Final Grade: David van der Gulik

by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 9, 2011 7:00 AM MDT in Final Grades 2011

This report card is a joint effort by Beachie, Sandie, Paul, SlamDunktheFunk and DDC. Stats courtesy of hockey-reference.com and NHL.com

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2010 - David Van Der Gulik	6	1	2	3	4	2	0	0	0		12


Final Grade

Final Grade: INC

Midseason Grade: INC

Position: RW (6gp on 4^th line)

Vitals: 5'10" / 173 / Age 28 / Shoots Left

Drafted by Calgary in the 7^th round (206^th) of the 2002 Entry Draft

Joined Avalanche: Signed as a free agent, July 2, 2010

MHH Nicknames: VDG

Linemates:

Dupuis 5gp 1g 2a 3pt +4
Porter 1gp 0g 0a 0p +0

LW:

McLeod 3gp 1g 0a 1pt +1
Porter 2gp 0g 1a 1pt +2
Koci 1gp 0g 1a 1pt +1

Most Common Line:

McLeod - Dupuis - van der Gulik 2gp 1g 0a 1pt +1
Porter - Dupuis - van der Gulik 2gp 0g 1a 1pt +2

Avs with van der Gulik in the lineup: 1-4-1 (.167 pt%) 2.8 GF 3.5 GA

Ice Time:

TTOI 6:45 (19^th)
EV 6:00 (19^th)
PK 0:38 (9^th)
PP 0:17 (17^th)

Career Highlights: David scored his first NHL goal on November 4^th against Vancouver. Doubling his career total of 6 NHL games this year, van der Gulik set highs in goals (1), points (3) and +/- (+4)

Report: David van der Gulik was one of four Lake Erie call-ups at forward last year, along with Greg Mauldin, Ryan Stoa and Mark Olver. He had the least opportunity of the four, with just 6 games and very limited ice time (only David Koci had less ice time). He had some good success, though, with 3 points from the 4^th line. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury knocking him out for 15 games. By the time he had recovered, his replacement, Greg Mauldin, had played his way into the lineup and van der Gulik went back to Lake Erie. Tough break for the hard-working forward.

Fun Fact: David van der Gulik was drafted 7 spots after Greg Mauldin

What We Said At Midseason: Why he was sent back to Lake Erie and never called back up is difficult to understand. He had fantastic chemistry with Dupuis and Porter, and the three of them gave the Avalanche yet another line that could cause the other team to be concerned. Although Mauldin has been impressive, Van Der Gulik's all-around game could be proving more valuable at this time.

2010 Cap Hit: $500,000

2011 Status: UFA

Outlook for Next Season: VDG is a free agent this summer. He went to BU and the Avs do love those former Terriers (LEM coach David Quinn was an assistant when van der Gulik was there). Then again, the Avs traded away two Terriers last year in Colby Cohen and Kevin Shattenkirk, so perhaps that love connection has fizzled.

Next Up: Kevin Shattenkirk

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Comments

Why he was sent back to Lake Erie and never called back up is difficult to understand.

The tank was on and why would the team want players who tried and could get in the way of getting a higher draft pick? See, Stoa, Ryan.

Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 9, 2011 7:59 AM MDT reply actions

Van der Gulik was looking great until he got injured early in the season, and then, for some reason, never got to come back up.

Hey sherman I understand Alexandre Daigle is available! He was a number one draftpick once. Shouldn’t we mortgage the rest of our future for someone who was thought to have potential?? O’Byrne, Hunwick, Johnson, what the fuck are you running, a hockey team or a lonely fucking hearts club??
(I know, I put this on the Johnson grade, but came in too late to get any appreciation)

by wb329 on May 9, 2011 8:32 AM MDT reply actions

All I can do is shake my head when people think that Johnson is a bust. Well, and laugh.

Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness

by Cheryl Bradley on May 9, 2011 10:10 AM MDT up reply actions

You aren't going to get any appreciation.

You’re going get to mocked.

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day.

by A.J. Haefele on May 9, 2011 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

So

if it were up to you you’d rather have Van der Gulik on the roster over Erik Johnson?

Please tell me I’m misinterpreting what you’re saying, because it sounds like you think Van der Gulik is a better player than Erik Johnson. Hell it sounds like you think Van der Gulik is a better player than Hunwick or O’Byrne. Come to think of it, it sounds like you think Van der Gulik is a defenseman.

Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2011 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

Read it again. I am saying VDG did well while he was in the lineup but I would not have traded Stewart, Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen, Scott Hannan, etc.

by wb329 on May 9, 2011 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions

That is certainly not clear based upon the organization of the words in your comment. Even upon re-reading.

In fact coupled with this comment I have no idea what point you’re trying to make.

Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2011 10:33 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

I am confused as well. I don’t know what VDG has to do with the Stewart-Johnson trade.

My acronym heavy twitter account http://twitter.com/JK47_FoC

by InYoFace on May 9, 2011 10:39 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

I don’t think it does. I think it was just a matter of taking the opportunity to post the same rant that was posted before which didn’t get any/enough response, prompting the need to post it again.

Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness

by Cheryl Bradley on May 9, 2011 10:55 AM MDT up reply actions

I read the comments in the other post the other day and just assumed troll/rabble rouser…

"I cannot really hear what Jeremy says because I've got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ear."-Patrick Roy

by brabin on May 9, 2011 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions

teehee

rabble rouser. Made me smile. I think I’m going to have to start using that term more.

Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness

by Cheryl Bradley on May 9, 2011 2:41 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

It’ll mark you as a ne’erdowell. That’s for certain.

2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: Hugging the cap floor and waiting on their revenue share, because hey, billionaires need welfare too!

by Hopfenkopf on May 9, 2011 4:14 PM MDT up reply actions

Viking or possibly a pirate.

Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 9, 2011 7:37 PM MDT up reply actions

Guttersnipe.

by Andy_ on May 10, 2011 12:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Reminds me of the adults in South Park. RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!

October. When?

by Randy Time on May 9, 2011 9:32 PM MDT up reply actions

Smart. I took the bait. EJ is my favorite player and I was in a bitchy mood, so I replied and wasn’t very nice about it.

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.

by andidee15 on May 9, 2011 8:34 PM MDT up reply actions

Stewart was my favorite player when he showed up. Was hoping to watch him show up consistently.

October. When?

by Randy Time on May 9, 2011 9:32 PM MDT up reply actions

:( Well, I guess you still can – every time he’s playing the Avs. The curse of the former Avs will kill us when playing the Blues.

Just a Colorado girl in Montana who <3s the Avs.

by andidee15 on May 9, 2011 10:16 PM MDT up reply actions

although he doesn’t play as well against competent opponents, so if the avs get better maybe he’ll play like he does against teams above .500

Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 9, 2011 11:23 PM MDT up reply actions

He finished checks which was pretty rare for the Avs ‘grinders’ this year. I’d rather watch him play than bigger guys like Stoa and their stick checking.

I'll keep this brief.

by Dario on May 9, 2011 9:45 AM MDT reply actions

VDG had 10 hits, 3 blocked shots and 12 shots on goal in six games.

In contrast Stoa played 25 games with way more minutes and accumulated a grand total of 30 hits, 6 blocked shots and 71 shots on goal.

I'll keep this brief.

by Dario on May 9, 2011 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions

I loved Dawson* and really hope to see him back next year.

*I think I’m the only one who called him that, so I don’t think it officially qualifies as a nickname.

Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness

by Cheryl Bradley on May 9, 2011 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions

When it all boils down, I think fans in Colorado love players that work hard and play a physical game.

I mean, if you really want to get in to the dark/uncomfortable psyche of the Avalanche fan you’d have to ask the question why was Forsberg a more beloved player than Sakic? I’m sure there are people who will disagree with that, but in large part fans LOVE Forsberg when Sakic is the superior player. I think it’s why fans like Ed McAfee or Steve Atwater in football. Hard-nosed players with skill.

Watching the kind of player that excels in the playoffs and is favored by the Avalanche kind of fan, puts me further in to the Landeskog camp when it comes to the draft.

I'll keep this brief.

by Dario on May 9, 2011 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions

It’s not just Colorado fans. Everybody loves hard working players more. Mainly because fans have deluded themselves into thinking that if they just had the talent, they wouldn’t take it for granted like those entitled athletes who aren’t trying. It doesn’t matter that a lot of those fans act lazy, spoiled, & entitled in everyday life, but somehow having talent would make that different.

Also we see guys who work hard brought up and filling out the bottom of rosters, like VdG, Mauldin, Dupuis etc. and we wonder “Why can’t Wolski work this hard?” btu the thing is, those guys are fringe players because they work hard. There are plenty of players with their talent level that don’t get called up because they don’t work as had. But Wolski at 65% effort is still a better player than Van der Gulik at 110%. It’s infuriating, but that’s the way it is. Of course, Wolski’s on a 3rd line now and players with comparable skill but better effort (like, say Setoguchi) will have better success.

Avalanche Shutouts are a powerful Aphrodisiac
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2011 10:40 AM MDT up reply actions

This reminds me

I can’t wait for the report card on Video Lock Error. That dude was bitchen. (I would guess only about 10% of you remember that).

My acronym heavy twitter account http://twitter.com/JK47_FoC

by InYoFace on May 9, 2011 10:40 AM MDT reply actions

that dude was unstoppable. Which game was that? Florida?

Each of my replies is a work of art, each more brilliant than the last.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on May 9, 2011 12:57 PM MDT up reply actions

Did the Avs trade him? I swear I saw him during these playoffs.

Datsyuk may have done it first, but he learned it from Peter Forsberg.

Thanks for everything Foppa!
Footer: We'll miss seeing you clear the riff raff off your lawn.

by Americanario on May 9, 2011 1:58 PM MDT up reply actions

He was disrupting Project Tank. They had to. Got a some kid named Trailor Arnassons in return, I believe.

Thank you, Footer. You - and your nose - will never be forgotten.
Avalanche Breakaway: a blog of hockey goodness

by Cheryl Bradley on May 9, 2011 2:42 PM MDT up reply actions

He had the least opportunity of the four, with just 6 games and very limited ice time (only David Koci had less ice time).

I think all the forward call ups in particular started with (or but for injuries would have started with – see Stoa, Ryan) small amounts of ice-time. Mark Olver, in his first stint, was playing very little (but still accruing points – leading to him having a league best points/60 minutes stat for a while).

Also, VDG is older than both Olver and Stoa – which is why they were given more chances to prove they belong with the Avs. I think that VDG was really squaring off with Mauldin for playing that steadying veteran role – which he lost to Mauldin.

by HugoAgogo on May 9, 2011 5:03 PM MDT reply actions