I'd be shocked if they protect Blackwell over Gauthier...Don't get me wrong, I think Blackwell has played pretty well for them for the most part but there is a lot unknown about Gauthier. Young guy, good size, plays a physical game. I think he has potential if he matures a bit.
Right, i would probably do the same being Blackwell is a FA after next year and kind of a stopgap guy. Maybe they get caught in a numbers game and figure Gauthier just may not have a spot if not in the top 9. The thinking in the article i saw was that Howden gets taken over Gauthier on experience rather than talent level. Gauthier could be a 4th liner but that may be shorting his ability.
Yeah i guess he's played enough combined to qualify. On CapFriendly's Seattle draft simulator they have him as eligible.
I have seen Howden as the most likely guy. We'll see, but the tough part is Gauthier is a top 9 guy, and we don't have a spot for him there. I rather see us trade him for a mid pick than lose him for nothing to Seattle. They can take Howden IMO.
Or if Gauthier ends up remaining here they make him into a really good 4th line player with Barron as they both have size and skill.
IMO playing Gauthier on the 4th line is a disservice to him, and the team. He has skill and needs time to mature and gain experience. I don't think he profiles as a 4th line guy. And for our team with the skill we have, I don't think he fits what we'd what from our ideal 4th line. With that said, if he was here on the 4th line I certainty wouldn't be upset or bothered by that, it wouldn't be some huge issue, I just think it would be better for both sides if he played for another team in their top 9.
Gauthier is like Brian Boyle but with much better offensive skillset and skating. No reason not to make him a vital part of this team even if he has to play on the fourth line.
Yeah, I don't see that at all. Boyle is a 6'7" C, who kills penalties, and has a career 50.5 FO% (and he wasn't under 50% since 2010-2011). Gauthier is smaller than Boyle, is not a C, and doesn't kill penalties. Not sure how you can compare them in any way actually. They are nothing alike. Boyle was essentially the perfect 4th line player. Gauthier is not. But again, I wouldn't make a big issue out of it if they kept him and tried to make him a 4th line W, just don't think it is the best fit either way.
I would not lose Gauthier for nothing. They should use him in a trade if he is not in their plans. I don’t see Jones here after this season.
Good to see a few fans haven't given up the ship - there's still hope in Rangers playoff land! The best thing to be said about this season is management seems to have hit bullseyes on most of their prominent picks. There were so many question marks coming into the season regarding young players but the Rangers seem to have their future goalie in place, their young forwards have all made strides and they are loaded with defensive talent. The only guy I saw as making little to no progress is Gauthier yet he continues to be glorified - there's no place on the roster for this hump. I didn't understand why Carolina burnt a high 1st round pick on Julien but never gave him a sniff of the NHL (5 games after 3 years?). Smells like an attitude problem to me. The team clearly doesn't need him to win. If you want to lament a high draft pick who didn't get a fair shake with the Rangers look at JT Miller, the #2 center JT and Gorton have been searching for.
