Pre-Game Talk: VENGEANCE IN THE WEST

zman77

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Hurricanes Must Be Patient with Aho
By Ryan Szporer October 14th, 2019
With the Hurricanes matching the Montreal Canadiens’ offer sheet to which they signed Aho, the two sides are effectively joined at the hip for the next half-decade. Granted, Aho doesn’t have a no-movement clause, but there’s no good reason the Hurricanes should want to even consider cutting the cord, especially just six games into the deal.
No one really needs to worry, in other words. With a team-leading 25 shots on goal already, Aho is averaging over four per game. It’s obviously a small sample size, but a popular school of thought suggests shots on goal are one of the first things to go when you’re truly struggling. As it happens, Aho didn’t even average three per game during his career 83-point season last year as 21-year-old. Now 22, Aho’s best years should still be ahead of him. He theoretically hasn’t even hit his prime scoring years as a forward yet. So, it would be incredibly unusual were Aho to suddenly start declining now, looking at his NHL career up to now.
Firstly, if Aho were a one-year wonder, his point totals generally would not have increased in each of his three seasons. Secondly, Aho has gone through stretches like this before. He may have tied an NHL record with his 12-game point streak to start last season, but he only scored his first goal, the season before, in Game No. 16. That 2017-18 sophomore season of his still ended up a massive success with 29 markers and 65 total points.
https://thehockeywriters.com/carolina-hurricanes-aho-patient/
 
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zman77

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According to a report from The Edmonton Journal, the Edmonton Oilers
have interest in acquiring forward Julien Gauthier from the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Edmonton Oilers are off to a roaring start to their season, as they’ve won their first five games. However, they’re still looking to improve their team. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Oilers are interested in trading for Carolina Hurricanes forward Julien Gauthier.
This report comes from Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal. The Oilers have expressed interest in him before, as his name came up in discussions involving forward Jesse Puljujarvi. At the time, the Oilers were optimistic they could work things out with the young forward. But with Puljujarvi playing overseas, things have obviously changed.
NHL trade rumors: Edmonton Oilers interested in Julien Gauthier
 
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Navin R Slavin

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According to a report from The Edmonton Journal, the Edmonton Oilers
have interest in acquiring forward Julien Gauthier from the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Edmonton Oilers are off to a roaring start to their season, as they’ve won their first five games. However, they’re still looking to improve their team. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Oilers are interested in trading for Carolina Hurricanes forward Julien Gauthier.
This report comes from Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal. The Oilers have expressed interest in him before, as his name came up in discussions involving forward Jesse Puljujarvi. At the time, the Oilers were optimistic they could work things out with the young forward. But with Puljujarvi playing overseas, things have obviously changed.
NHL trade rumors: Edmonton Oilers interested in Julien Gauthier

Ugh.
 

Boom Boom Apathy

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Not saying I want Puljujarvi, although I'd definitely take a chance on him if the cost isn't too high, but it seems like Goat has gone from underrated to overrated based on some pre-season games where he played well, but barely scored. I hope he pans out and did think he played well in pre-season. He has size, is a RH shot and has been a goal scorer in lower leagues, but some of the comments how he's "better than McGinn, Foegele, etc..." are, IMO, a bit premature.

That said, I don't want to trade him right now, because if he pans out, he has an element the Canes lack so I'd rather stick with him.
 

Finnish Jerk Train

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I don't see how a guy who has played all of two meaningful NHL games is a high priority target for another team.

This sounds like the kind of thing where his name came up once in a not-very-advanced trade discussion, which put him on their radar. Or maybe a scout happened to catch him having a good game. If they were intrigued, they may have decided that maybe one day a trade for him might be worth exploring, even if there wasn't a deal to be made that day. Everybody has lists of guys like that.

I read this as a writer trying to turn that into a scoop. Nothing to see here.
 
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MinJaBen

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I don't see how a guy who has played all of two meaningful NHL games is a high priority target for another team.
I'm not sure why that would be terribly hard to believe in the context of looking for some value for a depreciating asset (JP). Look at our most recent trade with Faulk. If reports about how the trade went down are to be believed, we specifically targeted Bokk from the Blues once we knew they were interested in Faulk. I could see Gauthier being a similar target for the Oilers once they knew that the Canes were interested in JP, which by all reports we are.
 

