Adam Larsson potential

[TheDarkSideOfThePuck]

If we let Zidlicky walk Deboer will probably give Larsson more responsibility offensively and more PP time. Now it will be easier to judge where he is in his development

 

[Tretyak 20]

Don't be so sure Zidlicky walks. I have a gut feeling that Tallinder gets traded and Harrold is let go, but otherwise the defense stays the same. Not saying I'm happy with that, just got a feeling that's what to expect.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

Yes, Larsson has great potential.

 

[JimEIV]

Yes, Larsson has great potential.

So did Craig Wolanin

Who happens to share my birthday

 

[Tretyak 20]

So did Craig Wolanin

Who happens to share my birthday

So did Scott Niedermayer.

 

[JimEIV]

So did Scott Niedermayer.

I retract that

Wolanin is a muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch closer comparable.

 

[Tretyak 20]

I retract that

Wolanin is a muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch closer comparable.

Guess that depends on whether you're a "glass-half-full" or a "glass-half-empty" sort of person.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Is it just me or does Larsson already look better than Hedman did defensively at this age?

I think the offensive stats cloud people's memory on some really questionable plays in his own zone.

Yep. I remember in one of his few games in last seasons playoffs he completely manhandled Claude Giroux for an entire shift. He was just constantly dogging him and knocking him down, using his body beautifully and managing the gaps with exceptional timing.

Of course he still has gaffes, but I think L-Rob and Stevens have done a tremendous job molding him so far.

 

[DEVILS ALL THE WAY*]

Yep. I remember in one of his few games in last seasons playoffs he completely manhandled Claude Giroux for an entire shift. He was just constantly dogging him and knocking him down, using his body beautifully and managing the gaps with exceptional timing.

Of course he still has gaffes, but I think L-Rob and Stevens have done a tremendous job molding him so far.

The loss of Big Bird was the worst possible scenario for a kid that young with so much potential, who's trying to make his name at the NHL level.

I'm not knocking Stevens but there's no comparable when talking about Larry Robinson.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

Is it just me or does Larsson already look better than Hedman did defensively at this age?

I think the offensive stats cloud people's memory on some really questionable plays in his own zone.

You are right.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

I never said that he was better at Larsson's stage of his career, but as of now Hedman is a borderline elite defenseman. Larsson has been pretty good as of late, but he hasn't shown me anything to indicate being a GREAT defenseman. Hedman has more tools than just about anyone and that was clear since he was 17. There isn't a comparison to be had unless Larsson continues to progress. It's like comparing Matteau to an established power forward, it really doesn't make sense to do yet.

For his first 2 seasons, Hedman was considered as a disappointment. Just like Larsson, people forget how young those kids are and how much time a defence-man needs to be fully developed.

Larsson "showing nothing special" at 20 is more than normal. He's already playing like an average+ defender and that's good enough. I'm neither worried nor overly optimistic, but truth is Larsson is just fine atm.

 

[Saugus]

I kind of remember Hedman getting a lot of hate his second year. Now, I hear the guy was leaps and bounds better than Larsson second year. What changed?

People's memories are short. That's what changed. You're absolutely right. Larsson is better defensively than Hedman was in his second year in the league.

If we let Zidlicky walk Deboer will probably give Larsson more responsibility offensively and more PP time. Now it will be easier to judge where he is in his development

That's what I'm hoping for.

 

[Devils Dominion]

One thing he needs to improve in is urgency and making a quicker pass. He gets hit too many times cuz he waits to the last second to make a play.

 

[Oneiro]

I remember Elias also started his career doing that. How many kids have the guts to hold on to it in the first place, instead of moving it like a grenade handler?

Not saying you're wrong, though.

 

[Tundra]

Hedman is an amazing skater for his size. Comparing him to Larsson is abit unfair to Adam. I will say this though. Larsson reads the game better, plays tougher and has better vision than Hedman.

 

[CerebralGenesis]

I dunno if Larsson really reads the game that well honestly. His lack of mobility and reaction are so slow its worrying. Maybe his foot speed can improve and make up for some of it but I'm starting to get worried.

He def has incredible potential and we need him to be a beast for us, but I've tempered expectations.

 

[Benedict Parisechuk]

I dunno if Larsson really reads the game that well honestly. His lack of mobility and reaction are so slow its worrying. Maybe his foot speed can improve and make up for some of it but I'm starting to get worried.

He def has incredible potential and we need him to be a beast for us, but I've tempered expectations.

That Sami Salo comparison that TSN had for him during the draft is looking a little bit more accurate than we thought it was.

 

[Mory Schneideur*]

We need to give the kid a real shot.

 

[JackHughes86]

hopefully 50 point player would be nice

 

[Sykie]

For his first 2 seasons, Hedman was considered as a disappointment. Just like Larsson, people forget how young those kids are and how much time a defence-man needs to be fully developed.

