Prospect Info: Brad Lambert, 30th Overall, 2022 NHL Draft

[Monkey D Luffy]

Actually, it does. Two years a go Lambert played with confidence and with his strenghts. Now he has little confidence and doesn't play with his strenghts and he hadn't been able the improve his wealnesses as much as he should have. Six months a go he developed great chemistry with his club team mate and this last tournament he was put with the same guy, Samuel Helenius, but it seemed that their chemistry was not there anymore. Why? Who knows but what I do know is that head coach Pennanen is very high on disciplined team game, especially defensively. Before he was benched, he lost the puck in offensive zone and played lazily in the defensive zone, essentially forgetting his guy who ended up scoring. He got a chance to redeem himself in the next game, but was largely unnoticable. So I understand why he was a healthy scratch. He did not play high enough stnadard for coach Pennanen.

Lambert has not been taking these disappointments lightly in the past. People talk that he has been throwing his equiptments in temper tantrum. If these things still happen, this is another loooong minus in the book from Pennanen. So yeah, it does make sense why his role has been diminishing to a healthy scratch. No conspiracy theories, just his level of play especially defensively has not been good enough and he has not produced that well to get awarded more playing time during that tournament.

It's gold to hear the Fins hold these coaches in such high regard. I didn't see Canada having to bench anyone that was selected to their roster. Guess they just made an oopsy while picking the roster right?

 

[Jukurit]

Actually, it does. Two years a go Lambert played with confidence and with his strenghts. Now he has little confidence and doesn't play with his strenghts and he hadn't been able the improve his wealnesses as much as he should have. Six months a go he developed great chemistry with his club team mate and this last tournament he was put with the same guy, Samuel Helenius, but it seemed that their chemistry was not there anymore. Why? Who knows but what I do know is that head coach Pennanen is very high on disciplined team game, especially defensively. Before he was benched, he lost the puck in offensive zone and played lazily in the defensive zone, essentially forgetting his guy who ended up scoring. He got a chance to redeem himself in the next game, but was largely unnoticable. So I understand why he was a healthy scratch. He did not play high enough stnadard for coach Pennanen.

Lambert has not been taking these disappointments lightly in the past. People talk that he has been throwing his equiptments in temper tantrum. If these things still happen, this is another loooong minus in the book from Pennanen. So yeah, it does make sense why his role has been diminishing to a healthy scratch. No conspiracy theories, just his level of play especially defensively has not been good enough and he has not produced that well to get awarded more playing time during that tournament.

Lambert does seem pretty immature what I've seen of him. Seems to easily get frustrated. Actually kinda reminds me of Puljujärvi when he played in Liiga. There was also the incident in Liiga last season where he showed the middle finger to opposing team's bench.

So to summarise:
Immature + Lack of teamplay + Lack of Defense + Not scoring enough = Not coach's favourite
I don't think you need conspiracy theories to explain Lambert's treatment. lol

 

[SUX2BU]

I'm getting Josh Ho-Sang vibes a little bit. Lots of tools and talent but doesn't quite put it all together and *maybe* has some off ice personality/character issues to work though.

Yeah, his issues are called his dad .........

 

[MardyBum]

The number 1 thing is to get the f*** out of Finland.

 

[Jussi]

The number 1 thing is to get the f*** out of Finland.

A year from now: The number 1 thing is to get the f*** out of Seattle.

 

[Jussi]

Does this make sense to ANYONE?!?

My theory: Lambert burnt bridges in Finland over the past few seasons by jumping from team to team. He publicly hinted that he'd join Seattle in the WHL (EXTREMELY RARE FOR FINISH PROSPECTS TO LEAVE LIIGA). To me, this was personal between Finland and Lambert. They saddled him with dump and chase players, gave him no PP time, and ulitmately healthy scratched him in the most important games. This was a tactical public shaming and a great big *F U Brad Lambert, don't let the door hit you on the way out*. Mike Babcock would have been proud.

