Prospect Info: 2016 Marlies and Other Prospects

[WilliamNylander]

Gaustad was a very aggressive young center. I remember him knocking Sundin on his rear end as a rookie. Again not a very comparable player. Byron Froese and his passively conscientious defensive play is a better comparable. No doubt in my mind that Gauthier could potentially be a better fit for Froese's role but that type of role appears to be his ceiling.

I actually really like this comparison. A bigger Byron Froese seems like a conservative projection based on what Freddy has showed up until this point. Similar junior numbers for the both of them as well.

 

[Trapper]

I actually really like this comparison. A bigger Byron Froese seems like a conservative projection based on what Freddy has showed up until this point. Similar junior numbers for the both of them as well.

You could even compare him to Radek Faksa, who by the way was selected 13th overall in 2012 by the Stars.

 

[4thline]

I actually really like this comparison. A bigger Byron Froese seems like a conservative projection based on what Freddy has showed up until this point. Similar junior numbers for the both of them as well.

Not bad, I like to think his "hit" potential is a bigger better Boyd Gordon. 20-25 points, while not only being a fantastic shot suppressor in his own zone (like Gordon), but takes things a step further by tilting the ice and playing in the other teams end. It's the evolution of the defensive centre.

I still think he's got the "boom" to be a 35+ point two way centre, like I said before by the time his elc is over he will have just as much time as a pro hockey player as he did as a hockey dedicated amateur. He's not like all these guys that have been devoted to hockey since they were 13.

 

[SprDaVE]

Listen... Gauthier was picked because he was a very late bloomer with raw skills. The Leafs, and many other teams and scouting agencies, saw the immense potential in a 17 year old 6'4" 200+ center that was all ready so good defensively.

In hindsight, his overall skillset has not developed as hoped but I think you still have a really good prospect despite the lack of offensive numbers.

I think it was a medium risk but very high reward prospect to take that late in the first round. I still don't see why people are still crying over him like it's the end of the world. Sometimes you hit a home run, sometimes you hit a single. Gauthier has done very well as a rookie in the AHL with nothing but praise from his coach to management to his peers... you can't say the same for players that are said to be a lot more skills but can't do anything with it.

 

[saltming]

Not bad, I like to think his "hit" potential is a bigger better Boyd Gordon. 20-25 points, while not only being a fantastic shot suppressor in his own zone (like Gordon), but takes things a step further by tilting the ice and playing in the other teams end. It's the evolution of the defensive centre.

I still think he's got the "boom" to be a 35+ point two way centre, like I said before by the time his elc is over he will have just as much time as a pro hockey player as he did as a hockey dedicated amateur. He's not like all these guys that have been devoted to hockey since they were 13.

I'm not sure but I think many posters forget your point that he is comparitively new to hockey to be at the level he is playing.
This fact imho is Freddie X-factor. His first pro year has been exceptional compared to what a lot of posters were projecting so let's give him some time.

 

[4thline]

Listen... Gauthier was picked because he was a very late bloomer with raw skills. The Leafs, and many other teams and scouting agencies, saw the immense potential in a 17 year old 6'4" 200+ center that was all ready so good defensively.

In hindsight, his overall skillset has not developed as hoped but I think you still have a really good prospect despite the lack of offensive numbers.

I think it was a medium risk but very high reward prospect to take that late in the first round. I still don't see why people are still crying over him like it's the end of the world. Sometimes you hit a home run, sometimes you hit a Gauthier has done very well as a rookie in the AHL with nothing but praise from his coach to management to his peers... you can't say the same for players that are said to be a lot more skills but called do anything with it.

Spot on, not to mention one that put up point per game as a 17 year old coming straight out of AAA. Basically a higher upside, higher profile centre version of the Neilsen pick. Huge boom potential, but sometimes it doesn't click (though I think there's still a slight chance)

 

[ULF_55]

Not bad, I like to think his "hit" potential is a bigger better Boyd Gordon. 20-25 points, while not only being a fantastic shot suppressor in his own zone (like Gordon), but takes things a step further by tilting the ice and playing in the other teams end. It's the evolution of the defensive centre.

I still think he's got the "boom" to be a 35+ point two way centre, like I said before by the time his elc is over he will have just as much time as a pro hockey player as he did as a hockey dedicated amateur. He's not like all these guys that have been devoted to hockey since they were 13.

I don't think anyone is suggesting he's a bust.

However, does anyone think Capitals selection of Gordon at 17 now believe it was a good pick?

Yes, picks don't always turn out but that doesn't mean the player is a bust.

