No, you are confusing price-gouging with speculation. In price-gouging, a commodity is already scarce, but a supplier (or current owner) charges extra because he knows the purchaser has no alternatives. The alternative is to sell cheaply, but run out quicker (although the same amount of product is sold).
A speculator PREDICTS a shortage, and stocks up ahead of time. This can be a virtuous act, if he stocking up means saving. (In this sense, one could say Joseph son of Isaac was a speculator.) But many foodstuffs spoil, and hoarding can mean less actual product is available for consumption. Also, the prediction can be wrong and can needlessly produce a shortage, or suffering where there need not have been any. In the worst sense, some speculators have tried to corner the market, creating an artificial scarcity. While this is very difficult to accomplish on the global market, it has allegedly happened globally (Soros’ silver, 2008 oil panic), and certain CAN happen locally with spoilables.
But; the best of all; are the folks that can CAUSE a shortage; thereby becoming Master of All!
What do Ukrainians need natural gas for anyway.
It ain't winter; yet...
Let 'em burn COAL!