Guest Dasein Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 As soon as Maatta was taken off board I was praying that Gaunce would fall to us. Sweet pickup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dasein Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 He might be pissed because he dropped to #26 - I mean, he was ranked #13 NA skater and the best Canadian forward, but 2 guys (Laughton and Wilson) were taken before him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent.S Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I was just watching a bunch of highlights of him, and wow does he have a quick release. It's fast but it has a lot of power behind it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossi Vaananen Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 This kid is MONEY. He's big, he's got hands and put up points on an average team. They say 2/3rd line but I think he's a solid second line centre. Looking forward to seeing a Canuck on the Canadian World Juniors again!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Heyman Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Awesome pick! Can't wait to see him in camp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baercheese Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 i like it, big man, puts up the points, surprised he slid to us, to be honest. thanks to St. Louis and especially Calgary for throwing away their first round picks. que Calgary at this point has to gamble on these high risk/high reward type of players Sounded like Feaster was going to pick him anyways. To get a 2nd out of it was just bonus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DownUndaCanuck Posted June 23, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2012 His size should complement Schroeder well. Imagine this scary kid line in 2 years time: Jensen - Gaunce - Kassian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassian Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 He's gonna be awesome, can't wait. Maybe makes the team this year, we're gonna need 2 centres to start the season and with his work pedigree he might be the perfect fit for the 3rd line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrene Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I think he reminds me a lot of Ryan Kesler. Remember when we drafted Kesler they said he would be a solid career 3rd liner? Similar descriptions of Gaunce and Kesler as they're both regarded as strong 2 way centres with lots of character and skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 (edited) Here's another write up from the Dallas hockey blog, Defending Big D: This draft profile is on Brendan Gaunce, the top center for the Belleville Bulls this past season in the OHL. Gaunce is perhaps the top two-way forward in the draft this year and gets just as much praise for his intangibles and leadership abilities as he does his ability to put the puck in the net. While Gaunce is expected to be drafted in the middle of the first round, he could be considered a reach #13 -- depending on how the draft shakes out Corey Pronman, Hockey Prospectus 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. He is also pretty physically advanced in terms of his frame and muscle mass and is at least in that aspect ready for the next level, although I wouldn't be crazy about him making the jump until he's 19 or 20. Gaunce is dangerous on the forecheck with his strength and work ethic, but also shows as much determination in the other end of the rink, where combined with his hockey sense, it makes him quite an effective two-way centerman. His puck skills are average, though, as he's not one to make a good hands play. He is also is a below-average skater as well who isn't that dangerous in transition. The Scouting Report Gaunce is an extremely well rounded prospect who processes great vision, hockey sense, as well as leadership qualities. He's not a player who will overwhelm you any in one aspect of the game but he does have the unique ability to be such a complete player at this young of an age. Gaunce is a great decision maker both with the puck on his stick as well as away from the puck on the defensive end of the ice. He has an extremely hard and accurate shot which has the ability to find its way to the net through traffic. Gaunce could very well develop into a player who will be on the ice at all points of the game and never look out of place. At this point in time he seems to have the upside as a strong two-way centerman, he does however have to work on his skating ability to get there. My NHL Draft: Brendan Gaunce has great vision, skating ability, hockey sense, a pro calibre shot, and unbelievable leadership qualities on and off the ice. He is the younger brother of Colorado Avalanche prospect Cameron Gaunce, and will most likely be selected in the first twenty picks of the 2012 NHL Draft. He was the highest-scoring AAA minor midget hockey player in Ontario in his OHL draft year with 55 goals and 93 assists for 148 points in 86 games with the Markham Waxers. In his rookie year with the Belleville Bulls, Gaunce had 36 points in 65 games, and will be relied on heavily in the 2011-2012 season. One of Brendan's role models growing up was Brendan Shanahan. Considering his size, Gaunce is an above average skater, however it will need to be improved to be a star at the next level. Conclusion: When I first started to hear about Brendan Gaunce earlier this season, the initial descriptions of his game immediately made me think of Brenden Morrow. Gaunce has the reputation as a strong, hulking center who is at his best on the forecheck and possesses incredible intangibles and leadership qualities. However, after seeing a few games with Gaunce late in the season and based upon final rankings and scouting reports -- it's obvious that Gaunce is much more than just the hard-checking center he was initially made out to be. Gaunce is not a player that possesses a distinct "wow factor," as nothing about his offensive skill or game really stands out as outstandingly special. What Gaunce does do, however, is play exceptionally strong in both ends of the ice