Anyone watch this kid regularly? He seems to have really taken his game to another level since he was drafted. He’s not tall but not tiny at 5’11 but he’s only listed at 170lbs. He has speed and skill though. Does he have a legit shot to be a valuable NHL player? Id love to hear thoughts from someone who is familiar with his game.
Little positive press for him: Red Wings Found a Hidden Gem In Lombardi
Little 22-23 compilation:
Some of the other Wings fans actually have him penciled in as a top 6'er.
In Grand Rapids.
I think Lombardi has steal potential but I'm not sure he'll for sure reach it. The kid is ultra talented and a waterbug out there. He's still really small though. Maybe middle 6, maybe top 6. I don't know yet.
The excitement over Lombardi kinda reminds me of the excitement we used to get over guys like Mursak/Pulkkinen/Jurco etc. There's talent there, I just don't know that he's ever good enough to hit and stay in the NHL. As opposed to Mazur whose game almost certainly translates to the NHL.In Grand Rapids.
I think Lombardi has steal potential but I'm not sure he'll for sure reach it. The kid is ultra talented and a waterbug out there. He's still really small though. Maybe middle 6, maybe top 6. I don't know yet.
One of those covid picks thats really hard to get a read on. If he played his draft year, maybe he would've been a first rounder and now everything hes doing would have him as a top 30 prospect in the league. Instead hes a fourth rounder, taken as an "overager" and he wont get hyped up.
Size is the biggest concern, and for a forward in todays NHL its not even that bad. Its just hard to get excited given where he was drafted
The excitement over Lombardi kinda reminds me of the excitement we used to get over guys like Mursak/Pulkkinen/Jurco etc.
There's talent there, I just don't know that he's ever good enough to hit and stay in the NHL.
It's weird though, because we used to pump those guys' tires when they were the best in our pool. Now our pool is way better and there's a handful+ guys that are better than Lombardi.
Oh there were definitely flaws in their game. I wasn't necessarily comparing playing style or talent level as much as just the concept that I feel like sometimes we (And every fan base, really) fall in love with a prospect and blow them up to more than what they are.Maybe not first rounder in his draft year but I think there's a lot of similarities between what we saw in Lombardi's game when he was drafted and Gracyn Sawchyn who was drafted this year. Both terrific skaters, both great stickhandlers with a lot of offensive potential. Both pretty small. Both have big steal potential if they hit.
Mursak was never good enough at any single thing and had low hockey IQ. That was exposed at the NHL level and he's only been decent in the SHL. Pulkkinen was only good at one thing at the minor league level, his one-timer. When he went to the NHL that one thing was very mediocre. Also Lombardi is a better skater than both of them and it's not even close.
I get what you're saying though. The fact that Detroit picked Lombardi in the 4th and he's looking this good so far while still doing very well with their early round picks is making me very hopeful for the future of the team. It's still probably another 2-4 years away from fully being realized though.
Oh there were definitely flaws in their game. I wasn't necessarily comparing playing style or talent level as much as just the concept that I feel like sometimes we (And every fan base, really) fall in love with a prospect and blow them up to more than what they are.
FWIW, I think Lombardi has a high ceiling. I just think it's highly unlikely he gets there. Which is what blows my mind about people calling him a surefire Top 6'er.
Similar thing with a few different players, Covid kept them sort of under the radar and hiddent from the spotlight of being a first round pick. Similar to Joshua Roy on the Habs or Wyatt Johnson with the stars it's likely that there will be a few "steals" from the Covid drafts, mainly because these guys will be able to go to the AHL without the fanbase knowing them.One of those covid picks thats really hard to get a read on. If he played his draft year, maybe he would've been a first rounder and now everything hes doing would have him as a top 30 prospect in the league. Instead hes a fourth rounder, taken as an "overager" and he wont get hyped up.
Size is the biggest concern, and for a forward in todays NHL its not even that bad. Its just hard to get excited given where he was drafted