Connect with us

Uncategorized

Flames’ Gaudreau quietly thriving on defence amid brilliant return to dominance

Published

on


Those who wondered how Johnny Gaudreau would fit into Darryl Sutter’s defensive-minded system now have their answer: Brilliantly.

Sitting seventh in NHL scoring as the catalyst of one of the league’s most prolific trios, he’s back to being one of the world’s most electrifying playmakers.

What few saw coming was that he’s also quietly gone about incorporating a defensive responsibility into his game that has him leading the league in a stat few would ever have associated with him.

Advertisement

Gaudreau is one of just two players with over 100 minutes of ice time that has yet to be scored on 5-on-5. The other is Matthew Tkachuk, which says plenty about the impact their top line has had this season, outscoring the opposition 11-0 at even-strength as a line.

Stream every Flames game this season with new pricing options! SN NOW STANDARD and PREMIUM let you choose how much hockey you want to watch.

It’s been a tremendous response from the 28-year-old winger who was the subject of endless trade speculation over the summer, when it was clear no one was interested in ponying up significantly for the pending free agent.

Finishing below a point-per-game pace for the last two seasons, Gaudreau found himself struggling early on in Sutter’s return to Calgary, picking up whatever points he could get on the power play.

This year only two of his points have come with the man advantage, which is shocking given the team’s power play is ranked tenth in the league. He’s done his best work at even strength, when offence is much harder to come by.

Advertisement

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-220217” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ‘http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6279266005001&cmsid=384’, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6279266005001&cmsid=384”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640×360&cust_params=domain%3Dsportsnet.ca&iu=%2F7326%2Fen.sportsnet.web%2FVideo&ciu_szs=300×250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&vid=6279266005001&cmsid=384”;

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “https://sb” : “http://b”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-220217” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “rkedLxwfab”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6279266005001,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/6279266005001-1024×576.jpg”,
direct_url: “https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/gaudreau-rips-perfectly-placed-shot-past-desmith/”
});
});

Gaudreau’s six goals and 13 assists have helped the Flames get off to a 9-3-5 record that has them second in the west, second in goals against and amongst the league leaders in shots on goal, chances and general excitement offensively.

Advertisement

He’s back to being the highly-engaged speedster whose stickhandling, mobility and creativity make him one of the world’s best at navigating traffic to enter the offensive zone.

Once there, Gaudreau and his linemates have tilted plenty of possession stats in their favour by sustaining offensive forays, thanks to hard work and chemistry. His line had produced 121 scoring chances at 5-on-5, while limiting the opposition to 69 chances. Dominance.

He’s plus-11, which is just three off the NHL lead. Gone is any lingering talk of trading Gaudreau at the deadline. The team is playing too well for that to be a possibility.

Instead, the chatter revolves around how the Flames are going to be able to find enough money to extend Gaudreau’s stay in Calgary long-term.

After all, with the connection he has with Lindholm and Tkachuk, one wonders how either would fare without no. 13 stirring the drink.

Advertisement

“Everybody wanted to bury him before,” said Flames GM Brad Treliving, who has stuck with Gaudreau despite playoff hiccups and some recent sub-par seasons. “He’s been a good player his whole career. There’s always recency bias, like last year people said he was ‘no good.’ That’s silly talk.

“He’s been a productive player since he arrived in the league. You see in his game right now, he’s a top player. Not only when he’s creating offensively, he’s such a dynamic player, but his play away from the puck he’s been a really impactful player every game.”

Sign up for NHL newsletters

Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox!

NHL Newsletter

Please enter a valid email

Advertisement

Thanks for subscribing!

*I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time.

Many wondered how the 5-foot-9, 165-pound dynamo would be able to contribute to a system in which every player is tasked with helping make the opposition miserable. He’s done that by being better defensively.

Advertisement

In a game in Philadelphia Tuesday in which he was heralded for throwing a career-high 10 shots on net, he also made two key defensive stops that wouldn’t previously have been noted in his repertoire. It’s shooting up his value in the eyes of the coach, the organization and around the league. Not bad for someone capable of testing the open market this summer.

Clearly, his contract situation is not a distraction, as he’s fully immersed in the action on a nightly basis.

