Brendan Gaunce | C/LW

[Boudrias]

The hairs on Brendon Gaunce's neck should stand up higher with every shift that Darren Archibald takes. Archie played over 4 minutes of PK against the Bruins and did just fine. His skating is no as good as Gaunce's but good enough for the NHL. It is obvious that Archibald knows what he has to do to stay in the line up. Gaunce is a very smart hockey player but without enough offence he becomes more expendable. Like Hutton he had lots to accomplish this year and tho his game is better than Hutton's I am not sure if the depth takes him out sooner rather than later.  

[Alflives]

1 hour ago, Boudrias said:

The hairs on Brendon Gaunce's neck should stand up higher with every shift that Darren Archibald takes. Archie played over 4 minutes of PK against the Bruins and did just fine. His skating is no as good as Gaunce's but good enough for the NHL. It is obvious that Archibald knows what he has to do to stay in the line up. Gaunce is a very smart hockey player but without enough offence he becomes more expendable. Like Hutton he had lots to accomplish this year and tho his game is better than Hutton's I am not sure if the depth takes him out sooner rather than later.  

I’ve said for some time for Gaunce to keep and NHL job he will have to play like Tanner Glass.  Archibald is doing that job, and Gaince needs to develop a mean streak, and learn to fight - and fight well.  

[Lancaster]

I disagree with that Gaunce needs to play with an edge to remain in the NHL.  It would be nice, but while a player can learn to be more defensive, skate better, maybe adding hitting to his game, developing a mean streak isn't always possible.  Some players have it, some don't.  

Gaunce does finish his checks and uses his size...... just his hits doesn't seem to be "crushing" players like if/when Virtanen hits or Archibald hits.  

 

The biggest problem is that Gaunce's mindset is that of a centre.  Centres aren't always the most physically intimidating force on the ice (Getzlaf being a prime exception) as they are relied upon to be on the ice and not in the penalty box.  Gaunce really needs to work on his acceleration if he ever wishes to play as a bottom-6 centre.  His has good speed after he gets going... but like CoHo, his first few strides leaves a bit desired.  I certainly hopes in the off-season that he hires the same skating coaches are Horvat, or whoever the Sedins hired during the lock-out in 05 (IIRC, Kesler says Daniel was almost matching him stride for stride at times).  

 

 

[mll]

On 2/18/2018 at 11:47 PM, Lancaster said:

I disagree with that Gaunce needs to play with an edge to remain in the NHL.  It would be nice, but while a player can learn to be more defensive, skate better, maybe adding hitting to his game, developing a mean streak isn't always possible.  Some players have it, some don't.  

Gaunce does finish his checks and uses his size...... just his hits doesn't seem to be "crushing" players like if/when Virtanen hits or Archibald hits.  

 

The biggest problem is that Gaunce's mindset is that of a centre.  Centres aren't always the most physically intimidating force on the ice (Getzlaf being a prime exception) as they are relied upon to be on the ice and not in the penalty box.  Gaunce really needs to work on his acceleration if he ever wishes to play as a bottom-6 centre.  His has good speed after he gets going... but like CoHo, his first few strides leaves a bit desired.  I certainly hopes in the off-season that he hires the same skating coaches are Horvat, or whoever the Sedins hired during the lock-out in 05 (IIRC, Kesler says Daniel was almost matching him stride for stride at times).  

 

 

Green moved him to wing because he gets more involved while at C he tends to stay passive.  Green recently said that he doesn't see Gaunce as mean but that meanness is not a bad thing to have.  

[dpn1]

Does anyone know when BG is due back?

[Borderline Canuck]

I'd like to see Gaunce and Jake on a line together.  Think we'd see lots of breakaways and 2 on 1's.  Gaunce and Sutter also have good chemistry.

[Stierlitz]

On ‎25‎/‎02‎/‎2018 at 4:01 PM, dpn1 said:

Does anyone know when BG is due back?

 

[Horvats_Big_Head]

Might be time to cut him loose.