Larsson "showing nothing special" at 20 is more than normal. He's already playing like an average+ defender and that's good enough. I'm neither worried nor overly optimistic, but truth is Larsson is just fine atm.

He was a disappointment only by the 16 years old fans who expect every top-pick to burn the league at their first year, but not by Lightning fans. Under this same logic Larsson would be a total bust already, which is completly stupid. The only knock on Hedman was his lack of offensive production as some people questionned if it was too early to draft a defensive specialist at the 2nd spot.

But don't fool yourself. Hedman was playing 21 minutes a game with key assignments, including 2 minutes of PK per game, and still producted 100 shots and 26 points. Not to mention he came out even stronger in the playoffs, in which he was a force. To say Larsson is even close now to this level is pure homerism at his best.

Nothing against Larsson but the homerism of this thread is hilarious honestly. But the guys comparing these two defensemen may be due for a disapointment if they think Larsson is on par to Hedman at their second year in the league. Dumb comparaison anyway as there is really no similarities between them beyond the fact that they were two swedish top-picks, the Salo reference thrown earlier in the thread is actually a way closer comparaison IMO, which is nothing to be ashamed at since Salo was a very good defenseman for a very long time in the league.

 

[Volodya Krutov]

-Larsson played 21 minutes per game and scored 18 pts in 65 games during his rookie campaign.
-Hedman played 21 minutes per game and scored 20 in 74 games during his rookie season.
Nothing to add

-Hedman, in his 2nd season, played for the 7th best offense in the league, 2.94 G/G and a 103 pts stacked with talent, Eastern Conference Finalist team.
-Devils are 28th offense in the NHL with 2.33 G/G
That's makes a difference of 2 more goals scored every 3 games for Tampa. Tampa never had to face in 2010-2011 a 8 defence-man controversy neither. Fayne, Tallinder, Volchenkov that was a complete confidence-breaker for all the dmen sitting. And no one certainly can blame a 20 years old dman to have trouble in such a context.

-Despite 8 dmen, Larsson still played 35 games so far this season but for a career total of 100 games.
-Hedman played 79 games in his 2nd season for a total of 153 games after 2 seasons.
Significant difference. that makes a 1/3 of more games for Hedman. Yeah Larsson's 2nd year is not even a legit 82 games season. Quite unfair.

-Brewer, Öhlund, Lundin and Jones: 4 dmen were averaging more PK time/game than Hedman. Only Purcell and Kubina had more PP time than Hedman. Hedman was getting 50% offensive zone starts in his 2nd season.
How is that a key assignement ?

----------------------------​

That's in his 3rd season that Hedman really started to be impressive, when he became Tampa's real shutdown #1 dman, still producing offensively and also taking A LOT of defensive zone starts. Larsson will have a tough time to match this kind of performance next year.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

He was a disappointment only by the 16 years old fans who expect every top-pick to burn the league at their first year, but not by Lightning fans. Under this same logic Larsson would be a total bust already, which is completly stupid. The only knock on Hedman was his lack of offensive production as some people questionned if it was too early to draft a defensive specialist at the 2nd spot.

But don't fool yourself. Hedman was playing 21 minutes a game with key assignments, including 2 minutes of PK per game, and still producted 100 shots and 26 points. Not to mention he came out even stronger in the playoffs, in which he was a force. To say Larsson is even close now to this level is pure homerism at his best.

Nothing against Larsson but the homerism of this thread is hilarious honestly. But the guys comparing these two defensemen may be due for a disapointment if they think Larsson is on par to Hedman at their second year in the league. Dumb comparaison anyway as there is really no similarities between them beyond the fact that they were two swedish top-picks, the Salo reference thrown earlier in the thread is actually a way closer comparaison IMO, which is nothing to be ashamed at since Salo was a very good defenseman for a very long time in the league.

That Salo reference was only thrown around because that's what TSN had has his comparable on that little info screen when he was picked. It was just funny because the analysts were hyping him up just as much.

 

[Holtz My Bahls]

I really like what I've seen from him, he does make mistakes, so does everyone else. The bottom line is, nobody is going to be able to make a completely accurate observation this early in his development. It took Hedman 2-3 years to look decent in Tampa, I think by the time Larsson is 22 we will have answers regarding Larsson.

 

[Holtz My Bahls]

When that tight leash on Larsson is removed, he will look better. With all the veterans getting priority, Larsson isn't going to be "the guy" on defense.

 

[Chessarmy]

The key with Larsson is he needs to improve each season. I think he looks better this year than last, and that's good news, but next year is important because he needs to take the next step.

I'd be worried if Adam was getting worse as he plays more games, but that isn't the case.