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Leafs sign Frederik Gauthier to ELC

Significantly Insignificant said:
Nik the Trik said:
Highlander said:
A lot of people are not hot on Gauthier, I am.  He is 6'5", he is a specialist. Will be probably a very good 3rd line Centre, if he can keep developing his offensive game he may make #2.  I like his size, his strength and his presence. 
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With the old Top 6/Bottom 6 model dying a slow death I think there's less of a divide between the #2 and #3 centre spots than you're making it out to be. Good teams nowadays will have three centres who can fairly regularly contribute offensively to the tune of 40+ points a year.

The question with Gauthier is going to be whether or not he can hit that level or if he'll exclusively be a defensive specialist which, right now, is probably more accurately described as a #4 centre.
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Gauthier reminds me a lot of David Steckel.
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He's a better skater than Steckel but I think it's actually an extremely fair comparison. 
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Brandon Sutter is probably best-case scenario. Steckel/Malhotra the most likely. Career AHLer worst-case.
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And there is nothing wrong with that.  In fact this is the sort of reliable hockey player that the leafs need.  I mean ideally he would be able to be a really good 3rd line centre, like a Brandon Sutter, and then hopefully a guy like Carrick can slide in to the 4 spot.  I would like to see that.  Hopefully if they let Gauthier mature on the marlies it will improve his chances of getting to that ceiling.
 
I don't think it's a case of the top-2/bottom-2 forward lines disappearing for three lines that can contribute.  More like talent is spread out so thinly with so much expansion, there are no more top lines. 
 
moon111 said:
I don't think it's a case of the top-2/bottom-2 forward lines disappearing for three lines that can contribute.
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Except it absolutely is. Teams just aren't interested in third line centres who can't contribute offensively anymore. You look at a team like the Islanders giving Grabo long term money despite having two good offensive centres on their roster or how Tampa Bay is structured and it's pretty clear that having three lines that are expected to contribute offensively is the new normal.
 
Interesting breakdown of Gauthier:

http://editorinleaf.com/2015/04/06/maple-leafs-prospect-frederik-gauthier-situation-points/
 
He's a better skater than Steckel but I think it's actually an extremely fair comparison.
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I think that might be a bit of a stretch, have you watched him skate?  It looked pretty ugly from what I remember, wide sloppy turns and poor use of edges.  His skating, I believe is what is going to hold him back from being an effective NHLer.
 
gunnar36 said:
I think that might be a bit of a stretch, have you watched him skate?  It looked pretty ugly from what I remember, wide sloppy turns and poor use of edges.  His skating, I believe is what is going to hold him back from being an effective NHLer.
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I'll need another look at him for that. Some scouting reports have said his skating is a positive for him, but at the World Juniors he looked pretty slow to me.
 
Today's NHL top scorers almost looks like the `89-90 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Different era, but one could make two really good lines back then.  Now you might have 1-2 really good players, being diluted by the rest.  So team's manage 'three' lines now.  But they all suck in comparison.  Just take the Leafs.  Bozak as the #1 center.  Back then, Toronto had a player like Damphousse with 94 points... on the second line.
 
I am excited to see Gauthier develop with the Marlies, he will obviously get a ton of playing time and will be working closer with Barb Underhill on his skating. Should be interesting to see what happens
 
moon111 said:
Today's NHL top scorers almost looks like the `89-90 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Different era, but one could make two really good lines back then.  Now you might have 1-2 really good players, being diluted by the rest.  So team's manage 'three' lines now.  But they all suck in comparison.  Just take the Leafs.  Bozak as the #1 center.  Back then, Toronto had a player like Damphousse with 94 points... on the second line.
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That still doesn't have anything to do with how teams are choosing to compose their third line.
 
Forget the defensive specialist, Gauthier has 10 points in 7 playoff games, being called dominant:  http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-prospects/2015/4/15/8417487/gauthier-dominant-in-qmjhl-playoffs
 
Highlander said:
Forget the defensive specialist, Gauthier has 10 points in 7 playoff games, being called dominant:  http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-prospects/2015/4/15/8417487/gauthier-dominant-in-qmjhl-playoffs
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That is some pretty glowing praise. I hope it bears out. I've been rooting for Gauthier since he was signed - more than most prospects, I mean. Don't make me look dumb, Fred!
 
Stickytape said:
Highlander said:
Forget the defensive specialist, Gauthier has 10 points in 7 playoff games, being called dominant:  http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-prospects/2015/4/15/8417487/gauthier-dominant-in-qmjhl-playoffs
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That is some pretty glowing praise. I hope it bears out. I've been rooting for Gauthier since he was signed - more than most prospects, I mean. Don't make me look dumb, Fred!
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This is pretty encouraging for sure. 

Another 2-3 years playing for the Marlies please.
 
pmrules said:
Stickytape said:
Highlander said:
Forget the defensive specialist, Gauthier has 10 points in 7 playoff games, being called dominant:  http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-prospects/2015/4/15/8417487/gauthier-dominant-in-qmjhl-playoffs
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That is some pretty glowing praise. I hope it bears out. I've been rooting for Gauthier since he was signed - more than most prospects, I mean. Don't make me look dumb, Fred!
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This is pretty encouraging for sure. 

Another 2-3 years playing for the Marlies please.
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You mean 2/3 years?  :D 

Seriously though I'm in favour of stacking the Marlies as much as possible before bringing any of them up.  Except McDavid I guess.  :-)
 
I guess Barb Underhill really help him with his skating, his long bird like reach always impressed me, he always seems to know where the puck is and is trying to take it away constantly, that is if he doesn't have the puck on him already 8)
 
Highlander said:
I guess Barb Underhill really help him with his skating, his long bird like reach always impressed me, he always seems to know where the puck is and is trying to take it away constantly, that is if he doesn't have the puck on him already 8)
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NEW PLAN!
(1) Trade for everyone who can't skate* (and therefore can be had for cheap)
(2) Clone 25 more Barb Underhills
(3) Stanley Cup

*except Clarkson
 
More on Fred G.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/breakaway_blog/2015/05/leafs-prospect-frederik-gauthier-making-strides.html
 
PPG isn't actually all that impressive of an offensive stat.  It has him in a tie for 36th in QMJHL PPG pace.  That has him tied for 23rd in overall point totals in playoffs.  It's certainly not bad production but it's still not numbers that project as a future offensive contributor at the NHL level. 
 
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