The retired magician, though, is more than tickled to be stumped, dazzled and delighted by a conjurer of a new generation.

Nearly two years have passed since Alex Tanguay finally put away his deck of now-you-see-it-now-you-don't sleight-of-hand cards, stored that black top hat and accompanying rabbit he'd pull from it with such flourish.

"I have to be honest,'' confesses Tanguay, the two-tenure Flame. "I really enjoy watching Johnny Gaudreau play. His offence is not only created by his IQ, his vision and his passing skills.

"He is so quick with his feet, that's what gives him separation, buys him the time to let that creative nature take over.

"So for me, his skating is what I really enjoy watching. We all talk about the talent, the way he sees the ice, but his skating is what allows him to be elusive.

"I mean, he's got a defender on him, shows right, buys himself that time I was talking about, darts left and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he's got seven to 10 feet of separation.

"Then he can work his magic."

Working now as a commentator for the NHL Network, Tanguay - in on 580 goals during a 1,088-game career - has the chance to see Gaudreau at work. Often.

Over five seasons here modelling the Flaming C, the 2001 Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche generated 198 assists, many as facilitator for this franchise's most deadly-ever marksman, Jarome Iginla.

The 59 helpers Tanguay piled up in 2006-2007 has stood as the most by a Flame over a quarter-century, since Theoren Fleury's collection of 66 during the 1992-93 campaign.

Until now.

Gaudreau is at 58 assists with 11 games left on the docket.

"I didn't have his gifts skating-wise,'' assesses Tanguay. "I was a decent skater, I could get around. I had a good IQ and understanding of the game.

"Those were my tools.

"I also had the one guy, Jarome, that no matter how hard I passed the puck to him, his wheelhouse was seven feet wide."

The art of the pass, explains one of the finest of a generation, relies on the utilization of assets.

"The good passers are the guys trying to best use the talents around them. And that's what Johnny is so good at. He buys himself the time to make those plays to Monahan, who's extremely gifted in front of the net. He plays it wide at just the right times so Micheal Ferland can use his size and ability.

"Those, to me, are signs that he truly understands who he's playing with and what their strengths are. He really gets the game.

"It's a lesson for all young players - if you want to be effective, you've got to understand what's great about the players around you."

In short order here, Gaudreau will slide past Tanguay's long-standing total of 59. Ahead on the seasonal franchise assists pecking order are names the calibre of Gary Suter and Al MacInnis, Doug Gilmour and Kent (Magic Man) Nilsson.

Nilsson's incredible stockpile of 82 back at the dawn of time, '80-81, would seem, logically, to be out of reach for anyone, in any coming era.

"Why?" counters Tanguay. "(Connor) McDavid had 70 last year. So I don't think anything's out of the question for a guy like Johnny. How old is he now? Twenty-four? Twenty-five?

"At that age, there's still going to be growth. I don't think we've seen his best yet.

"I wouldn't be shocked if Johnny Gaudreau had a 70-, 72-, 75-assist type season.

"I'm not sure he can reach as high as 82. But under the right circumstances, the right year, staying healthy, he could surprise you."

Here's hoping.

From one practitioner of the hocus-pocus arts to another.

"Fun player to watch, Johnny,'' says Tanguay. "Always keeps me on the edge of my seat.