Leafs sign Frederik Gauthier to ELC

[Deebo]

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/405800457743761408

. @SportChek Player Alert: #Leafs sign 2013 1st Rd. pick Frederik Gauthier to 3 year deal http://bit.ly/1ig6eaG  #TMLtalk

 

[L K]

Not impressed with his 21 points in 23 games. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

He was named to Canada's WJC evaluation group today. But he's pretty much considered a lock to make the team. They only invited 25 players so there's just a few cuts that need to be made.

 

[bustaheims]

mirtle: Brent Sutter says it was a no-brainer to have Leafs prospect Fred Gauthier on team.

 

[Corn Flake]

mirtle: Brent Sutter says it was a no-brainer to have Leafs prospect Fred Gauthier on team.

That is quite the endorsement.


But... his point totals aren't good in the Q!!!!!1

 

[CarltonTheBear]

mirtle: Brent Sutter says it was a no-brainer to have Leafs prospect Fred Gauthier on team.

Some nice words, but you could probably say that about all of the centres that made the team. It'll be interesting to see if he gets anything more than 4th line/PK time. Drouin, McDavid, Horvat, and Laughton are all probably ahead of him on the depth chart, with one of them moving to the wing.

 

[Zee]

mirtle: Brent Sutter says it was a no-brainer to have Leafs prospect Fred Gauthier on team.

Some nice words, but you could probably say that about all of the centres that made the team. It'll be interesting to see if he gets anything more than 4th line/PK time. Drouin, McDavid, Horvat, and Laughton are all probably ahead of him on the depth chart, with one of them moving to the wing.

Well it's better than having a center where the coach says "That guy, we have absolutely 0 use for a player like that, he sucks"

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Well it's better than having a center where the coach says "That guy, we have absolutely 0 use for a player like that, he sucks"

Look at you being all positive and stuff.

 

[Zee]

Well it's better than having a center where the coach says "That guy, we have absolutely 0 use for a player like that, he sucks"

Look at you being all positive and stuff.

Meh, he's 18 and getting some praise.  Things could be worse.  Whether or not he ever pans out to be an NHL player remains to be seen.

 

[Kin]

If the substance of the praise is that Gauthier is the perfect choice to be the third or fourth line center on a team full of juniors I'm not sure which side of the divide that falls on.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Well it's better than having a center where the coach says "That guy, we have absolutely 0 use for a player like that, he sucks"

Look at you being all positive and stuff.

Meh, he's 18 and getting some praise.  Things could be worse.  Whether or not he ever pans out to be an NHL player remains to be seen.

I was agreeing with your sarcasm with sarcasm of my own  ;D

 

[OldTimeHockey]

If the substance of the praise is that Gauthier is the perfect choice to be the third or fourth line center on a team full of juniors I'm not sure which side of the divide that falls on.

to be considered one of the top 4 or 5 centreman in Canada would be an endorsement no?

 

[Highlander]

yes the cup is half full

 

[Kin]

to be considered one of the top 4 or 5 centreman in Canada would be an endorsement no?

I mean, I'm not a WJC expert or anything but if they build the roster so as to best resemble a traditional hockey team's line-up(as opposed to just taking the most talented players and making a sort of all-star team) then it's not quite the same thing.

I mean, it's still a good thing if Sutter thinks Gauthier would be the best third line or defensive center available to Team Canada but, in regards to the discussion regarding chooing Gauthier I'm not sure which side of the divide that lends weight to.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

to be considered one of the top 4 or 5 centreman in Canada would be an endorsement no?

I mean, I'm not a WJC expert or anything but if they build the roster so as to best resemble a traditional hockey team's line-up(as opposed to just taking the most talented players and making a sort of all-star team) then it's not quite the same thing.

I mean, it's still a good thing if Sutter thinks Gauthier would be the best third line or defensive center available to Team Canada but, in regards to the discussion regarding chooing Gauthier I'm not sure which side of the divide that lends weight to.

Yeah I get what you're saying. We drafted a guy that may be at best a 3rd line checker. If he turns into Dave Bolland, so be it.

 

[moon111]

mirtle: Brent Sutter says it was a no-brainer to have Leafs prospect Fred Gauthier on team.

That is quite the endorsement.


But... his point totals aren't good in the Q!!!!!1

But he's a defensive forward.  Although Guy Carbonneau had 182 pts in his final year. 

 

[bustaheims]

Hope_Smoke: Pronman "I saw Gauthier play this year and I've been impressed despite his lack of points. Big guy who skates really well"

Hope_Smoke: Pronman "Gauthier's defensive play is very advanced for his age and he has a high hockey IQ"

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

It would be really nice if Gauthier rounds out into our future 3rd line/ shutdown center for many years. I haven't really heard anything bad about him, besides some light criticism of his point totals.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Hope_Smoke: Pronman "I saw Gauthier play this year and I've been impressed despite his lack of points. Big guy who skates really well"

Hope_Smoke: Pronman "Gauthier's defensive play is very advanced for his age and he has a high hockey IQ"

The lack of points may or may not be troubling - but it's worth pointing out that at age 17-18 in the Q Patrice Bergeron put up 73 points in 70 games, while at the same age Gauthier put up 60 in 62.  That's about 67 points in 70 games, so he wasn't far off Bergeron's pace. 

If he can become a very good defensively, 60-65ish point C I'd be very happy with that.

 

[bustaheims]

The lack of points may or may not be troubling - but it's worth pointing out that at age 17-18 in the Q Patrice Bergeron put up 73 points in 70 games, while at the same age Gauthier put up 60 in 62.  That's about 67 points in 70 games, so he wasn't far off Bergeron's pace. 

If he can become a very good defensively, 60-65ish point C I'd be very happy with that.

Yeh. If he can turn out to be Bergeron-esque, I think we'd all be quite pleased. He is a fair amount bigger than Bergeron (3 inches taller, 20 pounds heavier), as well, and bigger players have been known to develop a little more slowly.