 

[mydnyte]

Come on man, there's a difference between being optimistic and being flat out ignorant.

You do know Couturier had two seasons in the Q with 96 points in 68 games and then 96 points in 58 games right? Those are 1.41 and 1.66 PPG seasons.

Gauthier's best two seasons in the Q he was close to PPG but never actually finished as a PPG player.

Couturier then puts up 28 points in 31 GP in the AHL (Gauthier currently has 12 points in 33 GP).

I don't really see the comparison at all to be honest. Steckel is a better comparison by far.

defensively Gauthier has the potential to be better ...I dont care if he has zero offense

 

[deletethis]

What's this "relatively new to hockey" thing that's being referenced? His development path from age 15 looks identical to his QMJHL contemporaries.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

What's this "relatively new to hockey" thing that's being referenced? His development path from age 15 looks identical to his QMJHL contemporaries.

He played football prior. Hockey was something he didn't take seriously. Did it just for fun

 

[4thline]

What's this "relatively new to hockey" thing that's being referenced? His development path from age 15 looks identical to his QMJHL contemporaries.

Apparently He wasn't going to go to the Q, and wasn't really considering a career in hockey. Was just playing AAA for fun it seems while planning to go to Harvard. A call from Sidney Crosby telling him that he had a future in the game changed that.

It's not that he started late, it's that he did it for fun and was just a natural, didn't really focus until 17.

 

[TML1967]

For me its pretty basic when it comes to Freddy.

-He has only been a full time hockey player for about 4 or 5 years, which is pretty insane as allof the guys live and breathe hockey since they can walk

- He will never be an offensive juggernaut, but he can (IMO) become a decent 30ish point third line guy whos job is to be a net neutral when hes on the ice. He should play against other teams second or first lines, and be able to neutralize as much as possible.

- He has the size and strength to be a dominant PF if he ever decides to, which to me is a coaching thing. His QMJHL coach and the coach at the World Juniors both loved him because he works hard, practices hard, and does what you tell him. If we try and get him to drive the net more, he will.

- His biggest issue holding him back from being a average/good third liner is skating, just like every big man. His is not horrible, but its not great. If he dedicates himself to working on acceleration and mobility I could EASILY see him being a faceoff specialist who can shut you down.

 

[deletethis]

Apparently He wasn't going to go to the Q, and wasn't really considering a career in hockey. Was just playing AAA for fun it seems while planning to go to Harvard. A call from Sidney Crosby telling him that he had a future in the game changed that.

It's not that he started late, it's that he did it for fun and was just a natural, didn't really focus until 17.

But he was planning to go to Harvard on a hockey scholarship, not a football scholarship or an academic scholarship. He was drafted as a 16 year old in the QMJHL draft. That doesn't sound like playing hockey for "fun" to me. I think this is one of these things that some influential blogger writes and gets accepted as factual.

 

[4thline]

I don't think anyone is suggesting he's a bust.

However, does anyone think Capitals selection of Gordon at 17 now believe it was a good pick?

Yes, picks don't always turn out but that doesn't mean the player is a bust.

I dunno, I just feel that after pick 15 or so any pick that turns into a serviceable nhl player (not fringe or tweener) is a success. The odds of a "good" pick (top 6?) are low enough

 

[deletethis]

Article in May 2013 (before the NHL draft):

Up until four years ago, Gauthier also was a pretty good football player.

"I had to choose between football and hockey, and chose hockey," he said.

Sounds like he took both sports seriously from that. That's hardly unusual for a kid up to 14 years of age to try more than one sport at a time.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=670537

 

[4thline]

But he was planning to go to Harvard on a hockey scholarship, not a football scholarship or an academic scholarship. He was drafted as a 16 year old in the QMJHL draft. That doesn't sound like playing hockey for "fun" to me. I think this is one of these things that some influential blogger writes and gets accepted as factual.

I'm aware that it was a hockey scholarship, but he didn't make that hockey/football decision until 16/17. Maybe not for "fun" but definitely not the near obsessive devotion that many of his contemporaries will have had from 13-14.

Edit: didn't realize it was that early, I was in error. I thought he maintained the multi-sport thing plus Harvard level grades until his last year of midget, which would certainly take time away from skill development.

 

[Number13]

Couturier put up higher PPG, in the NHL, as a 19 year old, than Gauthier is currently doing in the AHL. Couturier is and will be playing higher in the lineup (2nd/3rd line center) than Gauthier will ever play. They aren't comparable.

