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Brendan Gaunce | C/LW


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Safe pick from the canucks, I like it so far.

I've always liked guys that step it up during harder competition.

It's also interesting to see that they wanted him ealier and were looking into moving up just to grab him

He also seem's like a fast learner, his first year in the OHL he was a -31 the next he was a positive 4

and he almost doubled his previous year in scoring

Edited by Kent.S
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Brendan Gaunce

Center

Born Mar 25 1994 -- Markham, ONT

Height 6'2" -- Weight 215 -- Shoots L


					Regular Season					Playoffs

Season	Team			Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM

2009-10	Markham Waxers		OJHL	1	0	0	0	0	-2					

2010-11	Belleville Bulls	OHL	65	11	25	36	40	-31	4	0	0	0	4

2011-12	Belleville Bulls	OHL	68	28	40	68	68	4	6	1	2	3	2

Edited by avelanch
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Get to know a draft pick — Brendan Gaunce

James O'Brien Jun 22, 2012, 10:26 AM EDT

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All week leading up to the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, we’ll be profiling top prospects who may hear their names called Friday in the first round. Nothing too in-depth. Just enough so you know who they are and what they’re about.

Brendan Gaunce ©

Height: 6’2 Weight: 215 Shoots: Left

Team: Belleville Bulls (OHL)

Country: Canada

NHL Central Scouting ranking: No. 13 among North American skaters

What kind of player is he?

Want proof that the 2012 NHL Draft might be a little weird? Consult the North American skater rankings — Brendan Gaunce is the highest-ranked Canadian forward at No. 13. You have to wade through a bunch of Russian talent and strong defensemen before arriving at the big center from the Belleville Bulls.

Scouts don’t regard Gaunce as a dazzling skill player. He didn’t put up astounding numbers in the OHL, but could be enticing to mid-level teams because of his size and two-way play. For teams that gravitate toward “character guys” and intangibles, Gaunce is a solid pick. His potential likely ranks between a second or third line center.

He also has a family member in the NHL — his brother, Cameron, is a defenseman in the Colorado organization that played 11 games last season.

Quotable:

“He makes strong decisions with the puck on his stick, and has the ability to place the puck in the right spot of the offensive zone, be it via a pass or by skating it there. He is also one of the strongest positional players available for the draft. He is extremely effective positionally in all three zones, and shows an ability to play a smart, two way game.

“The other aspect of his skill set that impresses is his shot. He has one of the strongest shots in the draft, displaying strong accuracy and speed, but more importantly, a very quick release. He has all of the intangibles that you look for in a future leader at the next level, and looks like a player who will one day be a captain in the NHL.” — Sean Lafortune, The Prospect Blog

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/06/22/get-to-know-a-draft-pick-brendan-gaunce/
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Brendan Gaunce – The Next Ones: 2012 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Built for the NHL

by Brendan Ross on June 14, 2012.

Brendan Gaunce THW Close Up:

Date of Birth: March 25, 1994

Place of Birth: Markham, ON, CAN

Ht: 6-1.75 Wt: 207 lbs

Shoots: Left

Position: Center/Left Wing

NHL Draft Eligibility: 2012 1st year eligible

THW Ranking(May): 14th

gaunce_AB70571-240x300.jpg

Gaunce, followed by scouts from a young age, is looking to become an NHLer just like his older brother Cameron (Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Peer through the history of the NHL Entry Draft and you might be hard pressed to find a class without a Canadian-grown forward occupying one of the top ten spots. In 2012, Markham native, Brendan Gaunce, has been dubbed Canada’s best forward prospect yet the confidence that he can crack the top ten wavers depending on the expert asked.

Gaunce has grown accustomed to being followed closely by scouts as the Belleville Bulls coveted the former Markham Waxer standout after tallying 55 goals and 148 points in his minor midget year. At the 2010 OHL Priority Selection Draft, Gaunce’s wait was short as he was selected second overall behind 2012 draft mate Alex Galchenyuk.

NHL teams have been observing this OHL-trained player develop ever since Gaunce entered the league as a rookie posting a modest 36 points. Statistically, Gaunce’s numbers were not overly eye-catching but he used his used his freshman season to learn the ins and outs of the major junior game. His approach to his hockey career can be attributed to his dedication and commitment to excellence. As the younger brother to Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cameron Gaunce, Brendan has used his siblings’ experiences to ensure success in his own hockey endeavors. During the past two summers, the Gaunce brothers have enrolled themselves into fitness-guru Gary Roberts’ hockey training program, the same one that has facilitated players like Stamkos and Skinner into star status.

Gaunce’s off-ice conditioning has resulted in impressive showings during fitness testing at both the 2012 Top Prospect Game and NHL Scouting Combine. At the February showcase game in beautiful Kelowna, Gaunce finished first in nine categories of testing while scouts witness him rack up twelve top 10 finishes at the recent 2012 NHL Combine. His commitment to all aspects of hockey has paid off as Bulls’ Head Coach Burnett leaned heavily on his star forward using him in all situations. Additionally, the second year center was named an “assistant captain” adopting a leadership role that Gaunce was born to fill.

