Rekingsfan17
Registered User
- Aug 23, 2017
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I am the first to admit that seeing the value in one goaltender over another is not in my skillset. Can some of you who do have that in your skillset let me know your opinion on Jack LaFontaine. He is becoming a UFA after not being qualified by the Hurricanes. He was drafted 75th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He signed an entry level contract with the Hurricanes on 01/09/22 after playing college hockey for the Minnesota Gophers. While playing at Minnesota he was "Gopher Hockey's first recipient of the Mike Richter Award as the top goaltender in college hockey • the University of Minnesota's male recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor • finalist for the Hobey Baker Award • First Team All-American • the 2021 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and a First Team All-Big Ten selection • the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament and a Big Ten All-Tournament Team honoree • named a finalist for the Big Ten Player of the Year • alternate captain for the Maroon & Gold." (quotes from Gophersports.com website).
He has good size, 6'3", 209 lbs., CL, 01/06/98 and he is 24 years old. He is not related to Pat LaFontaine.
The following quotes are from the Athletics' article by by Sara Civian.
" It’s not every day an NCAA hockey player leaves his team midway through the season to head to the NHL. In fact, it’s not every decade. The most recent example that comes to mind is Kyle Okposo with the Islanders in 2007-08."
"But Minnesota Gophers goalie Jack LaFontaine, a 24-year-old fifth-year senior and the Hurricanes’ 2016 third-round pick, has never been one to stick to the status quo."
"LaFontaine’s winding path started with an adversity-filled two years at Michigan, a successful detour in the BCHL and then two full seasons at Minnesota, which has been one of the top teams in the country with him in net. Perhaps these unique career decisions helped him make the biggest one yet — leaving the No. 8 team in the country midway through its season."
"The 6-foot-2, 204-pound goalie signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Canes on Sunday. The deal will pay him $750,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level — or on the taxi squad, to which he was assigned Monday — through the end of 2021-22, with a signing bonus of $88,500."
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” LaFontaine said in a press conference Monday. “Obviously a lot of emotion comes into play, but you have to make sure you’re using your brain when making a decision like this. I drew up the pros and cons, and an opportunity to play for an organization like Carolina is just too good to pass up. This came to me Sunday morning. This happened all very fast. It’s not something I was pondering all season. It’s something I made a decision on in the span of 20 hours. Looking at it from a hockey lens and from a life lens, I feel really good about it.”
"The Canes are in a unique situation, with three of their top five pro goalies injured. At the NHL level, Antti Raanta (upper body) will be out for more than a few days. At the AHL level, both Eetu Makiniemi and Beck Warm are injured."
“It came down to the opportunity at hand, and I think the opportunity is very golden … obviously with all the injuries and whatnot with Carolina,” LaFontaine said. “I think the timing was right. It was a difficult decision to leave my teammates at Minnesota, in saying that. I did talk to them, and they all respected and were excited for me. These opportunities don’t come along very often. Talking with management and talking with others, I knew in my heart of hearts it was time to make the next move.”
He seems like a good fit (to me.......but what do I know.....goalies are voodoo) for the King's development staff to work with. The King's are also said to need more goalies in the pipeline. Oh, also in the video interview he mentioned how cold it is in Carolina (California is warm.....ha ha ha). He also played some games for Chicago of the AHL.
Do you think he is worth a look by the Kings.......(?)
He has good size, 6'3", 209 lbs., CL, 01/06/98 and he is 24 years old. He is not related to Pat LaFontaine.
The following quotes are from the Athletics' article by by Sara Civian.
" It’s not every day an NCAA hockey player leaves his team midway through the season to head to the NHL. In fact, it’s not every decade. The most recent example that comes to mind is Kyle Okposo with the Islanders in 2007-08."
"But Minnesota Gophers goalie Jack LaFontaine, a 24-year-old fifth-year senior and the Hurricanes’ 2016 third-round pick, has never been one to stick to the status quo."
"LaFontaine’s winding path started with an adversity-filled two years at Michigan, a successful detour in the BCHL and then two full seasons at Minnesota, which has been one of the top teams in the country with him in net. Perhaps these unique career decisions helped him make the biggest one yet — leaving the No. 8 team in the country midway through its season."
"The 6-foot-2, 204-pound goalie signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Canes on Sunday. The deal will pay him $750,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level — or on the taxi squad, to which he was assigned Monday — through the end of 2021-22, with a signing bonus of $88,500."
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” LaFontaine said in a press conference Monday. “Obviously a lot of emotion comes into play, but you have to make sure you’re using your brain when making a decision like this. I drew up the pros and cons, and an opportunity to play for an organization like Carolina is just too good to pass up. This came to me Sunday morning. This happened all very fast. It’s not something I was pondering all season. It’s something I made a decision on in the span of 20 hours. Looking at it from a hockey lens and from a life lens, I feel really good about it.”
"The Canes are in a unique situation, with three of their top five pro goalies injured. At the NHL level, Antti Raanta (upper body) will be out for more than a few days. At the AHL level, both Eetu Makiniemi and Beck Warm are injured."
“It came down to the opportunity at hand, and I think the opportunity is very golden … obviously with all the injuries and whatnot with Carolina,” LaFontaine said. “I think the timing was right. It was a difficult decision to leave my teammates at Minnesota, in saying that. I did talk to them, and they all respected and were excited for me. These opportunities don’t come along very often. Talking with management and talking with others, I knew in my heart of hearts it was time to make the next move.”
He seems like a good fit (to me.......but what do I know.....goalies are voodoo) for the King's development staff to work with. The King's are also said to need more goalies in the pipeline. Oh, also in the video interview he mentioned how cold it is in Carolina (California is warm.....ha ha ha). He also played some games for Chicago of the AHL.
Do you think he is worth a look by the Kings.......(?)
