NHL.com has released their top 20 NHL wingers. And a Calgary Flames fan favourite, LW Johnny Gaudreau was ranked at 10th overall.
The Calgary Flames boy wonder continues to do great things! Johnny Gaudreau has just been ranked by NHL.com as the 10th best winger for this upcoming season in their Top 20 Wingers list.
Via NHL.com:
"Gaudreau had 18 goals and led the Flames with 43 assists and 61 points last season. He also had 16 power-play points (four goals, 12 assists) and three game-winning goals. In 2015-16, he led Calgary in goals (30), assists (48) and points (78, tied for sixth in the League). The 24-year-old has at least 61 points each of his first three NHL seasons and has made the NHL All-Star Game in each. Gaudreau has 204 points (73 goals, 131 assists) in 232 NHL games and won the Lady Byng Trophy as the most gentlemanly player in the League last season, when he was assessed two minor penalties in 72 games."
NHL Network analyst Bill Lindsay compared him to someone you may all be familiar with:
"[Wayne] Gretzky was probably the best ever of knowing where the puck was going to be and knowing where everyone else was on the ice. Johnny Gaudreau has that ability."
Speaking of winning the Lady Byng Trophy, we spoke about that when the NHL Awards happened, which can be found here. Johnny had just four PIM in 72 games this season and still lead his team in points with 61.
Related Story: Johnny Gaudreau Wins Lady Byng, but Keeps His Shoes On
This past season, a lot of people like to mention how Gaudreau had an “off” season. But if 61 points in 72 games is an “off” season, I’ll take it. Since his rookie year, the Calgary Flames have made the playoffs twice in three years. Before that? They hadn’t made it for six years.
Safe to say he’s somewhat a factor in that.
Last season, he was seventh overall in the league for points with 78 in 79 games. In his rookie season in 2014-2015, he had 64 points in 80 games and was second on the team in points. He was also voted third for the Calder Trophy that season. That season, the Flames made the playoffs for the first time in six years.
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Before this past season, Gaudreau was ranked in the top 20 for Yahoo’s Fantasy Forwards. Safe to say that it was an obvious choice to put him in the top 20 for best wingers for this upcoming season.