Is Jackson Lacombe becoming a #1 defenseman?

[FiveTacos]

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

Stifling is overstating, but really really good nonetheless. But combined with his exits and transitions to offense, he's fantastic.

I'm also impressed at how often he finds his way deep into the offensive zone for a chance, but does it without reckless gambling. His reads on when to go and when to stay at home have been very very good.

There's no question he's playing like a 1D right now, the only question is will he sustain it for more than a few months.

 

[duckaroosky]

We need @duckaroosky in here to sing our boards LaCombe theme song!

Let's hear it, roosky!

I can't spoil it by singing it without a goal

 

[ohcomeonref]

Stifling is overstating, but really really good nonetheless. But combined with his exits and transitions to offense, he's fantastic.

I'm also impressed at how often he finds his way deep into the offensive zone for a chance, but does it without reckless gambling. His reads on when to go and when to stay at home have been very very good.

There's no question he's playing like a 1D right now, the only question is will he sustain it for more than a few months.

I'm too lazy to look it up (and too dumb), but I'd be curious on the Ducks defensive metrics when he's on the ice vs when he isn't.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Absolutely never heard of this player.

Had to google him as well. Playing with the Ducks he is out of sight out of mind

 

[Sean Garrity]

Had to google him as well. Playing with the Ducks he is out of sight out of mind

Just like Werenski, we get it. When will Canada respect CBJ and ANA!?!?

Seriously though, Napoleon Dynamite has been great, I don’t think anyone saw this high level of play in him.

 

[north21]

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.

It was a gut wrenching loss that feels even worse now! Glad to hear lacombe is doing great!

 

[MCB]

Didn't expect his play to improve this much, he was a toss in for me in hypothetical trades last year, eating crow and it's delicious.

 

[HockeyVirus]

According to Ducks fans they have 4 #1 dmen at this point lol. Depending on who is playing hot.

The answer to the question is no. At least no one can say he is even close to that by this point. He has 100 NHL games on a team with no expectation to win anything.

 

[benfranklin]

jackson "beavis" lacombe

Duuuuuude love your username. For no reason at all outside of the cool new Ducks logo, Terry Yake was my favorite card back in 1993 or 1994. Leaf set.

 

[Turin]

Oh that's why Anaheim isn't basement tier anymore

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

According to Ducks fans they have 4 #1 dmen at this point lol. Depending on who is playing hot.

The answer to the question is no. At least no one can say he is even close to that by this point. He has 100 NHL games on a team with no expectation to win anything.

Weird post, pretty much all of our Dmen outside of Lacombe have been mostly either below average expectations or borderline awful, let alone HOT

 

[Jumptheshark]

Just like Werenski, we get it. When will Canada respect CBJ and ANA!?!?

Seriously though, Napoleon Dynamite has been great, I don’t think anyone saw this high level of play in him.

Actually I live in the UK and only watch stuff on youtube. Werenski and Lacombe are on two different levels . Werenski is in his 9th year and is a known entity and keeps getting better after 544 games. Lacombe and now 6 40+ pts season with this year and last year being his break.

Lacombe is in his 2nd full season in the nhl and is having his first real good season. Lacombe is not in Werenski league right now

 

[ColbyChaos]

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.

Who?

 

[PuckG]

Halak, Ryder and a 2nd for him?

 

[BKarchitect]

Oh that's why Anaheim isn't basement tier anymore

They have the 14th highest win% in the league (32 teams) since January 1st. They’ve certainly been a competative team since Lacombe’s major ascendancy. I would say that’s not a coincidence.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Jackson "Big Honey" LaCombe

Nvm now I know

 

[WhatTheDuck]

According to Ducks fans they have 4 #1 dmen at this point lol. Depending on who is playing hot.

The answer to the question is no. At least no one can say he is even close to that by this point. He has 100 NHL games on a team with no expectation to win anything.

Who else are we allegedly claiming as #1 Dmen? I highly doubt you can provide even a single receipt on this one

 

[bossram]

He's legit. Looked absolutely incredible as this season has gone on.

People who never heard of him are kinda telling on themselves.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

 

[HockeyVirus]

Weird post, pretty much all of our Dmen outside of Lacombe have been mostly either below average expectations or borderline awful, let alone HOT

Last year it was Mintyukov getting these threads

​

 

[JonathnTaylorTavares]

Last year it was Mintyukov getting these threads

​

Ya he did have a good stretch last year. Ok who else?

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

He idolized Duncan Keith Growing up.... His game reflects that... Duncan Keith Reincarnation..

 

[WTFMAN99]

Very good season, as always, you wanna see it for more than 1 year but if it continues, what a find for Anaheim.

 

[ohcomeonref]

Very good season, as always, you wanna see it for more than 1 year but if it continues, what a find for Anaheim.

We desperately need it, too.

 

[MakoSlade]

Absolutely never heard of this player.

Last week, Yahoo Fantasy Hockey told me he was the 50th ranked player over the last 30 day. That was the first I'd heard of him but picked him up any way.