from Eric Francis of Sportsnet,
Sitting seventh in NHL scoring as the catalyst of one of the league’s most prolific trios, he’s back to being one of the world’s most electrifying playmakers.
What few saw coming was that he’s also quietly gone about incorporating a defensive responsibility into his game that has him leading the league in a stat few would ever have associated with him.
Gaudreau is one of just two players with over 100 minutes of ice time that has yet to be scored on 5-on-5. The other is Matthew Tkachuk, which says plenty about the impact their top line has had this season, outscoring the opposition 11-0 at even-strength as a line.
It’s been a tremendous response from the 28-year-old winger who was the subject of endless trade speculation over the summer, when it was clear no one was interested in ponying up significantly for the pending free agent.
Finishing below a point-per-game pace for the last two seasons, Gaudreau found himself struggling early on in Sutter's return to Calgary, picking up whatever points he could get on the power play.
This year only two of his points have come with the man advantage, which is shocking given the team's power play is ranked tenth in the league. He's done his best work at even strength, when offence is much harder to come by.
Gaudreau's six goals and 13 assists have helped the Flames get off to a 9-3-5 record that has them second in the west, second in goals against and amongst the league leaders in shots on goal, chances and general excitement offensively.
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