BTW, a shutdown center does not play as passively as Gauthier plays. Right now he plays every shift like he's killing a penalty. Gauthier should spend his every waking hour learning to become dominant at winning faceoffs if he wants to discover his pro niche. Although uninspiring to us fans, Byron Froese is the type of player Gauthier should aspire to be better than in a few seasons.

Couturier put up better numbers in junior and AHL, but was possibly rushed to the NHL. Leafs are taking the long and slow approach to Gauthier, we'll see who ends up being the better NHLer.

 

[gabeliscious]

i dont understand why people ***** about the goat. we need to fill a full roster. that includes a 4th line center. if thats what goat becomes it is still an important position. let him kill it on the pk and on defensively critical situations

 

[Stand Witness]

i dont understand why people ***** about the goat. we need to fill a full roster. that includes a 4th line center. if thats what goat becomes it is still an important position. let him kill it on the pk and on defensively critical situations

It is what it is but we shouldn't be drafting 4th liners especially with a 1st round pick. I'd argue there is no point in drafting any bottom 6 players as we have learned that signing bottom 6 guys can be done every year for dirt cheap.

 

[deletethis]

It is what it is but we shouldn't be drafting 4th liners especially with a 1st round pick. I'd argue there is no point in drafting any bottom 6 players as we have learned that signing bottom 6 guys can be done every year for dirt cheap.

To be fair to the draft intentions of the previous Leafs' management, Gauthier was a PPG player at 17. It wasn't a huge stretch that his offensive game might have taken off following the 2013 draft like happens with many picks. I seriously doubt that they thought they were merely picking a player with bottom 6 forward potential when they chose Gauthier.

 

[thewave]

It is what it is but we shouldn't be drafting 4th liners especially with a 1st round pick. I'd argue there is no point in drafting any bottom 6 players as we have learned that signing bottom 6 guys can be done every year for dirt cheap.

We also have a lot of 3rd and 4th liners in the system.

 

[SprDaVE]

It is what it is but we shouldn't be drafting 4th liners especially with a 1st round pick. I'd argue there is no point in drafting any bottom 6 players as we have learned that signing bottom 6 guys can be done every year for dirt cheap.

Gauthier wasn't drafted to be pidgeon holed in a 4th line role off the bat. There was upside and a development curve to be a lot more then just a defensive center.

Sometimes those kind of players turn in O'Reilly or Bergeron, who were also great defensive forwards with a lot of development in their offensive game left.

Sometimes a prospect develops, sometimes they don't quite turn into what you thought or as hoped.

 

[WTFMAN99]

It is what it is but we shouldn't be drafting 4th liners especially with a 1st round pick. I'd argue there is no point in drafting any bottom 6 players as we have learned that signing bottom 6 guys can be done every year for dirt cheap.

True, although there is a case for having "elite" 3rd-4th liners in the organization...although how they end up there is different.

I think both Chicago and Florida thought they were getting top 6 forward prospects in Frolik and Kruger when they drafted them. As it turns out they have been great on the 3rd and 4th lines...

Gauthier's upside always seemed to be an elite 3rd line centre, I'm not sure if his hands have developed to allow him to play there and he may be just a big really good 4th line centre...useful for sure...but not something you'd want to spend a 1st round pick on.

We all want Gauthier to develop and play for the Leafs...thankfully the drafting philosophy has changed under Hunter and the guys we take now have higher ceilings.

 

[mikebel111*]

I dont buy that Gauthier type players are available in free agency

 

[Stand Witness]

To be fair to the draft intentions of the previous Leafs' management, Gauthier was a PPG player at 17. It wasn't a huge stretch that his offensive game might have taken off following the 2013 draft like happens with many picks. I seriously doubt that they thought they were merely picking a player with bottom 6 forward potential when they chose Gauthier.

Gauthier wasn't drafted to be pidgeon holed in a 4th line role off the bat. There was upside and a development curve to be a lot more then just a defensive center.

Sometimes those kind of players turn int O'Reilly or Bergeron, who were also great defensive forwards with a lot of development in their offensive game left.

Sometimes a prospect develops, sometimes they don't quite turn into what you thought or as hoped.

I agree that the Leafs scouting department at the time likely expected him to become a high end 2nd line/elite 3rd line center when they drafted him.

I would argue though that there wasn't really that much suggesting that he was ever going to develop his offense that much especially because it was an argument made by numerous scouts/posters at the time. I think our scouting department was a little out to lunch with what they were expecting and I do remember them trying to keep potential hype down by suggesting he will be a 3rd line center.