After his Boston College team was eliminated from the Frozen Four tournament in a heart-breaking semi-final loss to Union on Thursday, things got better for star winger Johnny Gaudreau on Friday. The 20-year-old Junior, Gaudreau took home the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division 1 College Hockey, and signed a two-year Entry Level Contract with the Calgary Flames who drafted him in the 4th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (104th overall). Gaudreau had 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points in just 40 games this season. He is the first player to reach the 80 point plateau since the 2002-2003 season.
The Flames also signed Boston College senior Bill Arnold. The center was a fourth round pick of the Flames in 2010, (108th overall). He finished the season with 14 goals and 39 assists for 53 points.
Gaudreau and Arnold will make their NHL debuts in the Flames last game of the season on Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks.
“We are excited to welcome both Bill Arnold and Johnny Gaudreau to professional hockey after reaching agreements today on entry level contracts with the Calgary Flames,” said Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke in a statement. “Bill is a solid two-way player with good offensive instincts combined with power and grit. Congratulations to Johnny on capping off an amazing college season with the Hobey Baker Award, a very well deserved achievement.
“Johnny is a gifted player with high end skill and smarts. We look forward to having both players, as they take the next step forward in contributing to the success of the Calgary Flames.”
Scouting Report.
Johnny Gaudreau, LW
Born Aug 13 1993 — Carneys Point, NJ
Height 5.08 — Weight 153
Selected by Calgary Flames round 4 #104 overall 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Johnny Gaudreau has finished his third great season for Boston College, winning the Hobey Baker as the best player in College Hockey. In 2013 he also participated in the World Juniors, leading the entire tournament in goals with seven in seven games, and helping Team USA win the Gold Medal. As a freshman in 2011-12, he was an integral part of BC’s Frozen Four Win, Gaudreau has proven to be a producer and a winner at the International and NCAA level over the last three years.
Listed at just 5’8″ and 153 lbs, it is easy to see why Gaudreau fell to the 4th round of the 2011 draft despite good stats for Dubuque in the USHL. However, what Gaudreau lacks in size he makes up for in pure skill and heart. He is an explosive skater who leaves opponents in his dust, and is able to cut wide on defenders and take the puck to the net. He also has very good hands, and a wide variety of moves that enable him to beat defenders one on one. His great agility, and quick lateral movement make him extremely hard to contain one on one, and when he gets up a head of steam on the rush, he’s a defender’s worst nightmare. Gaudreau has excellent puck handling ability, along with good puck control and protection. Couple those with good vision and passing skill, and he becomes a dynamic and creative player who is willing to try plays that many other players never would, and has found these moves work against NCAA competition. Gaudreau has shown no fear at the NCAA level, challenging opponents in the corners and the front of the net. He has high level hockey IQ and is often able to find the soft spot in a defence and get open to unleash his powerful and accurate one timer.
Gaudreau has all the talent necessary to make the next level, the question will always be if his body can hold up to the NHL rigors long term. He will also need to continue to develop his defensive game. His size will likely always put him at a disadvantage to have trouble containing big forwards, but if he can develop his anticipation and stick skills, he can rely less on his pure size, and more on his talent in the defensive end as well.
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