, Johnny got his own TSN top 10
http://www.tsn.ca/video/top-10-johnny-gaudreau-moments~1077748
I don't think "in lieu" means what you think it means.
In lieu of his goal, Johnny got his own TSN top 10
http://www.tsn.ca/video/top-10-johnny-gaudreau-moments~1077748
That was a poor case of autocorrect
I get goosebumps watching #1.
Watching the close-up replay, you can see how aware he is of what the situation that's developing in front of him actually looks like.
Time's ticking down. There's about 25 seconds, counting down, he's still making his way up the right wall. 23 seconds, he stops and takes it all in - mostly instinctively in a way you or I don't see the game.
It's split-second decision making, because there's a tell: he draws a deep breath, short, but you can see his cheeks puff out.
Basically, it says to me, "oh man, I don't think there's a play here," and we all know how Gaudreau likes to pass to the open side if he sees it.
Instead, in that moment, he elects to take the shot; skates in 5, 6 feet to the left looking for the opening before he wires it up and over on Andersen's short side. 20 seconds left in the game. Every move processed and executed in essentially 5 seconds of play.
Just brilliant.
It's really tough, in todays NHL, prime Perry is probably the closest. But Tkachuk has way more skill and softer hands IMO. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he had a better career than Bertuzzi did and played a very similar game. Guys with that size, that can muck it up, score, pass, and have hands like butter, are basically like unicorns. I can't think of another player exactly like Tkachuk (or even really close to) in the NHL. If he can improve his skating, he's going to be unstoppable like Lindros was.
In lieu of his goal, Johnny got his own TSN top 10
http://www.tsn.ca/video/top-10-johnny-gaudreau-moments~1077748
What about Gary Roberts? So far less fighting, but that's down league-wide.
I feel I'm selling Matthew short when I think of his career potential/upside.
I see some comparable traits to Roberts; maybe an Andreychuk and Arnott too. I can't think of any other similar players.