“He’s always been like that to me,” said Treliving. “I think he’s taken a lot of lumps for no good reason. Everyone sees his skill and talent, but what people don’t appreciate is how ultra-competitive he is. He wants his team to do well. Sometimes people don’t see that. He’s pissed when we’re not successful. He loves to win.”

He’s got plenty to be happy about these days, which feeds into his insistence he’d like to sign an extension to remain a Flame. It won’t be cheap, which is why his future with the club is such a fascinating and important topic.

Will he want more than the $9 million Tkachuk will almost certainly accept as a qualifying offer? You bet he will, although long-term there is some optimism from some camps that he can be squeezed in under that if he signs for eight years.

Advertisement

While it’s the biggest question mark hanging over the club this season, it’s a much more palatable scenario than if Gaudreau didn’t bounce back the way he has.

In a business that’s all about asset management, can Treliving afford to let Gaudreau walk for nothing this summer? Does it make sense to overpay to keep him, perhaps at the peril of signing either Tkachuk or Andrew Mangiapane the following year?

Credit to Gaudreau for making the decisions tough on the Flames with a return to the play that made him a Hart candidate three years ago.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

five − 3 =

Uncategorized

Analyst Makes Clear Statement On Chiefs’ Status In The AFC

Published

on


(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

 

The Miami Dolphins currently sit atop the AFC East with an immaculate 3-0 record.

They also boast the most explosive and entertaining offense in today’s game, as shown by putting up a historic 70 points against the Denver Broncos.

Advertisement

However, sports analyst Craig Carton believes the Kansas City Chiefs are still the team to beat in the AFC, regardless of their record.

In the latest edition of his show, the renowned pundit explained that the Chiefs got that glimmer back in their win vs. the Chicago Bears, and he believes the Dolphins are in for a bad time vs. the Buffalo Bills.

Whatever the case, the Chiefs are still the reigning Super Bowl champions, and that’s always hard to bet against.

Advertisement

Moreover, the way Patrick Mahomes has played has made people think he’s in for another MVP campaign, and Travis Kelce and Chris Jones have shown no signs of rust or injury whatsoever.

Granted that the Chiefs didn’t seem ready to play in the season opener, and one could argue that they don’t have as much talent at their skill positions as they used to, but they still have Andy Reid.

The Chiefs are the kind of team you can never count out of any game, regardless of the rival or the deficit.

They continue to have that aura of champions, and sometimes, that’s all it takes to repeat.

It won’t be easy, and everybody will give them their best shot, but if someone can do it, that’s them.

Advertisement

The post Analyst Makes Clear Statement On Chiefs’ Status In The AFC appeared first on The Cold Wire.





Source link

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Eagles, Bills deemed 'championship caliber' in Nick's NFL Tiers entering Week 4 | First Things First

Published

on




Nick Wright alongside Chris Broussard, Kevin Wildes and Eric Mangini reveal the latest edition of Nick’s NFL Tiers featuring all 32 teams in the NFL. Spearheading the list is none other than the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills.



Source link

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Rams HC Names Potential Return Date For Cooper Kupp

Published

on


(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

 

The Los Angeles Rams had to head into the 2023 NFL season without arguably their best offensive weapon, with superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp dealing with a hamstring injury that resulted in him being placed on injured reserve, meaning he’d miss at least the first four games of the season.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the Rams have lost two of the team’s first three games, with Sean McVay and company falling to the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals in consecutive weeks after starting the season with a win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Advertisement

In Week 4, the Rams will try to shoulder the load again without their superstar wideout downfield as Los Angeles will hit the road to face Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts.

After taking on the Colts this weekend on the road, Kupp appears to be on pace to return to the gridiron for Week 5 against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, according to McVay via Dov Kleiman.

If Kupp is able to make it back in time for the showdown with the Eagles, it will be ideal timing as they’ll need him against arguably one of the best teams in the NFC.

Advertisement

In the meantime, the Rams have gotten a lot of production out of rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, who has yet to reach the end zone in three games but has put up big numbers for a first-year player.

Nacua has caught 30 passes for 338 yards in the first three weeks of the season.

The post Rams HC Names Potential Return Date For Cooper Kupp appeared first on The Cold Wire.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending