He was kinda the under the radar d prospect for us…. Everyone hyped up Mintyukov zellweger drysdale luneau even thrun and hinds got more hype and love than lacombe.
But can’t complain he’s been very solid and seems like the coaches already trust him, I think he can bring a bit more offensively too
There's a minority of Ducks fans, or maybe it was just me, that hyped LaCombe up, but the masses couldn't accept LaCombe being in the same conversation of Zellweger, Mintyukov, Drysdale, or Luneau. You can read this thread and notice how people didn't believe in LaCombe's skills.
As for LaCombe's offense, I think that will eventually happen. If we follow his college career, LaCombe focused on playing and learning defense first. Then each year his offense improved to where it was almost a point-per-game player. At the rookie training camp, LaCombe was the most impressive D-man over all of our hyped D. At pre-season, he showed off his speed, IQ, and scoring in a multi-point game where he ended up with a game winner in 3v3 OT, going "coast to coast like butter toast".
A lot of LaCombe's game is very low key and soccer style, such that he doesn't hold onto the puck a lot, but rather pass it off early. He wins battles behind the net, take players to the board so another Ducks can get the puck, interrupting passes, etc... a lot of boring stuff that goes unnoticed, but makes a big impact on the defensive end. He won't be confused with the way all 3 CHL d-men of the year award winners play, which is high-action offense with Mintyukov, Zellweger, and Luneau. LaCombe is that guy that you see usually defending 1v2 b/c he's always thinking defense first.
Last night's game against Vegas shows off LaCombe's IQ. It was where Eichel sniped on a 4v4. McTavish kinda messed up in the OZone, causing him to trail Eichel. It was a 3v2 situation, with Eichel on wing, a Theodore down the middle, and Karlsson on the opposite wing. LaCombe pointed to the Karlsson to Vatrano to take him on the backcheck so that LaCombe can engage Theodore down the middle. Fowler pointed to Eichel for Mac to engage Eichel, but Mac was in trailing mode still. Fowler then collapsed to Theodore. Fowler did not play that defensive sequence well, which the Ducks color analyst succinctly identified.
The video should start for the play described above.