Finnish Jerk Train

lol stupid mickey mouse organization
Apr 7, 2008
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I'm not sure why that would be terribly hard to believe in the context of looking for some value for a depreciating asset (JP). Look at our most recent trade with Faulk. If reports about how the trade went down are to be believed, we specifically targeted Bokk from the Blues once we knew they were interested in Faulk. I could see Gauthier being a similar target for the Oilers once they knew that the Canes were interested in JP, which by all reports we are.
Don't get me wrong, I can see why they would be interested in him. I just can't see why their level of interest at this time would be anything more than, "hey, here's a guy we might want to keep in the back of our minds in case we start exploring a deal with Carolina."

In other words, I would believe that Ken Holland has expressed an interest in him, but I doubt he's blowing up Waddell's phone trying to pry him away this week. If the Puljujarvi talks restart, then the dynamic changes, but for now I don't think Gauthier is going anywhere.
 
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A Star is Burns

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I'm still not enamored with Gauthier, though I'm not with Puljujarvi either. I'd probably still consider that swap. I do wonder if they played him in every preseason game and those two regular season games to either showcase him, or really convince themselves of what they do or don't have in him. I don't think it's far fetched personally.
 

cptjeff

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Not saying I want Puljujarvi, although I'd definitely take a chance on him if the cost isn't too high, but it seems like Goat has gone from underrated to overrated based on some pre-season games where he played well, but barely scored. I hope he pans out and did think he played well in pre-season. He has size, is a RH shot and has been a goal scorer in lower leagues, but some of the comments how he's "better than McGinn, Foegele, etc..." are, IMO, a bit premature.

That said, I don't want to trade him right now, because if he pans out, he has an element the Canes lack so I'd rather stick with him.

He didn't just 'almost score', though. He dominated play without the puck, and he was incredibly strong with it. It wasn't just that he got a nice highlight reel breakaway every game and failed to convert, he was doing everything in every phase of the game on every part of the ice in a way that does not show up on a scoresheet or a highlight reel.

He was absolutely better than Foegele or McGinn (and if you're going to hold Goat's lack of production against him, remind me, have either of them scored?). And IMO, showed it in the NHL games he played too. The reason he's in the AHL and they're not is because of their contracts and waiver eligibility.
 

Boom Boom Apathy

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He didn't just 'almost score', though. He dominated play without the puck, and he was incredibly strong with it. It wasn't just that he got a nice highlight reel breakaway every game and failed to convert, he was doing everything in every phase of the game on every part of the ice in a way that does not show up on a scoresheet or a highlight reel.

My point is that it was pre-season where most vets played sparingly and usually don't give 100%. Like I said, he played well, but people are getting a bit carried away.

He was absolutely better than Foegele or McGinn (and if you're going to hold Goat's lack of production against him, remind me, have either of them scored?).

The statement was "He IS better", not that "he was better in the pre-season." Pre-Season is a data point, but not as meaningful as people are making it out to be. Until he shows it in the NHL, I stand by my statement that it's premature to say he IS better than those guys.

And IMO, showed it in the NHL games he played too. The reason he's in the AHL and they're not is because of their contracts and waiver eligibility.

He's had 16 minutes on the 4th line in a sheltered role with no PK or other responsibilities and has no shots on goal. He got sent down because Rod trusts McGinn, Foegele AND Gibbons more and in more situations than he trusts Gauthier at this point.

Like I said, I'm rooting for the guy to be successful, I just disagree with the assessment that he's "better" than these guys right now based on very little real NHL experience.
 

Boom Boom Apathy

I am the Professor. Deal with it!
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And I should add, that I would have liked Goat to stay up and get more minutes to see what he can do, I'm just not that upset that he's been sent down either. If he was only going to play 8 min / night on the 4th line, I'd rather have him getting top minutes in Charlotte instead. I'm sure we'll see him back up again as there will be more injuries/situations that demand it.
 

tarheelhockey

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Here we go with this mess. Remember when the Oilers supposedly wanted Faulk? Was horrible nonsense, day after day after day after day.

Almost makes me want to just go into the trade threads and auto-accept every proposal so the conversation dies on the vine.

I don't see how a guy who has played all of two meaningful NHL games is a high priority target for another team.

This sounds like the kind of thing where his name came up once in a not-very-advanced trade discussion, which put him on their radar. Or maybe a scout happened to catch him having a good game. If they were intrigued, they may have decided that maybe one day a trade for him might be worth exploring, even if there wasn't a deal to be made that day. Everybody has lists of guys like that.

I read this as a writer trying to turn that into a scoop. Nothing to see here.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

this
 
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CanesFanBudMan

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I think part of the reason that Goat got sent down is because Aho and his line are not playing the best defensive hockey making Rod need to lean on the 4th for defence; and Rod is not ready to trust Goat in that role. Once Aho gets his game back and I think there is a good change Goat will get his spot back.
 
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