Player evaluation: Gauthier
GABE GAUTHIER
This season: 3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, even rating.
Positives: Didn't get much time to show his stuff with the Kings, but Gauthier was a point-per-game performer for the Manchester Monarchs this season. He's not blessed with great size but he's solidly built and is a good pound-for-pound player. By all accounts, Gauthier is a hard worker and a team-leader type.
Negatives: Still quite green at the NHL level, with only eight games in the last two seasons, and he needs to make a breakthrough soon. With players such as Brian Boyle, Marc-Andre Cliche and Trevor Lewis waiting in the wings, Gauthier needs to make himself stand out next season or risk getting passed by these younger prospects.
Looking ahead: It's definitely possible to envision Gauthier on the Kings' roster next season, but it could largely depend on how some of those previously mentioned prospects develop this summer. Gauthier must still prove that he can play at the NHL level, but first he will have to put forth a a good showing at training camp.
Contract situation: Restricted free agent.
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Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
Who's this guy.
Does anybody see him crack the roster.
Nope. I thinks he's more of a talented career AHLer than anything. His ceiling doesn't seem to be as high as most other Monarchs, or else his play would have earned him more looks from Los Angeles already.
its hard to imagine that a player as productive as that in the AHL cannot translate any of that game to the NHL. The AHL is not the NHL, but players have succeeded in the NHL with far wors numbers than that at the AHL level.
can anyone say Lonnie Loach? Gary Shuchuk? And don't worry, I'm not even putting Gabe on these guys' level. The truth is that if you're going to be this size, you better have a hell of a shot (e.g. Cammi) and skate like the wind! Although I did see Gautier win the shot accuracy competition at the AHL All Star game ... then again there was no goalie in net ...or it was Cloutier, I forget.
The problem I see with Gauthier is he would only be a 4th line player at best...except his game doesn't translate to a 4th line guy. I don't see him cracking the lineup.