We have kids playing in the CHL every season, nobody cares. We're not Russia. It is 100% ludicrous to suggest that the issue is with "Finland". Also, suggesting that Lambert was saddled with "dump & chase players" shows you don't have much knowledge of Team Finland or how our teams play. We don't do that unless the opponent forces the whole team due to by trapping or the team having issues with zone entry. As other Finns have pointed out, it was simply due to him causing turnovers that resulted in goals against. It was simply him playing undisciplined, non-team hockey.

 

[scelaton]

Lambert does seem pretty immature what I've seen of him. Seems to easily get frustrated. Actually kinda reminds me of Puljujärvi when he played in Liiga. There was also the incident in Liiga last season where he showed the middle finger to opposing team's bench.

So to summarise:
Immature + Lack of teamplay + Lack of Defense + Not scoring enough = Not coach's favourite
I don't think you need conspiracy theories to explain Lambert's treatment. lol

Can you elaborate on the bolded? I didn't know Puljujarvi had issues until he came to the NHL. Hoping there is something to help us understand both of their falls from grace.

 

[Jukurit]

Can you elaborate on the bolded? I didn't know Puljujarvi had issues until he came to the NHL. Hoping there is something to help us understand both of their falls from grace.

Last time I saw Pulju play in Liiga, he just seemed to get easily frustrated when things weren't going his way. Lambert reminds me of that currently. Both Lambert and Pulju just seem a bit "immature" to me in how they play and act.

Lambert and Puljujärvi do have some similarities between them. Both are very athetically gifted fast players with poor hockey IQ. Pulju of course is bigger and better 2-way player, but Lambert is more skilled. Both had a lot of hype and were dominant players until certain point they weren't. Pulju had insane junior stats, but against men it has been quieter. Similarly Lambert put up points until he reached Liiga. I think the problem with both of these players is that they rely on their athletic ability too much. Pulju was always a big fast kid, so at lower levels he could just dominate with that combo. Lambert has always been a great skater and he has relied on that skating ability a lot. Now Lambert has reached a point where he can't just skate around the opposition like he used to and it seems like he has trouble adapting to that.

I think just like with Puljujärvi, Lambert's upside as a NHL player is limited. He can be an NHL player, but 3rd line winger is the likeliest outcome (IMO).

 

[MardyBum]

A year from now: The number 1 thing is to get the f*** out of Seattle.

Nah, getting away from Finland will be good for him. Can focus on hockey, less coaches trying to flex and more time trying to develop his game in the CHL vs a mens league trying to win. Even if he went to the AHL development would be #1.

If you're not a fan feel free to f*** off out of here

 

[Jussi]

Nah, getting away from Finland will be good for him. Can focus on hockey, less coaches trying to flex and more time trying to develop his game in the CHL vs a mens league trying to win. Even if he went to the AHL development would be #1.

If you're not a fan feel free to f*** off out of here

Source?

 

[MardyBum]

Last time I saw Pulju play in Liiga, he just seemed to get easily frustrated when things weren't going his way. Lambert reminds me of that currently. Both Lambert and Pulju just seem a bit "immature" to me in how they play and act.

Lambert and Puljujärvi do have some similarities between them. Both are very athetically gifted fast players with poor hockey IQ. Pulju of course is bigger and better 2-way player, but Lambert is more skilled. Both had a lot of hype and were dominant players until certain point they weren't. Pulju had insane junior stats, but against men it has been quieter. Similarly Lambert put up points until he reached Liiga. I think the problem with both of these players is that they rely on their athletic ability too much. Pulju was always a big fast kid, so at lower levels he could just dominate with that combo. Lambert has always been a great skater and he has relied on that skating ability a lot. Now Lambert has reached a point where he can't just skate around the opposition like he used to and it seems like he has trouble adapting to that.

I think just like with Puljujärvi, Lambert's upside as a NHL player is limited. He can be an NHL player, but 3rd line winger is the likeliest outcome (IMO).

Liiga is not the NHL.

Watching Liiga doesn't make you an expert on projecting Finnish players to the NHL. The NHL is the NHL. Ehlers faced some of the same criticisms and still had up to just a few seasons ago. (Why does he always skate into the zone by himself, why not wait for the team!?) (Maybe you need to play capable players with him so when he enters the zone with ease he has immediate outlets if he chooses so?)