From my own personal observations in DobberHockey’s Fantasy Prospects Guide,

“The top heart-and-soul player of this draft class, Brendan Gaunce is a player that will contribute in a number of ways at the NHL level. Scouting draft notes for Gaunce will not indicated any elite offensive skills as he earns his points via his pro-caliber shot and strong work ethic in puck battles. Gaunce lacks the ability to handle the puck at top speed but does possess crafty hands inside the hash marks making him a dangerous option in the scoring area. “

Brendan Gaunce is a meat-and-potatoes type of player willing to enter the gritty areas and engage in puck battles. His defensive awareness, positioning on both sides of the puck andfaceoff prowess earn him tough minutes as a shutdown option. Offensively, Gaunce plays a power game complemented by above-average passing skills and an ability to unleash a hot wrist in tight quarters.

Playing on the bigger ice in Belleville, Gaunce’s below-average skating skills have been exposed and he must continue to improve his quickness and lateral mobility. Lacking first line upside, Gaunce’s value lies in his size, intelligence, versatility and attention to detail that makes him, arguably, the draft’s top two-way forward. These qualities combined with his impressive junior pedigree are an attractive package that could see NHL teams sacrificing “upside” for a high character player in Brendan Gaunce, who is already showing the maturity (see video below) and leadership to become an NHL captain.

Scout’s Honour:

Teams will gravitate towards Gaunce’s character, as he plays a 200-foot game and shows consistent efforts both with and without the puck. His hand skills and passing skills are above average and he has an underrated shot. Gaunce can make plays on either his strong side or weak side and provides the requisite size and smarts to play up the middle. Gaunce brings many intangibles to the table including his size, character, hockey sense and ability to do the little things well, which should make him a very effective two-way player at the NHL level.

David Burstyn –McKeen’s HockeyDirector of Scouting

Gaunce has all the tools that you look for in a second line center at the next level. His biggest asset is his intelligent and anticipation skills. He has the ability to read the play two to three plays ahead, and anticipate it. He makes strong decisions with the puck on his stick and has the ability to place the puck in the right spot of the offensive zone, be it via a pass or by skating. He is also one of the strongest positional players available in the draft.

Sean Lafortune – Future Considerations Scout and Founder of The Prospect Blog

Big and powerful, Gaunce is the definition of a power center. He utilizes his smarts and size to be a good playmaking option, but is also very adept at playing all three-zones. He can power his way to the net and create room for his linemates to put the puck in the net.

The Hockey Guys’ Final 2012 NHL Draft Rankings

Gaunce is a bulking two-way power forward who can also finish and distribute the puck at a high level. He is a really smart hockey player with tremendous instincts and vision on the ice. Even though he’s an aggressive checker, he also has the ability to pull up along the side boards, control a power play and be a very effective distributor. Gaunce makes all the little plays consistently with his distribution game and he also is able to show the ability to see and make the difficult passes. Gaunce is a strong player and you see it in his shooting ability as he really leans into his wrist and slap shots, showing plus finishing ability from beyond the blue paint.

Corey Pronman – ESPN and Hockey ProspectusDraft Writer

Despite still not projecting as favorably as some of his 2012 draftmates, Gaunce will be highly sought-after because of his ability to do the ‘little’ things like winning faceoffs, backchecking effectively and contesting puck battles.

Bob Mand – Bruins’ Correspondent at THW and NHLMockDraft.comcontributor

Statistics:

Bio/Interview(s)/Link(s):

Brendan Gaunce Profile on Dobber Prospects

Neate Sager’s Draft Tracker: 5 Questions with Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls

ETA = 1 year

Risk-Reward Analysis:

Risk= 0.5/5 Reward = 4/5

NHL Potential:

Second-line two-way center with leadership intangibles

Strengths:

*See “THW Close-Up” section above.

- Mature Leader with high character

- Strong Positioning

- Elite Conditioning

- Advanced hockey sense

- Imposing size

- Hard accurate shot

- Versatile

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

- Improve skating (first step quickness and agility)

- Improve puck handling skills

- Maintain intensity to fully utilize his imposing frame

Fantasy Hockey Potential:

Offensive = 7.5/10 Defensive = 8.5/10

NHL Player(s) Comparison:

- Brandon Dubinsky

- Ryan O’Reilly

- Jordan Staal

Video:

Off The Iron (Interesting Notes):

  • Brendan Gaunce is the subject of a book being published by HockeyProspect dubbed “Draft Year: Brendan Gaunce” following the young prospects journey to the NHL. Written by John Matisz, a reporter covering London Knights local news, this publication will be a great read for any avid hockey fan.
  • Brendan Gaunce’s talents are not limited to the ice as he can be found on the field kicking footballs as his high school teams’ punter. His school pride continues as he also starred in Hairspray on the high school stage.
  • Brendan Gaunce made headlines at the 2012 NHL Draft Combine posting top finishes in several tests including leg power (1st), right (4th) and left hand grip (6th), body weight pushups (7th), pull strength (5th) and upper body power throw (2nd).

THW’s The Next Ones prospect profile template design architect: Chris Ralph

http://thehockeywriters.com/brendan-gaunce-the-next-ones-2012-nhl-draft-prospect-profile-built-nhl/ Edited by avelanch
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