Is Jackson Lacombe becoming a #1 defenseman?

[BKarchitect]

I think most who have been following this season have known for months now that Lacombe has been one of the bigger surprises of the year in terms of a young depth defenseman, overshadowed by several other young guys on his own team (Mintyukov, Zellweger, Luneau) prior to this year, developing into something "more".

But holy cow - he's been next level in 2025.

- TOI @ 23:29 per game - almost 3 minutes more than any other defender on the Ducks.
- 4 goals and 15 points in 22 games, tied for 10th in ES scoring and tied for 11th in overall scoring among all defensemen in the NHL since January 1st.
- Up to the top unit on the PP while still one of the main PK defenseman on the team.

He's an amazing skater who is showing an incredible growth curve and high-level IQ in all phases and is taking on more and more responsibilities. I'm thinking he is trending towards potentially being a Devon Toews level player at this point.

Click to read more...

 

[ohcomeonref]

Consensus amongst Ducks fans seems to be: yes. Dude is generating offense like a true #1 and plays stifling defense on top of it. Eye test checks out, stats check out.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

Absolutely never heard of this player.

 

[Terry Yake]

Absolutely never heard of this player.

that probably goes for 95% off this board

 

[Gliff]

Close this thread. With the Duck's luck he will blow a knee out next game

Seriously though, he has been the best player on the Ducks this year by a fair margin. He is just consistently good in all facets every game. I don't think many expected him to be the best out of their young LHD (and he is 2-3 years older then Zelly and Minty) coming into the year, but he has been amazing. I personally see the Duncan Keith comp (not saying he will be a hall of famer).

Now close this thread and let him go back to being a lowkey stud.

Sidenote, he could have signed with anyone after college so the Ducks are fortunate there.

 

[Hale The Villain]

I don't know but all I'll say is good on him for signing with the Ducks instead of jumping ship via UFA

With a very crowded young blueline, thought he was a goner after staying his senior year

No better team at drafting and developing young defenseman

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

The "stifling defense" part would be a shock to me.

 

[BKarchitect]

Absolutely never heard of this player.

Fair - it's why I created this thread.

It's easy to do the "sort by points - oh this player is breaking out!" thing especially with forwards.

But what I find interesting is identifying young defenseman who are making a leap - it is often not as simple to identify, especially when they don't play on teams that are garnering a lot of attention at the given time.

Production is one piece with Lacombe, but it's also usage and in-season trajectory and splits that are useful in establishing guys who are really breaking out.

Guys like Jackson Lacombe and Alex Vlasic - who weren't top 10 picks or "blue chip" prospect but who have quietly become foundational players for their respective clubs (less quiet at this point with Vlasic - I think he is starting to become "know") - these are the type of guys that IMO deserve attention.

 

[benr]

It’s even more surprising because according to my algorithm for projecting young prospects (if their name is a good hockey name) he should have busted as a defence man. Jackson Lacombe is obviously the name of a 25g 30a speedster left wing; that should have been his ceiling. So what he’s doing is unprecedented

 

[NVious]

Who?

Jackson "Big Honey" LaCombe

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Jackson "Big Honey" LaCombe

Ah yes of course

 

[the valiant effort]

Slavin if Slavin ever reached the projected heights of Slavin

 

[quackquackquack]

His confidence is stupid high at all times and his coast to coast carries are becoming a thing of legend. I don't want to jinx it but he's well on his way

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I think most who have been following this season have known for months now that Lacombe has been one of the bigger surprises of the year in terms of a young depth defenseman, overshadowed by several other young guys on his own team (Mintyukov, Zellweger, Luneau) prior to this year, developing into something "more".

But holy cow - he's been next level in 2025.

- TOI @ 23:29 per game - almost 3 minutes more than any other defender on the Ducks.
- 4 goals and 15 points in 22 games, tied for 10th in ES scoring and tied for 11th in overall scoring among all defensemen in the NHL since January 1st.
- Up to the top unit on the PP while still one of the main PK defenseman on the team.

He's an amazing skater who is showing an incredible growth curve and high-level IQ in all phases and is taking on more and more responsibilities. I'm thinking he is trending towards potentially being a Devon Toews level player at this point.

I was trying to think of a good comp this morning and Toews was the best I could come up with. Lacombe I think may have a tad more pure offensive or at least scoring ability, while not as quite sound defensively - but generally it's a good comp IMO

 

[mphmiles]

Related: hard to believe that Minnesota team from 2 years ago didn't win it all.

Cooley
Knies
Snuggerud
Faber
Lacombe

A future 1C, a good top 6 forward, another guy that looks like a good top 6 forward, a 1D, and a guy that at worst looks like a good #2D. My word that team was stacked.

 

[benfranklin]

WHo?

 

[WhatTheDuck]

 

[Kegs]

He is absolutely a #1 defenseman

 

[Winston Wolf]

Absolute masterclass from Briere and Tortorella on identifying and acquiring the Ducks' worst defenseman with injury issues.

 

[Terry Yake]

WHo?

jackson "beavis" lacombe