Fantasy Summary
Two-way C who could one day be an effective bottom-six NHLer.
Observations
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May 2022 – It was nice to see Gawdin receive a couple games of big league action this year as a call up. He was strictly on the fourth line and played a few minutes each game but he spent most of this year with Stockton. He produced at a 0.8 point per game pace for the season, with 50 points in 62 games, and he has been having a good AHL postseason in the games he has played. He should be back with the Flames organization next season and will fight for a bottom six roster spot next year as he has the AHL figured out. Gawdin is stuck in the “too good for the AHL but not good enough to be trusted in the NHL” prospect realm. Chris Fekete
Oct 2020 – Flames have done very little to provide RW depth within the organization and Gawdin could be the type of player who watches from the press box or jumps into some NHL games either at RW or C. He is a responsible two-way, right-shot player who led the Heat in points last season. He certainly isn’t Calgary’s top prospect but he might be one of the most ready if they need a depth body. Overall, his first half was much better than his second as far as production, but there’s enough there to fill a need. Joel Henderson
Jan 2020 – Gawdin has simply been a slow and steady wins the race type of guy. Whenever you think he has nothing left to show you, he turns up the heat another degree. You can put him with almost anyone on the Stockton Heat roster and pucks will end up in the offensive zone consistently. He has been named as an AHL all star and he could potentially see some NHL action this season or next. He still doesn’t have top-end creativity or instincts to make fantasy owners drool but his two-way play is very solid. – Joel Henderson
Nov 2019 – With strong two-way play and a quality slapshot, Gawdin has been able to show his level of consistency in the AHL so far this season. He is currently at a point per game with 13 in 13 and he is doing so all over the ice. He’s certainly improved his stock since the Flames signed him as a Free Agent but for fantasy owners there is still a ways to go. He is more so a candidate to fill a role as a 13th forward than he is to be immediately slotted into a top-9 role. He is shooting at just over two shots per game. – Joel Henderson
Apr 2019 – Gawdin completed his first pro season with 11 goals and 27 assists in 64 AHL games. This tied with fellow former WHL prospect Matthew Phillips. He was also one point behind Dillon Dube for team rookie lead but in significantly more games due to Dube spending time in the NHL. Gawdin adjusted well as the season progressed by moving from the bottom line into a middle-six role. His two-way play allowed him to transition quicker than other players and allowed him to develop more weapons like his one-timer on the PP. Gawdin moved up a couple slots on the depth chart and NHL games no longer look out of reach in the next couple seasons. – Joel Henderson
Oct 2018 – While Gawdin has begun the year playing bottom-six minutes in the AHL, he’s also found himself some PP time. He scored two PP goals in win against San Diego which gives him four goals in his first seven games. It would be a fairly seamless transition for Gawdin to jump up the lineup due to his effective defensive play and good north-south skating. If he can put forth a quality rookie season for Stockton then thats all one can ask for. Has the potential to be an effective bottom-six C but he requires more patience. – Joel Henderson
May 2018 – After going unsigned by St Louis, Gawdin attended Calgary’s training camp in the fall as an invite and was noticably one of the best. By all accounts, Calgary was hesitant in signing Gawdin but once he began his year with Swift Current collecting 40 points in the first 18 games, they put the pen to paper. He finished the 2017-18 season with 56 goals, 69 assists for 125 points in 67 games; a huge increase from his 59 points in 52 games the year before. Swift Current just advanced to the Memorial Cup and Gawdin was named MVP of the playoffs with 32 points in 24 games. His limemates play a huge roll in the two-way C’s success as Florida’s second-round selection in 2017 Aleksi Heponiemi and Arizona’s overage selection of Tyler Steenbergen made for one of the top lines in the WHL. With that being said, Gawdin is a smooth skating, strong two-way C who can be effective on both areas of the ice. Calgary’s system could use a player like Gawdin to be a workhorse in the AHL and push others to be better. While at a first glance, you might hope the big numbers translate to NHL fantasy, Gawdin will have work ahead of him. Gawdin will most likely begin as a depth C in the AHL and look to improve as the season progresses. Joel Henderson
September 2017 – Gawdin spent 2016-2017 with the Swift Current Broncos. In 52 Games he had 26 goals and 33 assists. Gawdin has proven he can score at the WHL level. Even so, Gawdin is likely to spend 2017-2018 back with Swift Current as an over age player. It is too soon to project Gawdin as a player likely to break into the NHL or likely to be a career AHL player. Doug Abrams
January 2016 – The versatile and hard-working centerman is playing in the WHL for the Current Swift Broncos. He was drafted last summer in the fourth round, but his biggest value to the Blues appears to be his balanced game, which may not translate to significant fantasy value. The offensive skill is there, but some speculate the Blues will try to develop his defensive play rather than creating a scoring weapon. Gawdin has a good shot with a quick release, and has shown the ability to create scoring chances with a savvy pass. He’s a relentless defender who excels in the corners, and is responsible in all zones. Gawdin has been a standout for the Broncos with eight goals and 15 assists in 23 games this season, and 54 points in 2014-15. The WHL numbers seem to be trending upward, but many scouts project him as a bottom-six NHL player. Most notably, he was one of the stars for Canada in the 2015 U-18 World Junior Championship with two goals, and two assists in seven games. Gawdin has a lot of work to do, but he’s young with plenty of time to work on deficiencies in the WHL and AHL. Look for him to stay with the Broncos for the rest of the season, and he could get a chance in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves in the near future. Matt Kowalski
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