 

His ceiling has always been a great fourth line player. Brendan Gaunces grow on trees, and we can save salary space by not extending him.

[-AJ-]

1 hour ago, Stierlitz said:

 

Dang, he's huge for our defensive game. Having Tanev back is nice, but we're also missing our great defensive forwards in Sutter and Gaunce too.

[Diamonds]

2 hours ago, Horvats_Big_Head said:

Might be time to cut him loose.

 

His ceiling has always been a great fourth line player. Brendan Gaunces grow on trees, and we can save salary space by not extending him.

I disagree. Even if all he is is a great fourth line player, he still fills the role of PK specialist and is incredibly cheap. Gaunce's cap hit is only $750k this season and next season. Not to mention he has shown to be very mature with leadership qualities. Those types of players actually don't grow on trees and when available often get contracts ~3 times what Gaunce is currently making.

 

Fourth line tweeners might be always available for cheap, but it greatly solidifies a lineup to have true fourth line NHLs and not tweeners on a team.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Diamonds
spelling

[mll]

3 hours ago, Diamonds said:

I disagree. Even if all he is is a great fourth line player, he still fills the role of PK specialist and is incredibly cheap. Gaunce's cap hit is only $750k this season and next season. Not to mention he has shown to be very mature with leadership qualities. Those types of players actually don't grow on trees and when available often get contracts ~3 times what Gaunce is currently making.

 

Fourth line tweeners might be always available for cheap, but it greatly solidifies a lineup to have true fourth line NHLs and not tweeners on a team.

The better teams are moving away from 4th liners.  It's going quickly towards 3 scoring lines and one checking line.

 

This was Guy Boucher last playoffs: “I think what we’re seeing now throughout the league is that your third line now has to be your fourth line. You don’t really have a fourth line anymore. If you have, you can’t make it through. And I think that’s made a big difference.”

[SingleThorn]

7 hours ago, Horvats_Big_Head said:

Might be time to cut him loose.

 

His ceiling has always been a great fourth line player. Brendan Gaunces grow on trees, and we can save salary space by not extending him.

 

5 hours ago, Diamonds said:

I disagree. Even if all he is is a great fourth line player, he still fills the role of PK specialist and is incredibly cheap. Gaunce's cap hit is only $750k this season and next season. Not to mention he has shown to be very mature with leadership qualities. Those types of players actually don't grow on trees and when available often get contracts ~3 times what Gaunce is currently making.

 

Fourth line tweeners might be always available for cheap, but it greatly solidifies a lineup to have true fourth line NHLs and not tweeners on a team.

 

1 hour ago, mll said:

The better teams are moving away from 4th liners.  It's going quickly towards 3 scoring lines and one checking line.

 

This was Guy Boucher last playoffs: “I think what we’re seeing now throughout the league is that your third line now has to be your fourth line. You don’t really have a fourth line anymore. If you have, you can’t make it through. And I think that’s made a big difference.”

Gaunce has value. He ( in a pinch ) could be a complimentary player on a 2nd line. He could be a valued element in a good 3rd line. He could be a driver on an A+ 4th line.

 

Please don't take some stupid opinion from Ho's Fat Head and treat it as fact or a relevant opinion.

[AK_19]

I was really hoping he'd take a bigger step forward this year.

[Crabcakes]

1 hour ago, SingleThorn said:

 

 

Gaunce has value. He ( in a pinch ) could be a complimentary player on a 2nd line. He could be a valued element in a good 3rd line. He could be a driver on an A+ 4th line.

 

Please don't take some stupid opinion from Ho's Fat Head and treat it as fact or a relevant opinion.

Gaunce has been out for some time and I think that people may be forgetting what he brings.  He's strong defensively, hard on the puck and a good fore checker.  Also good on the pk.  He was just starting to show offense when he was injured.  He plays like Archibald (minus the pugilism) but is a little better across the board.

 

I wouldn't get too excited and place him in the top 6 but he's a role player and is a keeper.  

