On Wednesday, it was announced that Julien Gauthier was recalled from the AHL. While it is possible that he is just an extra because one of the 12 forwards already on the roster is dinged up, but I think more likely he is set to get the NHL chance that he earned with a strong preseason.
With the Hurricanes off to a 4-0 start, one might ask what Gauthier could possibly do to improve the team. But even with the red hot start, a team should never be content, especially in early October.
Today’s Daily Cup of Joe considers what could make sense for Julien Gauthier’s NHL debut and audition.
What Julien Gauthier brings
He is obviously unproven at the NHL level, but if he can make the transition to the NHL level, Julien Gauthier brings a rare ‘today’s NHL’ power forward skill set. At 6 foot 4 and 226 pounds, Gauthier can be a physical force. In a modern NHL where decent speed between the blue lines is table stakes to be able to play, pretty much any team can use another big body who can match pace and score goals like an old school power forward. Julien Gauthier has the potential to be exactly that and showed signs in preseason that he just might be ready to do so at the NHL level.
His preseason
Gauthier won/earned this NHL audition with his strong preseason play. There is an odd mismatch between his level of score sheet production and level of play, but he was easily among the team’s best forwards during the preseason. I am on record as saying that if he did not get NHL ice time because his preseason effort that the ‘earn your ice time’ mantra becomes questionable. And four games into the NHL season, here we are. Gauthier will get the chance that he earned.
How should he Julien Gauthier utilized?
I am a huge fan of putting young call ups in roles that play to their strengths and put them in a situation to push to their upside. With a a center with decent playmaking ability on the fourth line, that does not not necessarily mean that Gauthier needs to immediately be elevated to a higher line, but I actually prefer doing this sooner rather than later once Gauthier gets his feet under him. The only way to figure out if a player like Gauthier can be a difference-maker on a scoring line is to see him play in such a role.
If I was Rod Brind’Amour, I would:
1) Start him on the fourth line (again this is not an old school fourth line with no offensive capability). Once he settles in, I would consider elevating him to play with some of the team’s top playmakers.
2) I would also consider getting Gauthier time on the first (originally anyway) power play unit. That group has not produced anyway. I would actually consider putting him in Staal’s slot as a net front presence. Gauthier brings the same for size and much better hands for finishing. I really think the only significant loss is Staal’s face-off acumen.
Watch points
What stood out to me most about Gauthier in preseason was not what he was doing with the puck on his stick but rather his level of engagement without the puck. From day on as a Hurricanes prospect, Gauthier had the ability to ‘wow’ with an occasional rush or other high-end power forward play offensively. But in between those highlight reel efforts was too much dead space. Gauthier seemed to lack some combination of intensity and intuition for how and when to engage the puck. So by me, I think critical will be seeing if Gauthier can carry over his every shift intensity from preseason into the regular season. That makes him serviceable as an NHLer regardless of point totals. Then on top of that if he can continue to generate offense and finish at a higher clip, he has the potential to carve out a role in the Hurricanes lineup?
What say you Canes fans?
1) What do you expect from Julien Gauthier’s NHL audition (assuming he gets it)?
2) Where would you slot him into the lineup initially? Where would you hope he lands after he settles in?
Go Canes!
Agree with everything. Once he graduates from the 4th line, and that might actually be the best place for him, I have a harder time slotting him into the lineup and moving someone down. My guess is that if no one is hurt, Foegele comes out.
Dzingel-Haula-Necas seem to have chemistry and not sure you want to mess with that. I sort of like the idea of Gauthier with Staal-Svech and watching other teams deal the size that line. I’d be shocked to see RBA put a rookie on the top line, but Nino has been a bit invisible to start and that could jump start some scoring.
I would guess Gauthier either ends up with Staal-Svech, or RBA sits Necas (to limit number of rookies on ice) and puts Gauthier with Haula.
1) I look for The Bull to bring more energy and consistency than he played with in the pre-season. He has already been sent down once. He is a smart man.
2) where he slots in will probably depend on the circumstances of the recall. If Wallmark is healthy, slotting in with him makes sense.
If Wallmark has lingering effects from having his head slammed into the ice, then likely Martinook slides over to center. In this case, one option is to slide McGinn to Martinook side, move Turbo to stallâs line (provide a setup man for Svechnikov), and try to jump start the Aho line with The Bull. It is a high-risk high-reward option – if the line clicks they could break out with a multi-goal game. There are limited options to jump start the line, and The Bull is the most likely to create space and time for Aho. The Bull creates space and time for other players in a completely different way than Turbo.
It would also give Aho something to focus on other than the whether his shots are going in.
One could always go to plan B if it didnât work.
Just throwing that out there, it is OK to verbally slay me now!
asheville. I come not to slay you but to acknowledge your genius. The Canes are perfect in the standings. However, getting Aho and Niederreiter going on the scoresheet should be a priority. As you mentioned, RBA has already moved TT for that reason.
As it stands now, McGinn (who I like as an energy player) is on one of the scoring lines. That really isn’t a good fit. With Gauthier either playing with Aho or Svech, his offensive talents might spark some goals. I am all for trying both NN/Aho/Gauthier and Svech/Staal/Gauthier.
Yeah. I LIKE McGinn and hate that i’m always downing him, but he’s a perfect 4th line type player. Overslotting him, as the Hurricanes seem to love doing, does him a disservice. Put Goat with Staal to help even out any potential defensive deficiencies.
