Is Jackson Lacombe Becoming A #1 Defenseman

[landy]

Googling what team he plays on...be right back.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Quick question for Ducks fans:

How much influence has Trouba and Gudas had on him?

At this point, Gudas is a negative influence on him if anything.

Although apparently in between this season and last, one of the things LaCombe did to prepare was get "tougher" - took some fighting classes, worked with a therapist, etc. So I'm sure Gudas has an effect there.

 

[LuGBuG]

Zellweger can still be a very productive PMD but he's starting to look like more of a third pair powerplay specialist. He's very good at moving the puck and could be an annual 50 maybe even 60 point guy at his best. But while his defensive effort is there in spades, it would be hard to pretend that his size isn't a limitation. And I don't think he's offensively dynamic enough to be a top pair guy on offense alone. But then again, he's still young and he could follow in the tracks of a guy like Theodore one day. But Theodore didn't have size holding him back defensively and while he's not and never will be a shutdown Dman, he's solid enough for Vegas' defensive system.

I think that is selling his potential too short. He is undersized but built like a brick, skates unbelievable and his effort level is 100% plus thinks the game well. He’s 21 and the guy this thread is about wasn’t even in the NHL at that age. Does he have work to do? No doubt but there is zero doubt in my mind he becomes a very good top 4 dman who quarterbacks the PP wherever he is. If this season should’ve taught us Ducks fans anything it’s patience.

 

[LuGBuG]

At this point, Gudas is a negative influence on him if anything.

Although apparently in between this season and last, one of the things LaCombe did to prepare was get "tougher" - took some fighting classes, worked with a therapist, etc. So I'm sure Gudas has an effect there.

I think negative influence is the wrong choice of words. Could he have a better partner? Yes but for what we see Gudas seems like a great teammate, great professional and is doing all the right things a captain should be doing even if his talent level isn’t at the level for the role he plays on ice.

 

[HanSolo]

I think that is selling his potential too short. He is undersized but built like a brick, skates unbelievable and his effort level is 100% plus thinks the game well. He’s 21 and the guy this thread is about wasn’t even in the NHL at that age. Does he have work to do? No doubt but there is zero doubt in my mind he becomes a very good top 4 dman who quarterbacks the PP wherever he is. If this season should’ve taught us Ducks fans anything it’s patience.

I meant that more for this team. I can understand how I didn't phrase that properly. With how many guys we have with high potential, assuming we even find a way to keep all of them, he might have a more limited role at 5 on 5

 

[Pablo El Perro]

The few Ducks games I've seen this year, he looks like a good top line d-man.

 

[LuGBuG]

I meant that more for this team. I can understand how I didn't phrase that properly. With how many guys we have with high potential, assuming we even find a way to keep all of them, he might have a more limited role at 5 on 5

I’d agree with that. Right now he’d be the one I’d move if we had too for a forward. Scares me to move on from any of them right now though as I would’ve picked Lacombe before this year in a heartbeat to move for a forward.

 

[Daz28]

To be fair no one saw this coming. Not even his biggest supporters. And some fans even made him a bit of a whipping boy for his rookie gaffes.

Are you calling me no one?

• Oct 16, 2023

LaCombe, JD and Minty are probably the most well rounded of them all. Lacombe is showing he may have borderline superstar potential, as most of them all do. I wouldn't trade the D futures of the Ducks for any team in the league. They also have a coach that isn't going to coach their instincts out of them. Agreed, really, really promising future.

Lacombe has superstar potential? I havent heard that before although I heard he is a bonafide NHL talent.

 

[FiveTacos]

Are you calling me no one?

Okay, you saw it coming. But you know what that means ...

You're a witch! Burn!

 

[Mubiki]

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.

Maybe only those following all levels of MN hockey. He's been a great player his entire life.

 

[Sean Garrity]

Maybe only those following all levels of MN hockey. He's been a great player his entire life.

No doubt, and he was great in college. I had concerns with him not using his size(not necessarily hitting or the physical aspect) or being assertive while at Minnesota, but now I think that may have been a coaching/system thing and not a Lacombe thing because he does both now. He’s been so freaking good after a ln abbreviated subpar start.

 

[duckpuck]

Do Ducks fans see LaCombe being the defacto #1 ahead of Zelly, Mint, and guys like Luneau?

Was very curious to see how it played out and thought it might be Mintyukov's to lose, but Jackson has been incredible.

I think the short answer is we don't know how Minty and Luneau develop. Last year, Minty looked better than Lacombe (at least in spurts) and seemed to have the higher ceiling. This year Minty has struggled (not unusual for a second year player, particularly with an injury) though he has played better of late. So it is the exact opposite and Lacombe seems to be the better player - not even close.

Luneau - we have no idea about though the organization seems incredibly high on him.