[-AJ-]

7 hours ago, The 5th Line said:

Sutter?  He's been back for awhile now.  

Ah. As you can see, I'm not watching too many games these days. Not much to watch.

[SingleThorn]

2 hours ago, Crabcakes said:

Gaunce has been out for some time and I think that people may be forgetting what he brings.  He's strong defensively, hard on the puck and a good fore checker.  Also good on the pk.  He was just starting to show offense when he was injured.  He plays like Archibald (minus the pugilism) but is a little better across the board.

 

I wouldn't get too excited and place him in the top 6 but he's a role player and is a keeper.  

To be clear, ( poor wording on my part ) I don't see BG as a top six player. But.......I believe he could play a role in the top six under certain situations. Two young offensive players might need a defence first player on their line. Temporary injury fill in. He's smart, he'll do what the coach asks him to do.

[Attila Umbrus]

54 minutes ago, SingleThorn said:

To be clear, ( poor wording on my part ) I don't see BG as a top six player. But.......I believe he could play a role in the top six under certain situations. Two young offensive players might need a defence first player on their line. Temporary injury fill in. He's smart, he'll do what the coach asks him to do.

Players like this are invaluable to a team. And I still think he does have the abliity to move up the depth chart and settle into a 3rd line role putting up 30 points. While playing all the hard minutes in the Dzone and on the PK. Maybe on the 2nd PP as a net front presence? He's strong as an ox.

[SilentSam]

On 2018-02-18 at 2:47 PM, Lancaster said:

I disagree with that Gaunce needs to play with an edge to remain in the NHL.  It would be nice, but while a player can learn to be more defensive, skate better, maybe adding hitting to his game, developing a mean streak isn't always possible.  Some players have it, some don't.  

Gaunce does finish his checks and uses his size...... just his hits doesn't seem to be "crushing" players like if/when Virtanen hits or Archibald hits.  

 

The biggest problem is that Gaunce's mindset is that of a centre.  Centres aren't always the most physically intimidating force on the ice (Getzlaf being a prime exception) as they are relied upon to be on the ice and not in the penalty box.  Gaunce really needs to work on his acceleration if he ever wishes to play as a bottom-6 centre.  His has good speed after he gets going... but like CoHo, his first few strides leaves a bit desired.  I certainly hopes in the off-season that he hires the same skating coaches are Horvat, or whoever the Sedins hired during the lock-out in 05 (IIRC, Kesler says Daniel was almost matching him stride for stride at times).  

 

 

No,  the exact thing he needs is an edge.  The same, or more than Archibalds..  it’s that same edge that keeps these players on their edges and toes.

If Guance doesn’t get that edge next season, we will be dealing with another Taylor Pyatt..  Soft. ..and I’m speaking pre-tragedy.

[-AJ-]

5 minutes ago, SilentSam said:

No,  the exact thing he needs is an edge.  The same, or more than Archibalds..  it’s that same edge that keeps these players on their edges and toes.

If Guance doesn’t get that edge next season, we will be dealing with another Taylor Pyatt..  Soft. ..and I’m speaking pre-tragedy.

Pyatt had no defense and a mediocre scoring ability. He had no defined role and couldn't fit well anywhere except when the Sedins carried him on their line. Gaunce is a defensive master and has a clearly defined role. He'll have a stable career as a shutdown forward. He's not the next coming of Todd Bertuzzi or Raffi Torres, but he finishes his checks and plays pretty hard in the corners.

[GB5]

55 minutes ago, -AJ- said:

Pyatt had no defense and a mediocre scoring ability. He had no defined role and couldn't fit well anywhere except when the Sedins carried him on their line. Gaunce is a defensive master and has a clearly defined role. He'll have a stable career as a shutdown forward. He's not the next coming of Todd Bertuzzi or Raffi Torres, but he finishes his checks and plays pretty hard in the corners.

I agree, this team seems a lot better with Gaunce in the line up playing a shut down role.