Folks, I feel that I have to chime in on this topic as I see a lot of people slamming an exceptional young man without even seeing him play the game that we all claim to love so much. Let me say this as I have seen Gabe play the game...and more. I will tell you a story about this young man that showed up for an OHL Training Camp several years ago and blew away many of the previous physical testing records...and we've had some pretty fit guys over the years i.e.: Lane McDermid. I was there to watch another prospect conduct the testing and Gabe soon had everyone's attention.
I got to know him over the years and let me tell you, this young man is an absolute machine. If he thinks that there is something he needs to improve on, he'll do it - in spades. I've watched a lot of naturally talented superstars over the years that have the work ethic of a brick - it comes too easy for some and they don't appreciate the effort that you need to put in to succeed in any occupation, much less high level or professional hockey. If Gabe thought that chewing his arm off would improve his game, he'd probably do it (not sure if that would make him a right hand or left hand shot then?? You can't teach this type of internal drive, it's in you - or it isn't...period.
Gabe has fought hard to get to this point and has EARNED it, trust me on this. He is one of those players that you "notice" when he's on the ice. I recall another player, a few years back, that had this same presence on the ice in Owen Sound - his name was Wayne Simmons.
I've seen a couple of comments about Gabe being a "goon", again let me say this, Gabe would always stick up for a teammate but was never a "goon". What he did do was realize that his Team wanted him to step up in certain physical situations and he took it upon himself to improve his skills in that department too (yes this element of the game takes skill and training too). This young man is one sharp cookie, not some knuckle-dragging neanderthal.
Folks, none of us can predict how ANY player is going to do when they attempt to make the jump to the big leagues but I'll tell you this - Gabe will leave his guts on the ice to make it.
A couple of years ago he attended the Phoenix Training Camp and did quite well there too (and won over a lot of fans there in the process) - he refuses to accept failure - how many can say that about themselves???? Not freakin" many!!!!!!
Let me end on this note, don't think that Minnesota was the only Team interested in Gabe. Before you go throwing your Team's Scouting and Management Staff under the bus - they may turn out to be the smartest ones.