I don't see Zell ever being a number one d-man. His size is going to limit his defensive abilities. Though he certainly seems willing to engage physically, I think he'll be average at best in the d zone as he's always going to face situations where he's overpowered against the opponent's top guys.

Nice problem to have for the ducks as the younger prospects also seem very promising.

 

[SmokeyDuck]

Played 30 minutes tonight and didn't look out of gas. Another goal too. I have really been surprised by the sudden progression.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

 

[Gliff]

Of all the defensemen the Ducks have churned out since 2008, this is the #1 they always were missing.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Played 30 minutes tonight and didn't look out of gas. Another goal too. I have really been surprised by the sudden progression.

First time I really paid much attention to him lastnight but he looked great. I was suprised I kept seeing him on the ice, but he didn't look out of place.

Celebrini and especially Smith on our end were absolutely gassed by the time OT ended lastnight lol

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

This guy is unreal and I had never even heard of him until my team played vs. the Ducks. Perfect example of how young players in some markets are artificially propped up by their local media machine (ie. Hutson) and we don't hear about hidden gems like this.

 

[AD1066]

Of all the defensemen the Ducks have churned out since 2008, this is the #1 they always were missing.

I don't follow the Ducks closely, but last year I was under the impression that Mintyukov was emerging as that guy (and that Zellweger was their future PP specialist). I had never even heard of LaCombe until this year, so it's surprising to see him fulfilling both roles. It's an impressive development curve. This wasn't expected, right?

 

[FiveTacos]

I don't follow the Ducks closely, but last year I was under the impression that Mintyukov was emerging as that guy (and that Zellweger was their future PP specialist). I had never even heard of LaCombe until this year, so it's surprising to see him fulfilling both roles. It's an impressive development curve. This wasn't expected, right?

He is a few years older than those two, gotta remember Mintyukov and Zellweger are only 21, Lacombe is 24. They may yet turn out better.

But no it wasn't expected. He had an okay rookie season, but nothing shocking beyond showing he could do a little of everything. If you follow the NCAA you knew who he was (as a top scoring D for a championship finalist), and he was a 2nd rounder so there's some pedigree, but a lot of folks around here are CHL focused. I'm sure if he was drafted by a popular team there would have been much more hype in college.

 

[Gliff]

I don't follow the Ducks closely, but last year I was under the impression that Mintyukov was emerging as that guy (and that Zellweger was their future PP specialist). I had never even heard of LaCombe until this year, so it's surprising to see him fulfilling both roles. It's an impressive development curve. This wasn't expected, right?

I have seen one quote from a Ducks fan a year ago that said he had top pairing potential. I dont think anyone other then that 1 poster and maybe LaCombe's mom saw this coming.

I think a lot of people expected his potential to be a Fowler-type player where he is okay at everything, good at a few things. A solid second pairing guy. He has just blown that expectation out of the water. And like I alluded to in my last post, the Ducks have had a LOT of good young defensemen in the past 15 years. This is the best run we have seen from any of them. If he keeps this up he is the best defensemen the Ducks have ever drafted/developed.

Like Fivetaco said, he is 24 in his sophomore season after playing 4 years of college, so this actually is not a kid. Mintyukov and Zellweger are still 21. They have 3 more seasons before they are at this level so LaCombe jumping them isn't an inditement on them.

I still think Mintyukov has the highest potential.

 

[quackquackquack]

LaCombe is going to be a legit #1 D for a longgggggggggg time. he has all the tools.

 

[kilowatt]

Hurts to say this as a Kings fan but Lacombe looks to be a really great player, the Ducks have a ton of young talent on their roster and if that all clicks soon they’re going to be a great team.

 

[FiveTacos]

I have seen one quote from a Ducks fan a year ago that said he had top pairing potential. I dont think anyone other then that 1 poster and maybe LaCombe's mom saw this coming.

It's very likely that Lacombe's mom watched a game this year, spit out her beer and said WTF.

I still think Mintyukov has the highest potential.

Obviously some kind of injury has hampered Mintyukov. But I remember in the season opener he not only looked good, he was the best player on the ice for either team, on both ends of the ice.

 

[Gliff]

It's very likely that Lacombe's mom watched a game this year, spit out her beer and said WTF.



Obviously some kind of injury has hampered Mintyukov. But I remember in the season opener he not only looked good, he was the best player on the ice for either team, on both ends of the ice.

Ya I thought the same. I remember thinking he was going to have the jump in development that LaCombe has had.

Hopefully he heals up and next season takes that step.

 

[Peasy]

Dude is legit. I would expect even better numbers from him next year. If you can sign him for 8 years under 9m id do it in a second. You can tell him playing so long as a forward really helps him out offensively. He knows where to go in the offensive zone to score goals. He can identify when plays are breaking down to get in the action. Hes so comfortable around the opponents net and he has a very strong deceptive shot.