Prospect Info: At 27th Overall The Predators Select Zachary L'Heureux

[Porter Stoutheart]

'It's Time to Move On:' Zachary L'Heureux is Ready to Turn Pro | Nashville Predators

Nashville's 2021 First-Round Pick is Eager to Take Next Step, Leave Checkered Past Behind

www.nhl.com

The proof will only ever be in the pudding for this guy. He hasn't shown a great deal of self-awareness in any of his past incidents. But ok, he was a "dumb kid" those times? He is taking the uphill slope. Doesn't mean he can't get there.

 

[wmupreds]

The disciplined playoff performance is a good sign. If he can take that same mentality and assign the same importance to the start of his professional career, he'll be off to a good start. If he walks in with an oversized chip on his shoulder he's not going to have a good time in the A.

 

[Olderfan]

He’s had, what we can assume, multiple counseling/meetings/warnings from parent(s), coaches, leagues, friends, referees, etc. to no avail. He persists by attacking a fan, with a stick. It means he’s still a boy, not a man. We need to realize that this behavior is not that of an overly aggressive hockey player; there are plenty of those, but of an individual who loses control so badly he does things beyond reason. He appears to need help beyond what hockey can afford him. Forget hockey; this is a troubled kid. I appeal to those close to him to get him some help.

 

[PredsV82]

He’s had, what we can assume, multiple counseling/meetings/warnings from parent(s), coaches, leagues, friends, referees, etc. to no avail. He persists by attacking a fan, with a stick. It means he’s still a boy, not a man. We need to realize that this behavior is not that of an overly aggressive hockey player; there are plenty of those, but of an individual who loses control so badly he does things beyond reason. He appears to need help beyond what hockey can afford him. Forget hockey; this is a troubled kid. I appeal to those close to him to get him some help.

I think you are overstating. Yes, he is at high risk, but his statements acknowledging his issues and his more disciplined performance in the playoffs gives me hope that he is maturing. I think being around professionals in Milwaukee will do him a world of good

 

[predhead1]

Nothing a few good bag skates can't solve.

 

[triggrman]

Reread this thread. It's pretty funny the rollercoaster that takes place.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

Reread this thread. It's pretty funny the rollercoaster that takes place.

I'm not sure I see any rollercoaster? So far L'Heureux is about where we all hoped, albeit his AHL playoff surge (again - he also did it in junior and this is a great trait in a player!) has vaulted him with recency bias in our rankings. I think I had him at #2 post-Askarov? But it doesn't change any of the things that went on before. 90+% of the discussion in this thread was simply recounting/examining the facts of his actions. And that's just a historic record now, not a "rollercoaster".

Not sure what his PIMs last season show... to some degree, that he hasn't fully matured or will just always be a little mouthy/hot-headed, even though it certainly has seemed at times also that certain refs in the AHL just had a special bias against him? Anyway, I imagine once he makes the NHL, he will be about where this thread in consensus pegged him. A good agitating middle-6 forward. And he'll probably do something outrageous and get suspended again in the NHL too.

 

[triggrman]

I'm not sure I see any rollercoaster? So far L'Heureux is about where we all hoped, albeit his AHL playoff surge (again - he also did it in junior and this is a great trait in a player!) has vaulted him with recency bias in our rankings. I think I had him at #2 post-Askarov? But it doesn't change any of the things that went on before. 90+% of the discussion in this thread was simply recounting/examining the facts of his actions. And that's just a historic record now, not a "rollercoaster".

Not sure what his PIMs last season show... to some degree, that he hasn't fully matured or will just always be a little mouthy/hot-headed, even though it certainly has seemed at times also that certain refs in the AHL just had a special bias against him? Anyway, I imagine once he makes the NHL, he will be about where this thread in consensus pegged him. A good agitating middle-6 forward. And he'll probably do something outrageous and get suspended again in the NHL too.

Okay.

 

[herzausstein]

L'Heureux got 2 suspensions (3 games total) in his rookie season.

1 game for getting an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of a game. An automatic suspension and he didnt do anything noteworthy here

2 games for giving Dach a gloved punch after Dach took a questionable hit/run on L'Heureux. Suspension was warrented.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/prospects-ahl/ahl-suspends-zachary-lheureux-two-games

The penalty minutes were really high due to the officials whipping out 10 minute misconducts because he was verbally mean to them. His minor penalty discipline was actually pretty good. He will have to learn to bite his tongue.

He was suspended 9 times in the Q so this is progress

 

[Armourboy]

If I remember from the Milwaukee folks several of those 10's were complete BS and resulted from him getting run and the Refs doing nothing to stop it.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

If I remember from the Milwaukee folks several of those 10's were complete BS and resulted from him getting run and the Refs doing nothing to stop it.

I think it was Cody Beach who handed him several of those as part of a personal feud of some sort?

 

[herzausstein]

If I remember from the Milwaukee folks several of those 10's were complete BS and resulted from him getting run and the Refs doing nothing to stop it.

Alot was "abuse of officials" and considering none of them were from him laying hands on them, i read into it as "he said mean things to me because i didnt what he wanted". That can be making a bad call or ignoring something that shouldve been called. They let players take runs at him without making calls which would piss me off took if i were him.
His 10 minute penalties:

1 abuse was at the very end of the game after time expired so who cares

1 abuse was given after he also was given a penalty for diving/embellishment near end of 2nd period

2 abuse concurrent ones were given after being given a penalty for diving/embellishment near end of 2nd period

3 different game misconducts - instigator, punching Dach after a bad hit, and a bad cross check - last 2 mentioned here are earned, 1st one is automatic.

An unsportsmanlike in the last 3 minutes of a game.

1 abuse after being given a crosschecking penalty with under 2 minutes left (might as well since he wasnt coming back that game anyways)
1 misconduct with 11 seconds left in the game

So seems like the abuse calls are mostly after questionable calls like diving or at the end of the game when passions are high and team impact is lower and it can be used as a rallying cry.

Worst ones were from a bad crosscheck and retaliation against Dach which led to a suspension as well.