To compare what Gaustad has learned to be as a hockey player to what Kassian should be is, to be perfectly honest, an insult to Kassian. Gaustad began his career as a fourth line punching center, and has worked his way up to being a low-scoring third line center/faceoff specialist/special teams juggernaut. Kassian is a scoring/hitting power forward, a top-six brand of player. If Kassian even merely turns out to be as good as suggested, then he'll be far and away superior to Goose in all aspects (besides faceoffs and possibly the PK).

Comparing what Mancari could have been to what Kassian looks to already be is more accurate than to compare Goose and Kassian.

To compare what Gaustad has learned to be as a hockey player to what Kassian should be is, to be perfectly honest, an insult to Kassian. Gaustad began his career as a fourth line punching center, and has worked his way up to being a low-scoring third line center/faceoff specialist/special teams juggernaut. Kassian is a scoring/hitting power forward, a top-six brand of player. If Kassian even merely turns out to be as good as suggested, then he'll be far and away superior to Goose in all aspects (besides faceoffs and possibly the PK).

Comparing what Mancari could have been to what Kassian looks to already be is more accurate than to compare Goose and Kassian.

Very true, PSP. He was projected to never reach the NHL, and now he's an integral part of a team and a possible Olympic bubble player.

You know a guy is good when every season his point totals rise from the last (and in Goose's case, so do his PIMs ).

Well, when they were without a captain, Lindy let the team choose their captain, and they chose Rivet. There's a reason, though, that Goose wears an "A".

Rivet is the right choice for right now.

But when it's his time to move on, you can be sure that Goose will be wearing the C.

Not only that, but his nasty habits he has (in the good way) when defending Miller or clearing the crease have rubbed off on Butler and Myers, such as those vicious little crosschecks in the blue paint to offending players.

He was a good captain last year, because of our lack of leadership problem, but he doesn't deserve it this year. If he were a real leader, he would willingly take the "C" of his own jersey, and give it to Gaustad.