Flames invest in Gawdin’s potential
20-year-old Swift Current captain given three-year entry-level deal
As far as goodbyes go, this seemed encouraging.
When centre Glenn Gawdin was returned to the junior ranks after a training-camp tryout with the Calgary Flames, the higher-ups at the Saddledome more than hinted to the 20-year-old that he’d made a positive impression.
“I thought I played pretty well in Penticton (in the NHL’s pre-season Young Stars Classic) and during main camp and being sent home, they just said they were going to keep an eye on me throughout my season here in Swift Current,” said Gawdin, now captain and first-line faceoff-man for the Western Hockey League’s Broncos.
“I got off to a good start, and they’ve been watching, and kind of one thing led to another.”
Proof they like what they see, the Flames have signed Gawdin to a three-year, entry-level deal.
Heading into Friday’s action, the right-hander from Richmond, B.C., had racked up 14 goals and 40 points in 18 regular-season dates so far this fall. He was running third in the WHL’s scoring race, trailing only his buddies on the Broncos’ top line — Tyler Steenbergen, a draft-pick of the Arizona Coyotes, and Aleksi Heponiemi, a draftee of the Florida Panthers.
There’s no word on whether Gawdin’s contract with the Flames includes a polite request not to beat up too bad Saturday on the Calgary Hitmen, who’ll visit Swift Current for the final stop on a fivegame road-swing.
“His line, in the CHL, is unbelievable,” said Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy. “And as much as those other guys are great players, (Gawdin) does a lot of the stuff kind of below the surface — getting pucks, winning things defensively … all those little things.
“The points speak for themselves. But when you talk to the scouts and the coaches, he’s doing a lot more than just the points.
“He’s sound defensively. Obviously, they don’t spend a lot of time in their own zone, as you can tell from the point total, but the thing is he does a lot of the work — with the defencemen — so they aren’t in their own zone.
“He’s smart, reliable, good positionally. Plus, he’s a right-handed centre. It’s always nice to have a guy that can take draws on that right side.”
Gawdin probably figured this day would come sooner.
He was, after all, selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round — No. 116 overall — of the 2015 NHL Draft but never offered a contract by his first could-be employer.
Did he ever wonder, ever have any doubts, he would be courted by another big-league club?
“You try not to,” Gawdin replied. “I was confident in my abilities, and I just used it as motivation, trying to prove them wrong and get another team to take a look at me. Obviously, they passed on me, and that was their choice. For me personally, it was trying to prove them wrong, just that added adversity to keep that fire going inside me to try to get better and earn a contract.” Mission accomplished. Gawdin was the most eyecatching of the Flames free-agent auditionees at summer development camp and again at the annual Young Stars Classic and continued to earn good marks during main camp at the Saddledome.
In fact, there was talk then of trying to sign the up-and-comer.
He returned to Swift Current empty-handed, but the Flames’ decision-makers didn’t want to wait any longer. The paperwork was finalized Thursday, with the 6-foot-1, 190-lb. prospect trying to steady his hand for arguably the most significant autograph of his career.
“It’s such a big deal, so you have to make it right and make it good,” Gawdin said. “So I tried to focus pretty good on that signature.” And?
“I was happy with it. It didn’t turn out too bad.”
The Flames have a stockpile of young pivots, but they’re almost all left-handed shots.
That goes for Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett and Mark Jankowski at the NHL level, plus touted teens Dillon Dube and Adam Ruzicka.
The only other righties on the depth chart at centre are Curtis Lazar, who is trying to carve out a consistent role as a Flames’ fourth-line focal point, and constant scratch Freddie Hamilton.
“I’m really happy that I ended up in Calgary,” Gawdin said.
“I think character is a big thing in that organization. From top to bottom, it’s a Grade A organization. They treat their players well.
“Personally, I think it’s run right and just the vibe around there. It’s a great place to be, in my opinion.”