You need to find players who can take advantage of the advantages Lambert has over others, just like Ehlers. You need to develop him. They're not doing it right now.

 

[John Agar]

Last time I saw Pulju play in Liiga, he just seemed to get easily frustrated when things weren't going his way. Lambert reminds me of that currently. Both Lambert and Pulju just seem a bit "immature" to me in how they play and act.

Lambert and Puljujärvi do have some similarities between them. Both are very athetically gifted fast players with poor hockey IQ. Pulju of course is bigger and better 2-way player, but Lambert is more skilled. Both had a lot of hype and were dominant players until certain point they weren't. Pulju had insane junior stats, but against men it has been quieter. Similarly Lambert put up points until he reached Liiga. I think the problem with both of these players is that they rely on their athletic ability too much. Pulju was always a big fast kid, so at lower levels he could just dominate with that combo. Lambert has always been a great skater and he has relied on that skating ability a lot. Now Lambert has reached a point where he can't just skate around the opposition like he used to and it seems like he has trouble adapting to that.

I think just like with Puljujärvi, Lambert's upside as a NHL player is limited. He can be an NHL player, but 3rd line winger is the likeliest outcome (IMO).

The kicker for Lambert will be...

Does he eat pizza with his mouth closed... ?

Or not... ?

 

[Joe Hallenback]

I heard that it seems like he might be in Seattle this yer

 

[Fintastic]

It's gold to hear the Fins hold these coaches in such high regard. I didn't see Canada having to bench anyone that was selected to their roster. Guess they just made an oopsy while picking the roster right?

Canada has just vastly more wealth in their national pool of players to select quality players while us Finns don't have that. In order to be successful, Finland has to play disciplined team game while Canada has so much more raw talent that they can rely more on individual player skills. Sometimes Finland have to take risks on player selection because of lack of raw talent than ends up not working. Lambert has a lot of raw skill but lacks in discipline. I guess the cosching staff hoped their risk would pay off but now we know it didn't.

 

[lanky]

Looking at Seattle's roster, I think their 1C, 1RW and 2RW are all graduating. Lambert would have plenty of opportunity there. The 1 LW and 2 LW are both strong players so he'll have some talent on his line whether he slots in at C or RW.

 

[Monkey D Luffy]

Canada has just vastly more wealth in their national pool of players to select quality players while us Finns don't have that. In order to be successful, Finland has to play disciplined team game while Canada has so much more raw talent that they can rely more on individual player skills. Sometimes Finland have to take risks on player selection because of lack of raw talent than ends up not working. Lambert has a lot of raw skill but lacks in discipline. I guess the cosching staff hoped their risk would pay off but now we know it didn't.

Junior hockey is played a lot different than the NHL (and the NHL is transitioning closer to the CHL game). Skill and speed kill, Finland thinks this is still 2015 and wants to play a rigid NHL defensive system game, just look at their 5-on-5 numbers.

They put their best skater and possibly their most skilled player on the third line, playing with guys who cannot keep up. Gave him mostly defensive draws, and expected him to play a defensive game when that isn't close to where his strengths are. Yeah no duh, he's frustrated and undisciplined...

I'll wait to reserve judgment when I see him play in the best junior hockey league in the world.

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

I'll wait to reserve judgment when I see him play in the best junior hockey league in the world.

You'll be in for a long wait. There are no plans for him to play in the OHL.

 

[superdeluxe]

Looking at Seattle's roster, I think their 1C, 1RW and 2RW are all graduating. Lambert would have plenty of opportunity there. The 1 LW and 2 LW are both strong players so he'll have some talent on his line whether he slots in at C or RW.

