{"id":133054,"date":"2022-10-25T11:30:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T15:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=133054"},"modified":"2022-10-25T11:23:50","modified_gmt":"2022-10-25T15:23:50","slug":"nhl-development-of-first-round-picks-frederik-gauthier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2022\/10\/25\/nhl-development-of-first-round-picks-frederik-gauthier\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Development Of First-Round Picks: Frederik Gauthier"},"content":{"rendered":"

NHL player development seems to always result in more questions than answers. How likely is it for a top pick to pan out? What makes a player a \u201csteal\u201d? Last Word On Hockey will be starting a new series on how to properly develop prospects from all different spots throughout the draft. This week\u2019s piece involves draft picks in the back half of the first round and how they were used early in their careers.<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Player Development Of First-Round Picks<\/b><\/h2>\n

In the span of 2005 through 2015, there were 84 total selections made between 16th overall and 30th overall on forwards playing in North America. Looking at all 84 forwards, they were split into different categories. Those categories were \u201cForwards Deemed NHL-Ready and Brought In Immediately When Ready,\u201d \u201cForwards Near NHL-Ready and Brought In Immediately When Near-Ready,\u201d \u201cForwards Rushed Slightly,\u201d \u201cForwards Rushed,\u201d \u201cForwards Forced,\u201d \u201cA Little Patience,\u201d \u201cPatience,\u201d and \u201cToo Much Patience.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There were 16 forwards who fell into the fourth category, \u201cforced,\u201d on the list. Of those 16 players, three made their NHL impacts in their DY+4 seasons or later. Those players are Riley Sheahan<\/a>, Frederik Gauthier<\/a>, and Kenndal McArdle<\/a>. In this piece, let\u2019s look at Gauthier.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this piece, we will be using stats from eliteprospects (raw stats) and hockey-reference (ice time). Additionally, the analytics we are using are as follows: even-strength offence goals above replacement (EVO), even-strength defence goals above replacement (EVD), wins above replacement (WAR) and goals above replacement (GAR). Those analytics are from evolving-hockey (subscription required).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NHL Player Development Of Frederik Gauthier<\/b><\/h3>\n

Frederik Gauthier, drafted 21st overall in the 2013 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, came out of the Rimouski Oceanic organization of the QMJHL. In his DY-1 season, however, he played for the College Esther-Blondin Phenix of the QMAAA. With them, he scored 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points in 39 games, for 1.308 points per game. That ranked 17th out of the aforementioned 84 forwards in DY-1 production. Joining the Oceanic, Gauthier recorded 22 goals and 38 assists for 60 points in 62 games, for 0.968 points per game. That ranked 64th out of those same 84 forwards in DY production. After getting drafted, Gauthier would play two more QMJHL seasons and one AHL season, before making his extended jump to the NHL.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>