I like Vaak in a bottom-pairing role or attached to Gudas. If he's not attached to Gudas in a top-4 role, then we don't know what he's like in a top-4 role... aside from playing RD with Fowler on the top pair and not doing well. Vaak cannot play RD like LaCombe can.
I'll keep posting how our three rookie defenders ended their seasons in their final 22 to 23 NHL games. Zell played 22 games in a top-pairing role with Fowler. Minty played a top-4 role later in the season until he got injured to cut his season short, including playing seven games with LaCombe as his RD. LaCombe played mostly a top-4 role in his final 23 games, seven with Minty and eight taking over Minty's spot to end the season.
| Ducks | 2023-24 | Rookie | D-men | Finish | | | | | | | |
|---|
| Player | Game set | Games | G | A | Pts | PPG | | +/- | Hits | Blocks | Comments |
| LaCombe | 49 to 71 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0.35 | | 1 | 12 | 44 | From Feb 19 to Apr 18 |
| Minty | 41 to 63 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0.39 | | -9 | 29 | 22 | from Feb 13 to Mar 30 |
| Zell | 5 to 26 | 22 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0.36 | | -8 | 10 | 33 | From Mar 1 to Apr 18 |
It is a very surprising stat to see LaCombe producing similar offense to Minty and Zell, but also be better defensively.
LaCombe is underrated b/c how his season began playing RD1 after Drysdale fell to injury, Luneau wasn't ready, as well as Vaak had to be replaced after a game and a half. Jackson has improved since being thrust into a top pairing role on his off-side as a rookie. Cronin did identify
LaCombe as the most improved player throughout the season.
What goes unnoticed by many fans is that LaCombe was our third best shot blocker last year (2nd since Lyubushkin was traded away).
2023-24 Blocked Shots
- RD Gudas = 154 blocks (66 games)
- RD Lyubushkin = 138 blocks (55 games)
- LD/RD LaCombe = 129 blocks (71 games) ... Rookie
- LD Fowler = 119 blocks (81 games)
- LD Vaak = 79 blocks (68 games)
- LW Vatrano = 78 blocks (82 games)
- LD Minty = 65 blocks (63 games)
www.nhl.com