Jared Davidson was our 1C. The guys we are losing are Henrik Ribinski and Lukas Svejkovsky

Lambert should definitely be in the mix in the top six, but we have enough offensive talent that he shouldn’t feel like he needs to do it all alone. I mean his future top six line mates have all been drafted and he has two other first round picks in the starting five (Schaeffer and Korchinski)

 

[lanky]

Jared Davidson was our 1C. The guys we are losing are Henrik Ribinski and Lukas Svejkovsky

Lambert should definitely be in the mix in the top six, but we have enough offensive talent that he shouldn’t feel like he needs to do it all alone. I mean his future top six line mates have all been drafted and he has two other first round picks in the starting five (Schaeffer and Korchinski)

Davidson is old enough for AHL. Is he sticking around for an over-age year?

 

[superdeluxe]

Davidson is old enough for AHL. Is he sticking around for an over-age year?

I’ve scoured everything I could and haven’t seen anything indicating that he was going to AHL, in fact currently he is one of the Seattle Thunderbirds youth hockey camp coaches in Seattle this week

 

[Jukurit]

Junior hockey is played a lot different than the NHL (and the NHL is transitioning closer to the CHL game). Skill and speed kill, Finland thinks this is still 2015 and wants to play a rigid NHL defensive system game, just look at their 5-on-5 numbers.

They put their best skater and possibly their most skilled player on the third line, playing with guys who cannot keep up. Gave him mostly defensive draws, and expected him to play a defensive game when that isn't close to where his strengths are. Yeah no duh, he's frustrated and undisciplined...

I'll wait to reserve judgment when I see him play in the best junior hockey league in the world.

I think Lambert was on the 3rd line because guys ahead of him were simply better. Lambert was RW and 2 other RWs ahead of him were Kemell and Simontaival. Both of these guys outplayed and outscored Lambert in Liiga last season and also outplayed and outscored Lambert in this tournament.

 

[Jet]

I can't wait for this thread to shift focus away from what's wrong with Lambert today and instead look at his development going forward.

As frustrating as it has been having non Jets fans chime in here and relentlessly tell us why he's shitty, it was nice to get some first hand insights into his struggles.

I think we all understand that this pick was a risk, and why he fell to us, but it's going to be an interesting byline to follow this year and going forward.

I think the truth about Lambert is somewhere in the middle (which is where the truth is usually found). Some of his struggles were environmental, and some were self inflicted.

Now we get to see how committed he is to taking the steps necessary to reach his potential. So many kids like this just can't figure it out (see KV).

 

[cbcwpg]

I will be interested where this player ends up and I hope he can develop into a player that will one day be a Jet, but I will remember that this guy was a 30th overall pick. In the last 30 years there have only been 5 or 6 guys picked 30th that you could say were good enough to play in the NHL. That's where my expectations lie.

 

[Jukurit]

I can't wait for this thread to shift focus away from what's wrong with Lambert today and instead look at his development going forward.

As frustrating as it has been having non Jets fans chime in here and relentlessly tell us why he's shitty, it was nice to get some first hand insights into his struggles.

I think we all understand that this pick was a risk, and why he fell to us, but it's going to be an interesting byline to follow this year and going forward.

I think the truth about Lambert is somewhere in the middle (which is where the truth is usually found). Some of his struggles were environmental, and some were self inflicted.

Now we get to see how committed he is to taking the steps necessary to reach his potential. So many kids like this just can't figure it out (see KV).

I actually somewhat disagree that Lambert is a "risk". He's still a great skater and fast. Even if his offensive game doesn't translate, he could become a speedy forechecking/PK guy. Of course, that's assuming he would be willing to play that type of game. Even though I'm pretty low on Lambert, I don't think for a 30th overall he's that risky.

 

[Jet]

I actually somewhat disagree that Lambert is a "risk". He's still a great skater and fast. Even if his offensive game doesn't translate, he could become a speedy forechecking/PK guy. Of course, that's assuming he would be willing to play that type of game. Even though I'm pretty low on Lambert, I don't think for a 30th overall he's that risky.

I'd say that picking a forechecker/ pk guy in the first round isn't smart. Those guys are easy to find in late rounds. From the perspective of a first rounder, you want at least a top 6 guy, so i still believe its risky.

The fact that he's a second, unexpected first founder makes that risk a lot easier to take.