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21st overall - Frederik Gauthier

OldTimeHockey said:
Way to not sit on the fence and pick a side  ;)

I'm not sure you have to be "pro" or "against" the pick. I think (as Nik suggested) that there are aspects of what we know of Gauthier that are both appealing and concerning. Really though, I think 'Pots' put it best when he said he sounds like a late first round pick. I'm guessing you could probably find a player similar to Gautier in every year in the bottom half of the 1st round. Some work out, most don't. Personally, I like the pick but I wouldn't have been bent out of shape had we gone in another direction either. 
 
There are different types of drafts. Some are described as "strong":
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2003e.html
and some are described as "weak":
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1998e.html
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2004e.html

This draft was described as not having lots of top end franchise player talent but was deep with many players that had NHL potential. Time will tell.

To me, Gauthier was a "safer" pick. He might make top 6 but if he falls short of that, with his defensive ability and size, he's got a good shot at the bottom six. Because he has a shot to play on any forward line,  he has a better chance of making it to the NHL unlike say Patrick O'Sullivan who either made it as a top 6 player or he wasn't as likely to make it because he wasn't a strong player defensively.

In a cap system, I think it's more essential than ever before to make sure you have a flow of economical young players coming onto the roster. Unless your prospect system is teaming with good prospects and your flirting with the 50 contract limit, I think the safer pick is probably the way to go, making sure you maintain the flow of economical youth and you take your chances in lower rounds to hit a less probable home run.

So I don't mind the Gauthier pick at all. I mentioned above that between 2001 and 2009 43% of QMJHL first rounders made it to the NHL. With the type of "safe" pick the Leafs made here, Gauthier's chances are very probably significantly better than that. Unfortunately, no pick comes with a guarantee.
 
I believe I heard the day of the draft that this was his rookie year having played midget last year while deciding between NCAA and the Q.  I also think it was Craig Button who compared him to Jordan Staal.  Overall, I think I'm willing to see if the offense comes along.  Not to tangent...but during the draft, I was hoping Carolina's want of D would lead us to acquire the number 35 pick if, ironically, JT Compher were available. 
 
OldTimeHockey said:
Way to not sit on the fence and pick a side  ;)

Honestly, if there's one thing that I've had to learn through repetition as a Leafs fan it's that you really shouldn't get too high or low about a draft pick, any draft pick. If the Leafs were ever in the position to pick a Tavares or Stamkos...sure but other than that it's basically all guess work. I loved the Schenn pick, didn't care for the Kadri pick. But when the guys doing it for a living have such a shaky track record my mistakes are par for the course. There's really just no way to tell.

Outside of having some interest in the way a player fits into an organization on a needs basis, which Gauthier does pretty well on being a big center, at some point it's all nonsense.
 
Nik the Trik said:
OldTimeHockey said:
Way to not sit on the fence and pick a side  ;)

Honestly, if there's one thing that I've had to learn through repetition as a Leafs fan it's that you really shouldn't get too high or low about a draft pick, any draft pick. If the Leafs were ever in the position to pick a Tavares or Stamkos...sure but other than that it's basically all guess work. I loved the Schenn pick, didn't care for the Kadri pick. But when the guys doing it for a living have such a shaky track record my mistakes are par for the course. There's really just no way to tell.

Outside of having some interest in the way a player fits into an organization on a needs basis, which Gauthier does pretty well on being a big center, at some point it's all nonsense.

I don't disagree at all. What I was taking issue with initially was though that were so down on the pick.
 
Virtually every mock draft and so called expert analyst had Gauthier ranked very near wre hie was picked and most if not all had the Leafs picking him at 21. Short of moving up -- and I wanted to move to number 5 all right but not if the price was Morgan Reilly -- Gauthier seems to be a consensus choice. It would be different if Nonis had gone "off the board" and taken a Calgary gamble buthe did not.

Most of these picks are guesses and not much more.

I will wait and hope he develops.
 
The Google translate of http://www.larevue.qc.ca/sports_frederik-gauthier-joue-2e-saison-avec-oceanic-n27621.php

Frederik Gauthier plays his second season with the Oceanic

Pierre- Luc Chenel

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

After attending training camp with the Maple Leafs , Frederik Gauthier began his second season with the Rimouski Oceanic .

At the time of writing , the center player Mascouche tallied 5 points in 7 games with the team in the Lower St. Lawrence, but he thinks he can do better. "I think I have more to give. My early season is not as good as I hoped . In terms of intensity and energy, I think I can give more , said Gauthier, who is not only to put points on the plug. I'm trying to improve some aspects to become a more complete player and do what I can to stay in the National Hockey League (NHL ) next year . "

Always at the time of writing these lines , the Rimouski Oceanic won six of his first nine games of the 2013-2014 season. With several players in camps National Hockey League , the results were worse when everyone is back. "It was a little more difficult , but it starts out and adapt the system to do better. I do not think we played as well as we are able , but progress towards that, " said Gauthier, who believes that all players who participated in a professional camp were able to bring what they have learned .

In his career, Frederik Gauthier participated in the World Under -17 and Memorial of Ivan Hlinka (under 18 years). As part of the plans of Hockey Canada, Gauthier has in its sights a place with Junior Team Canada in December. "I would have the chance to go, but I have to work hard , he has served . It all depends on how I 'm playing . "

first camp

1st round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in June , Frederik Gauthier judge he gave everything during training camp and is satisfied with what he has given to performance as team leaders . "I gave the best I could and tried to make a good first impression. I saw that I still had some way to go to go up and I have to work hard to get there , "admitted the 18- year-old athlete , who does not feel extra pressure being a choice of 1st round . "Everyone get out there and there really is no round . Even being a 1st round pick , there is nothing for granted and I have to work hard . "

Number 23 of the Oceanic had the chance to play a preseason game. He picked up an assist in a 3-0 win for the Maple Leafs against the Philadelphia Flyers on September 15 in London.

Improve skid

During the offseason, Frederik Gauthier was able to improve his skating with former Olympic figure skater Barbara Underhill, hired by the Maple Leafs in 2012. "She helped me a lot for my skating in a straight line on the changes and quite all facets of skating, he has concluded . I think I have a better skating . "
 
Thanks for sharing that, Moon!  I like what I've seen from Gauthier, and I want to keep a close eye on him, but that isn't easy while he's in Quebec.

Glad to hear he did some training with Barbara Underhill.  I like her work; I've really noticed some extra jump in JVR this year, and he has good things to say about her.
 
I don't know if you folks saw when Matt Boudens with 14 fights last year goes after Frederik who has not recorded a fight before.

Gauthier more than holds his own.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_IQVjv6Dk3E[/youtube]
 
Damn, nice!  Man, who needs to be an experienced fighter when you're 6'4" with giant, long, monkey arms.  He fights like Devane: massive reach and punches that come at you from above.
 
I haven't seen this guy yet but I've read some pretty good things about him, from the perspective of non-Leaf fans.

Hoping for a big year for Gauthier as he'll be a pretty huge asset for the team down the road if he pans out.
 
He looks bigger than 6'4"... monster! I don't think we'll see too much of him on the Marlies next year. I like this whole developing your own players thing.
 

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