We will find out more during practice how he is being used so I will wait until then to offer any thoughts.
I appreciate the optimism, but we’re talking about a guy who is a physical force, but showed little offensive ability other than driving the net. On the PP? Why? He hasn’t shown that kind of skill or vision.
Matt, not sure why you keep cracking on the #1/Aho PP. They have hardly seen the ice in a couple games, and they aren’t going to if the #2/Turbo PP keeps producing.
Finally, having sky high expectations for a rookie adds a lot of pressure. He needs to go out there and play his game, which is physical and hard on the forcheck. Backcheck hard, and try to find some opportunities to go to the net. Keep in simple.
I think he will do well on Wallmark’s line, assuming he slots in for Martinook. All 3 of them (Foegs, Wallmark, Gauthier) shared ice time in Charlotte two years ago.
And I agree on PP units – PP1 actually looked pretty good when they were getting ice time. I don’t see Gauthier on either unit, and it remains to be seen if he can play on the PK.
I marvel at the number of possible uses we could put the Bull to. I have always been a big fan of Julian. But we have missed one possible reason for calling him up.
Showcasing him as a trade possibility? Maybe to Edmonton for Jesse?
The Goat seemed to earn making the team from camp and played well early for CLT, so maybe starting in CLT was more of a financial thing than anything else.
I’m just wondering who is going to sit out when he comes in and less about who he plays with. It’s far too early to make any real judgements on anyone – everyone is mostly a known commodity at this point, even Necas – but it looks like Foegele could most use some time to slow down his thinking. He just doesn’t seem to have the same “always on” style of play this year.
As for where to play him, that’s a tough one. Even though Aho/TT/NN haven’t scored, they’ve looked dangerous and I’d give them time. I know others aren’t enamored with Svetch / Staal, but I think they’ve been very good and throwing Svetch into defensively more responsible situations is good for his development.
The mere fact that figuring out what to do with him and who comes out is a luxury we haven’t had in a long time – way before I became a real fan of the team.
Yes. Svechnikov is averaging over a point per game and the Canes are undefeated. Why mess with that?
I don’t think Goat’s call up impacts Necas at all (really like that 3rd line of Haula-Dzingel-Necas).
It’s probably either because Wallmark needs a few days to heal after his fall to the ice — or to be inserted in Foeg’s slot on the 4th line. It could also be getting some reps as a prelude to tagging along for next week’s west coast trip.
This. Also think the Canes may have acquired a little cap space with Marleau signing with SJ.
Just now seeing Marty is having surgery. đ But the beat must go on and hopefully they slide McGinn down to his spot and give Goat a chance on Staal’s line.
With Martinook out of the line-up for 6-8 weeks with surgery, now we know why Gauthier was called up.
https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/jordan-martinook-to-undergo-surgery-on-friday/c-309942646?fbclid=IwAR3y2pULgIZ0UmPbUvUyr54LjYBR4XepTicdPR4_QMfDiq31ILjPC1QrmJo
And he will get quite the audition over that period. This is his opportunity -hopefully he jumps on it.
Ah, that explains it.
I agree, put the Goat with Staal and McGinn with the 4th liners, it’s still a heck of a 4th line.
If the Goat doesn’t work out (well, doesn’t gel, we all know he works out like a crazy person) there’s Kuok )I want to see him play with Staal). Lawrence and Geekie also had strong camp and, in my opinion, deserve a tryout at the NHL level.
In unrelated news, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Canes trade TVR + one of these guys, possibly + Forsberg for one more addition up front or picks (then again, the salary cap situation is going to look a lot better after this year).
Do we really want to call Julian the Goat. I understand the whys behind it, but he might not like it. When he earns a permanent spot in the lineup, he might prefer Bull.
It’s kind of like during an interview with Dzingel, Tripp let the cat out of the bag mentioning that on a previous team, Ryan’s nickname had been Dizzy. The expression on his face showed negative response. Roddy later referred to him as Zings.
Marty’s condition sounds to me like a sports hernia. Donovan McNabb had one years ago. He fully recovered. Let’s hope Marty does too. His leadership and spirit will be missed.
The whole nickname thing is supposed to be a team thing. Hockey players generally do not want to be called their nickname by non-teammates. John Forslund alluded to it during a broadcast last year. Between all the microphones on the bench and locker room and Tripp in the booth those walls are coming down.
Hard no to Gauthier on Staal line. Number one job of Staalâs line is to shut down the opponents top line. No way should Gauthier be put in that position.
McGinn does everything you want from a player except put the puck in the net. He probably is a bottom six winger, but replacing him with a rookie playing his first games in the NHL is a bad idea.
ANd Gauthier’s role in today’s practice is, indeed, to slot in for Martinook on the 4th line opposite Foegele on Wallmark’s line. Given that is not a conventional line and my aforementioned familiarity between the three players I think that it is an excellent spot for him. I can see Gauthier powering to the net with Wallmark picking up the rebounds afterwards. That should become a fun line to watch and, with Wallmark’s faceoff acument, an effective possession/energy line as well.
Just curious, Marty will be our 6 to 8 weeks. Is there a reason the canes do not put him on LTIR? Maybe we are okay with were the cap space is. I think the clock starts for 10 games for LTIR. He could come back earlier but it does not sound like it. I do not know why we are not giving ourselves some financial cap maneuverability just in case. I do not se waiting and then letting the clock start later if you get forced into something.