Over the last several years, Calgary Flames prospect Johnny Gaudreau has built a rather comprehensive highlight reel thanks to his high-end puck skills and tremendous finishing ability. Since the goal he scored Tuesday night came in a game that didn’t count, it may not make the cut for his greatest hits, but Gaudreau offered Flames fans a glimpse of the moves he’s built his “Johnny Hockey” reputation on.
With the Flames knotted up in a scoreless tie with the Colorado Avalanche, Gaudreau won a loose puck and had Avs defenseman Nate Guenin in a bad spot. As Guenin tried to recover, Gaudreau took the puck inside, then outside twisting the NHL veteran up. He then wired a perfectly-placed wrist shot inside the far post and past a bewildered Reto Berra.
"That was worth the price of admission,” Flames head coach Bob Hartley said of Gaudreau's goal in his postgame remarks (via Canadian Press). “I don't know if you guys got excited but on the bench, guys reacted like fans."
Gaudreau was the Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner last season as the best player in college hockey. He put up 80 points in 40 games for Boston College including 36 goals for one of the most productive seasons of the last decade in the NCAA ranks.
Though Gaudreau comes in at about 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, he continues to drown out criticisms about his size with those tremendous puck skills.
Could the 21-year-old make the Flames opening-night roster? It sure seems like he’s been making a pretty decent case over the preseason.
