I think he can best be compared to Huberdeau, in ability, style and the amount of time it will take him to mature into his potential. All though Laf has a better scoring touch than Hubs.
Scoring goals is great. So important obviously. But where is the playmaking that was touted and that he showed in Jrs? I know he doesn't skate like or play like Kreider, but I don't think we need another unbalanced goal scoring specialist who doesn't do a whole lot else offensively. With his skillset, he should be racking up assists too, or at least, based on the skills he showed when he was younger and what he was touted as. Maybe they will come. Again, his goal scoring is great, but he needs to show some creativity. He may even have more goals than most players in his cumulative ice time, but the points in totality need to increase.
A couple of other things. I don't think his speed is quite average, I think a little below. Not quite Dylan Strome slow, but on the slowish side. And his skating was touted as excellent and it's not the worst. But I honestly think spending an offseason with a skating guru, like Bo Horvat did, would do wonders for him and his overall game. If he could truly improve and become a more skilled overall skater, the speed wont be an issue, or at least less of an issue.
Another thing I think people overlooked heading into his draft year, he was a big and mature kid for his age. Big and mature for at least a few seasons, while those he played against were still smaller and maturing. This gave him a big edge in Jr level, which doesn't translate to the NHL, where he's pretty average size and strength. He will get strong but he will never have that big edge he had over other kids his age. And that alone is going to mean a big adjustment, which I think we are seeing. He can't just move guys out of the way like he was able to and he gets moved more than he used to against smaller opponents.
Plus, his game will obviously have to be in the mold of skilled power forward and power forwards sometimes take longer to mature usually, Some times many years more. I am thinking of like Morrow, Puljujarvi and various others. Not every power guy can come into the league like Brady Tkachuk say and just plow grown men over. Plus, that's not quite Laf's game he's more subtle despite being relatively strong. So he will have to learn to combine those two areas which isn't easy in the NHL. A player like him might honestly not totally mature until like 23, 24.
Lawson Crouse might be a good example. While not nearly as skilled as Laf and not nearly the player, and certainly even more of a "power game", finally at 24 this year, he's looking improved offensively, like he's piecing it together. Not suggesting Crouse has near the ceiling of Laf ,or that Laf should, but just an example of bigger guys taking longer to put all the pieces together. And perhaps learning how to use his power where he doesn't have the same size and skill advantages he did when he was younger. But he will need to, because while he is super skilled, he's not a super skater or super speedy, so he will need to make contact or use his body in order to create space in order to use that high end stick skill rather than skating around guys.
As far as comps, I see a lot of similarities with Huberdeau. Huberdeau, who might not have Laf's scoring touch, but in overall play, size and style, I think they are very similar. And I think Laf could eventually be the playmaker Huberdeau is with more scoring touch. Or at least, that's what I would say is his potential. And it certainly took Huberdeau many years to become the player he is now. I think they could have a very similar career path. Which means, it's still going to be a few years possibly before Laf can put it all together. But that's the best comp I see when I watch Laf play at least. And if he did turn into a Huberdeau type player, well, I think everyone would be happy in the long run. Patience though is required.
