Highlander
Active member
Fredo injured by a slapshot last night near the end of the game. He was a bright spot for his team with an assist and a goal, what a defensive player!
Leafs sign Frederik Gauthier to ELC
- Thread starter Deebo
- Start date
I think that I dislike Gauthier even more now that everyone in the media has decided to refer him him as "Freddy the Goat".
Stickytape
New member
Highlander said:
Seems he's okay, as he played last night and contributed an assist in a 4-0 win. I don't know how many minutes he played, but he took 35 faceoffs so probably a lot.
Highlander
Active member
Lost to Ramparts so Freddy is going to get a lot of time with the Marlies.
herman
Well-known member
Gauthier is #19 this year on the PPP Top 25 under 25, down from #16 last year.
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-top-25-prospects-under-25/2015/8/18/9168311/ppps-top-25-under-25-frederik-gauthier
I can't really see who else we could've picked in that slot.
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/toronto-maple-leafs-top-25-prospects-under-25/2015/8/18/9168311/ppps-top-25-under-25-frederik-gauthier
I can't really see who else we could've picked in that slot.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
herman said:
I like him and he could turn out to be a useful player, but just looking at the next 40 picks, there is at least 10 I'd have well ahead of him and that's without looking to closely.
bustaheims
Well-known member
herman said:
There some higher ceiling, boom or bust types available. I like Gauthier, too, though. If he comes to close to his ceiling, he could be a very valuable part of the team. Not necessarily 1st round pick valuable in most people's eyes - unless he ends up as an elite defensive forward - but an important piece, nonetheless. He was a safe pick, and it's not like they went off the board to get him. Where they picked, there choices were basically between safer, lower ceiling types or risky, high ceiling types. The management team at the time didn't take risks on skilled guys, and the system has suffered because of it, but safer guys are needed as well.
Highlander
Active member
Lets fast forward 5 years, the Leafs are in game 7 of the Final and Gauthier makes a huge defensive play to save the Leafs lead with 5 seconds left in the game. If that happens is he worth a first pick?
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Highlander said:
Would you like a free million dollars?
bustaheims
Well-known member
Highlander said:
Well, the real question there is whether or not the Leafs could have picked up an equivalent player without sacrificing a 1st round pick, and they probably could have. That isn't to say Gauthier was a bad pick. Sometimes, in the latter 1/3 of the 1st round, there aren't guys that are typical 1st round types available. Making a huge defensive play to secure the Cup is great, but, unless he provides exceptional level defence throughout the season and the playoffs, then, no, that one play doesn't make him worth a 1st round pick. Individual plays are highly overvalued by fans, and, in many cases, similar results could have been achieved by the majority of the roster. There's no way of knowing if someone the Leafs drafted later or picked up at the deadline for a mid-round pick would have made the same play. He justifies his draft position by being an above average performer throughout his career, not from one play.
Highlander said:
If you're saying that the only way Gauthier will be worth a 1st round selection is if he clinches a Stanley Cup victory for the Leafs in the next 5 years you're basically saying that there's very little chance that Gauthier was worth a 1st round selection.
L K
Well-known member
Gauthier wasn't a bad pick at that spot in the draft. It doesn't make him automatically a great prospect though. He a big body who is fairly mobile for his size and is decent at faceoffs. His game is defense and he has little in the way of offensive ability/potential.
It's kind of like saying Yakupov and Crosby are equivalent because they are both 1st overall picks. Once you are drafted, that isn't the standard of comparisons. It might afford you a bigger piece of rope or an additional opportunity if things don't work out at first, but prospect rankings aren't based on where you were drafted by a combination of your potential ceiling and how likely you are to reach that ceiling.
As for whether Gauthier making a single big defensive play late in a crucial playoff game...sure that helps his case but that wouldn't be my benchmark for judging his career/value to the organization as an overall player. Gilmour isn't remember fondly because he scored that one wrap-around goal on Cujo in overtime, but because of his career as a whole as a Leaf.
It's kind of like saying Yakupov and Crosby are equivalent because they are both 1st overall picks. Once you are drafted, that isn't the standard of comparisons. It might afford you a bigger piece of rope or an additional opportunity if things don't work out at first, but prospect rankings aren't based on where you were drafted by a combination of your potential ceiling and how likely you are to reach that ceiling.
As for whether Gauthier making a single big defensive play late in a crucial playoff game...sure that helps his case but that wouldn't be my benchmark for judging his career/value to the organization as an overall player. Gilmour isn't remember fondly because he scored that one wrap-around goal on Cujo in overtime, but because of his career as a whole as a Leaf.