Undersized Giroux, Gaudreau defy doubters

NASHVILLE - Besides having connections to the Philadelphia area and being named to their respective all-star teams this season, the Flyers' Claude Giroux and Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau have something else in common: The shifty forwards have proven the skeptics wrong.

During their early teenage years, both were told they were too small to ever make it to the NHL. Heck, Gaudreau was still hearing those whispers even after the Flames took him in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. He was selected with the 104th pick - 36 slots after the Flyers chose Nick Cousins.

"They're both quick and they're agile," Flyers defenseman Nick Schultz said the other day. "When they have the puck, they're tough to defend because they're so quick laterally. When you go in the corner and they have possession of the puck, they're so good at tight turning and going the opposite direction."

Gaudreau was available late in the draft for one reason: Scouts were worried that his small frame - 5-foot-9, 157 pounds - could never sustain the punishment of the NHL.

Yet, in his two NHL seasons, the left winger is a two-time all-star.

"Obviously he is a real threat on the ice," Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth said. "He's a skilled guy. Very smart and patient. Every time he's on the ice, as a goalie, I have to watch pretty much every step."

Gaudreau, 22, who grew up in Carneys Point, Salem County, and later attended Gloucester Catholic High, will play for the Pacific Division in Sunday's three-on-three all-star tournament in Nashville.

"He's too small to hit. You can't even touch him," Giroux cracked.

The baby-faced Gaudreau already has 20 goals this season, and he is tied with Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin for ninth in the NHL with 47 points.

"I don't think size really matters if you're smart and quick enough," Neuvirth said. "There are a lot of good, small guys in the league _ Patrick Kane, Martin St. Louis back in the day, and lots of others."

Known as Johnny Hockey from when he starred at Boston College, Gaudreau "finds a way to get open ice close to the net," Giroux said. "And he rarely gets hit, so it's pretty amazing."

Because of their small statures, Giroux and Gaudreau have become adept at avoiding hits, and they aren't reluctant to go into what players call the "dirty areas" around the net.

"Growing up smaller than everybody, you have to find a way to get out of the way," Giroux said. "It becomes a part of your game."

Giroux was listed at 5-10, 169 pounds when the Flyers selected him in the first round (22nd overall) in 2006. By then, he had shed the "too small" label, but not many envisioned he would be such an impact player. Known for his relentless style, the center is the NHL's leading scorer over the last five seasons.

Earlier in his career, however, scouts worried about his size.

"It makes you want to prove people wrong," the 28-year-old Giroux said. "I think it's a great motivation. I was pretty small when I was younger, but I just wanted to play hockey, so I kept" working at it. "A lot of people said I was too small, but I didn't read too much into it."

Gaudreau said he heard the same thing as he was climbing the ladder toward the NHL.

"All my life I heard that," he said at the all-star media day festivities in Nashville on Friday. "I think a lot of the smaller guys hear that - 'You're too small, you won't make it.' But in this day and age and the way the game is now, it's good for small players."

Gaudreau talked about how players his size can draw lots of holding and tripping penalties with their speed and shiftiness.

"If you're smart and skilled with the puck, I think it's an advantage to be small," he said.

Giroux is looking forward to the all-star tournament Sunday and its new three-on-three format.

Ditto Gaudreau.

"There's a lot of skilled guys here," he said. "And with so much time and space with the three-on-three, I think it's going to be pretty cool to be a part of it."

He's a part of it because he used the doubters as a motivator during his earlier years.

That said, even Gaudreau didn't expect to be dominating the NHL so soon.

"It's crazy," he said. "It's hard to believe I do the things I do sometimes. I'm really fortunate to play with a lot of great players and good coaches who really help out, and now that I'm here, it's really, really cool."

Gaudreau looks at some of the veteran all-stars - guys such as Jaromir Jagr, Corey Perry, Malkin, and Patrice Bergeron, among others - and he is almost amazed he is playing in the same all-star tournament with them.

"I'm more comfortable this year," he said. "Last year, and even this year, I'm still like, 'Wow.' I was watching these guys like four or five years ago, and to be part of this weekend again is really cool. Just looking back at the history of the All-Star Game and the people who have been a part of it, it's hard not to be wowed about it because you see a lot of players you grew up watching."

The Flyers' Claude Giroux and Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau are among small players who are making a big impact in the NHL. Here are some other short, under-180-pound forwards who helped start the path for the little guys:

Yvan Cournoyer, 5-7, 172: "The Roadrunner" won 10 Cups with the Canadiens and scored 428 goals.

Danny Gare, 5-9, 175: Had 50- and 56-goal seasons and finished with 354 career goals.

Bernie Geoffrion, 5-9, 170: The player they called "Boom Boom" won six Cups in Montreal and scored 393 goals.

Rod Gilbert, 5-9, 175: Part of the Rangers' GAG (Goal A Game) Line in the '60s and '70s, he collected 406 goals and 1,065 points.

Brian Gionta, 5-7, 178: He has seven seasons with at least 20 goals and 268 goals in a still-going career.

Dave Keon, 5-9, 163: He won four Cups with Toronto and finished with 396 goals and 986 points.

Ted Lindsay, 5-8, 163: Known as one of the game's toughest players, he won four Cups and scored 379 goals.

Dennis Maruk, 5-8, 165: He had 50- and 60-goal seasons for Washington and finished with 356 goals and 878 points in 888 games.

Henri Richard, 5-7, 160: The "Pocket Rocket" won 11 Cups with the Canadiens and scored 358 goals.

Rene Robert, 5-9, 165: Part of Buffalo's famed "French Connection" line, he had 702 points in 744 career games.

Martin St. Louis, 5-8, 176: A six-time all-star, he finished with 391 goals and 1,033 points.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

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