Unusual? Sure. Impossible? Never. It's a strange thing to say because it goes against so much of the conventional understanding we have about Gaunce. Nevertheless, I still believe he's a future stud. It's more of a feeling than any logical deduction (despite how much I hate Iridescent's "Virtanen is stupid" soapbox for the same reasons).
There's just something about Gaunce that I think will translate into great NHL success. He'll never be spectacular, but he'll never need to be. He's smart and he's efficient, and that's all he'll need to be great. "Stupid play" and "Brendan Gaunce" are two things you rarely find linked together by commentators. He can shoot, he can pass, he can find the quiet ice, he can defend, and he can protect the puck.
If his only negative is that he's a slow skater, then it's one I'm willing to dismiss. I've always believed that, for cerebral players, skating speed is very low on the priority list: the puck moves faster than a player ever could. Also, you don't need speed to get to a place if you're already there waiting.
Sure, I'm optimistic, but it's better than being pessimistic. And frankly, all cynics need a butterknife in the eye.
