Article: Freddy Gaudreau's Quietly Great Start Is No Longer So Quiet

[Tony Abbott]

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[Citizen Strife]

I've been singing Freddy's praises because it looked like he, Lauko, and Khusnutdinov were quietly holding up their end and even succeeding in getting a lot of open looks through hard work.  He was due and made it count last night.

[FredJohnson]

It'll be interesting to see how the lines are set up when Hartmann comes back.

[Burnt Toast]

Whatever FG did in the offseason it’s led to a dramatic improvement across the board. He even looks bigger, maybe he got bigger shoulder pads? He’s got a spark in his game I really appreciate. He deserves a ton of credit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dean’s given him a call. 

[RedLake]

Hartman on third line. Get that line rolling. Send Nojo packing!

[FredJohnson]

13 hours ago, Burnt Toast said:

Whatever FG did in the offseason it’s led to a dramatic improvement across the board. He even looks bigger, maybe he got bigger shoulder pads? He’s got a spark in his game I really appreciate. He deserves a ton of credit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dean’s given him a call. 

[FredJohnson]

He keeps this up and I'll have to stop calling him Frauddy.

[B1GKappa97]

7 hours ago, RedLake said:

Hartman on third line. Get that line rolling. Send Nojo packing!

No way. Do NOT mess with that chemistry right now. 

The TG(I)F line is here to stay, baby!

Hartsy can add some grizzle to the Grape-Knuts line.

[M_Nels]

7 hours ago, RedLake said:

Hartman on third line. Get that line rolling. Send Nojo packing!

Hard no from me. When he was on that line early on they didn't mesh at all. The current setup on the 3rd is working well right now. I'm hoping Hynes puts him with Lauko and Khus on the "4th line" and gives them a higher share of minutes.

[Pewterschmidt]

5 minutes ago, M_Nels said:

I'm hoping Hynes puts him with Lauko and Khus on the "4th line" and gives them a higher share of minutes.

I second this emotion.  Grape knuts + Grizzle might be something.  grizzle’s got some Finnish to go along with lauko’s Finnish 

And I agree re toi.  Use the big bath theory line sparingly and use them to pound on opponents wings and dmen, while giving wild skill players a breather.  

[mnfaninnc]

You guys are talking about meshing and I have to agree, Freddy looks good between Trenin and Foligno. They say Hartsy has a UPI, but IIRC it's his right hand that he blocked a shot with. As long as Freddy does well in his current role it allows Hartman not to have to come back too soon and let the hand heal. 

Hartman is a gamer, and if things weren't going so well, he'd probably be back in there gutting it out. We need his secondary scoring ability, and the lower hand matters for that. Let it heal, strengthen it, and hopefully he comes back with it fully healed. 

I'm glad others can see this with the eye test. This line has been better since Heinzy made the switch:

Quote

Gaudreau isn't seen as a particularly gritty player, but he's proving to be the missing piece at center for bruisers Marcus Foligno and Yakov Trenin on Minnesota's third line.

But here's the other thing, the 4th line has been better too with Lauko and Dino both having speed. Both players needed some speed to go with them. It's like those annoying puzzle pieces that look similar and you try to mash them in and it just doesn't work. Switch the pieces and everything falls into place. 

[Dis-allowed display name]

I am glad Freddy has picked it up a bit, but this is a small sample size.  Last year, I thought he was probably nursing some things that held him back because he is not a half-effort kind of person, and thought he got more criticism than deserved if he was in fact injured.

I hope he either picks it up enough to be a valuable piece, or attract suitors for his too-long (IMHO) contract terms.   The money aint bad, but if he falls off again, it is too many years taking up a roster spot.  I would not mind opening up more youth movement/free agent room.

 

[Up North Guy]

2 hours ago, Dis-allowed display name said:

I am glad Freddy has picked it up a bit, but this is a small sample size.  Last year, I thought he was probably nursing some things that held him back because he is not a half-effort kind of person, and thought he got more criticism than deserved if he was in fact injured.

I hope he either picks it up enough to be a valuable piece, or attract suitors for his too-long (IMHO) contract terms.   The money aint bad, but if he falls off again, it is too many years taking up a roster spot.  I would not mind opening up more youth movement/free agent room.

 

If I recall Fred got nailed by the grizzly from Toronto very early in the season and never really recovered his game. Let's hope he has it and can keep it this year. I was one who called for his departure but if he plays like he has so far he is earning his contract.