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Brendan Gaunce | C/LW


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I think Gaunce in the long run will be the best we have. That is why I hate to see people offer him in trades. We haven't begun to see the limit of what this guy is capable of.

Utica have him playing the body (more than Jensen does that's for sure) and his physical, thoughtful approach is what we need in Vancouver.

I reckon by the end of the season he will be the guy who will show up best for the Canucks amongst the current batch in Utica and that imo includes Bo.

Agreed.

When he started his Jr career, he seemed to slip into the defensive role. Before that, he was the highest scoring midget player in Ont and was drafted 2nd overall (behind Alex Galchenyuk) in the 2010 OHL entry draft.

As a young player, he was considered a top scorer, so he does have good hands. He very well could end up being the most rounded player of all the rookies.

Kids got a lot of tools in a very nice toolbox. It would be a big mistake for the team to trade him before he has a chance to put it all together.

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Gaunce has the best chance of making the NHL of any other prospect not in the NHL because of his mature game. Plays a very pro style of game, isn't flashy but he works hard, a smart player and is in position. Reads the play well, I think he'll be a solid bottom 6 player that you can rely out there on the PK, he's a big body aswell which always helps in puck battles and overall.

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Agreed.

When he started his Jr career, he seemed to slip into the defensive role. Before that, he was the highest scoring midget player in Ont and was drafted 2nd overall (behind Alex Galchenyuk) in the 2010 OHL entry draft.

As a young player, he was considered a top scorer, so he does have good hands. He very well could end up being the most rounded player of all the rookies.

Kids got a lot of tools in a very nice toolbox. It would be a big mistake for the team to trade him before he has a chance to put it all together.

The same was said about Yann Sauve too. #1 overall draft in the Q. Got NHL size and speed, with a strong shot and soft hands.... just couldn't put it together (getting hit by a car and "developing" down with the Chicago Wolves obviously didn't help either).

With Gaunce, I'm just hoping he's allowed to play to his strength and not be fearful of making any mistakes.

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The same was said about Yann Sauve too. #1 overall draft in the Q. Got NHL size and speed, with a strong shot and soft hands.... just couldn't put it together (getting hit by a car and "developing" down with the Chicago Wolves obviously didn't help either).

With Gaunce, I'm just hoping he's allowed to play to his strength and not be fearful of making any mistakes.

Sauve never blossomed from midget forward and was a second round pick in the NHL amateur draft, his hockey IQ was not Major junior or NHL

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I remember hearing/reading that Green wants Gaunce to learn to take advantage of his size on a consistent basis. Said playing the wing would help him with that.

As a winger I feel you are more engaged with board play, faster, aggressive style. Not saying the center is lazy but quite often they are allowed to drift into the offensive zone as the wingers chase down the puck and grind it out. Possibly designed by purpose to switch Gaunce there to up his tempo and intensity playing as a winger.

I don't know if that is the reason why they did it, but I heard that on TSN 1040 a while back when they were talking about Matthias and Richardson interchanging wing or center and why it was different mentality as a player playing each position.

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As a winger I feel you are more engaged with board play, faster, aggressive style. Not saying the center is lazy but quite often they are allowed to drift into the offensive zone as the wingers chase down the puck and grind it out. Possibly designed by purpose to switch Gaunce there to up his tempo and intensity playing as a winger.

I don't know if that is the reason why they did it, but I heard that on TSN 1040 a while back when they were talking about Matthias and Richardson interchanging wing or center and why it was different mentality as a player playing each position.

You have not nearly as much time to make a decision with the puck when you're a winger. You've got to get it off of your stick right away.

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Galchenyuk switched from wing to centre, he played wing earlier in the season and in his NHL career. I won't be surprised if he stays at centre but he might have to compete with other prospects for a centre spot when they all start getting some time in the NHL hopefully or in the AHL. If he can't beat them out well he can play on the wing and he's doing well so far on wing.

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I love Utica for the Canucks AHL team, that's why I was concerned when people were talking about bringing it to Abbotsford.

Right from day one they have got behind the team and that was despite the terrible start last season. It is night and day difference to Chicago.

Utica will imo be one of the main factors in making the Canucks a contender in the next 2/3 years.

What makes me especially happy is the fact we will be sending our young and gifted prospects to a town and support that will appreciate them and really get behind them. Sadly I think we could do with more of that spirit in Rogers.

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alfstonker;

Utica will be the Gillis gift that keeps on giving. IMHO it will be the greatest thing that Mike Gillis did for Van during his tenure. How an org could go through so many years without owning a AHL team is beyond me. I remember Gillis saying they had been in the market for a number of years prior to buying. Apparently AHL teams are not sold often.

During the past summer there was much talk of 5 or 6 AHL teams being relocated to the Pacific Coast. Nothing happened and I am happy with that. Much rather Canuck AHL players remain in the east and have less travel and more practice time.

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alfstonker;

Utica will be the Gillis gift that keeps on giving. IMHO it will be the greatest thing that Mike Gillis did for Van during his tenure. How an org could go through so many years without owning a AHL team is beyond me. I remember Gillis saying they had been in the market for a number of years prior to buying. Apparently AHL teams are not sold often.

During the past summer there was much talk of 5 or 6 AHL teams being relocated to the Pacific Coast. Nothing happened and I am happy with that. Much rather Canuck AHL players remain in the east and have less travel and more practice time.

Well I'm not a big fan of Gillis as you may know but credit where it is due, Utica was a masterstroke and I totally agree with what you have posted.

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