as well as on the penalty kill and power play. Perhaps the top two-way forward in the draft, Gaunce combines above-average defensive instincts and ability with superb vision with the puck and excellent distribution skills. He's not the ultimate playmaker at center that the Stars desperately need, but he has the potential to be #2 center that is effective against top compeition -- offensively and defensively. Gaunce isn't the best skater, however, as that is by far the consensus weak spot in his game. He has above average shot and can score from distance, but he won't be using deft stick-handling skills to deke his way to the net. As much talk as there is about his skills on the ice, Gaunce gets just as much attention for his leadership skills as well and he certainly seems to be a future candidate for a captain in the NHL. While the comparisons to Morrow are certainly valid in some ways, Gaunce has the potential to be much more -- a hard checking center who is just as good in his own zone as he is on offense. Gaunce is physically mature and could be just a year away from being NHL ready. Most rankings have Gaunce as a mid-first round pick at best, and he slipped a bit from mid-term rankings after a disappointing second half of the season, and with just three points in six games in the playoffs. While Gaunce could be seen as a bit of a reach at #13, if the top five centers in the draft are already gone and the defensemen left don't force the Stars to go in that direction -- then Gaunce could be seen a legitimate pick that high in the draft. Gaunce would certainly be significant upgrade to the center position for the Stars organization, but the question is whether the Stars are in more need of pure offensive talent and production rather than another hard-checking power forward with good intangibles. I hadn't looked at him in too much depth prior to the draft, so wasn't sure about how good a pick he'd be for us. What I think after having had a look at some of the scouting reports is he's a more complete/all-around version of Joseph Labate, or Kesler without as much skating ability/speed. Labate's taller, and may be more dependent on his skill to become a success at the NHL level, while Gaunce could fall back on his defensive play and intangibles to be successful at a lesser role. Both are in competition for a 2nd/3rd line center role based on their potential, and Shroeder will have to fit in there somewhere too unless his offensive game improves. Gaunce has already filled out his frame pretty well considering he's a year younger than Labate and they might just be challenging for the same spot at the same time in the next couple of years. Gaunce seems like he'll end up have a similar development path to Kesler, but plays a less chirpy game so he'll be more focused on playing responsibly rather than trying to get others off their game. He doesn't have Kesler's skating, but seems to be in the right areas for turnovers due to his hockey sense, and could match Kesler's ability as a responsible, two-way forward initially for us. It'll be interesting to watch him more closely now that he's in our system. Edited June 23, 2012 by elvis15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 another star centerman from markham, ont, who will play for team canada. but this time bigger and stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
endtoend Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Is it possible that Gaunce is the most NHL ready player in the draft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Heyman Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 he always looks that way. Some men just want to watch the world burn 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Is it possible that Gaunce is the most NHL ready player in the draft? no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jermi Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I think he reminds me a lot of Ryan Kesler. Remember when we drafted Kesler they said he would be a solid career 3rd liner? Similar descriptions of Gaunce and Kesler as they're both regarded as strong 2 way centres with lots of character and skill. kesler has elite speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post avelanch Posted June 23, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2012 (edited) Some men just want to watch the world burn Edited June 23, 2012 by avelanch 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theo5789 Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Some men just want to watch the world burn He will fit well in Vancouver then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kassassin Train Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 He trains in the Gary Roberts nutrition program. RIFT!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 apparently he was one of the fastest at the top prospects testing, and one of the strongest at the combine. good stuff, i have a feeling people will harp on his skating, much like cody, but it won't be a real issue (much like cody) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianGame Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 Didn't know much about this pick but am excited to see his potential develop in the next few years. I find it interesting that Hockey's Future 2012 Mock Draft had him go #11 to Washington. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/73167/hockeys-future-2012-staff-mock-draft/ 11. Washington Capitals (from Colorado Avalanche) Brendan Gaunce, C, Belleville Bulls (OHL) Though there are still plenty of good defensive prospects left, the Caps already have capable young defensemen at the NHL level and can still pick one up with the 16th overall pick. With the inevitable departure of aging Knuble what the Caps really need is a two-way power forward that can play a supporting role in the top-six. A unique center that possesses size, skill, and a power game, Gaunce can provide that and much more. Other potential picks: Cody Ceci, Radek Faksa, Derrick Pouliot, Olli Maatta, Zemgus Girgensons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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