TheDarkSideOfThePuck
Registered User
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
Yes, Larsson has great potential.
So did Craig Wolanin
Who happens to share my birthday
So did Scott Niedermayer.
I retract that
Wolanin is a muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch closer comparable.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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.
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.