Player Discussion Jackson LaCombe

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I hate that he's paired with Gudas. Like, I get wanting Radko's veteran presence in important moments (even if his play doesn't really help us out) but I would take Trouba or even Helleson with LaCombe.

When I think about it more, I don't mind LaCombe carrying Gudas. Last year, Gudas made every defenseman who played with him look better. LaCombe was supposed to stick with Gudas all last year in his rookie season. This year, LaCombe is firmly with Gudas and not a revolving partner as well as rotating sides like last season. Gudas is able to impart a lot of knowledge and experience onto LaCombe on and off the ice. Leave LaCombe with Gudas for the rest of this season. Let LaCombe be able to process the experience in the off-season and build off of that. Last off-season worked for him to process, reflect, and address what needed improvement.

Next season, I'm hoping we see at least a dozen LaCombe Smashes as LaCombe continues to build his body in the off-season. We already are seeing him be more assertive after the whistle is blown when opponents want to start being physical. Gudas is slowly rubbing off on him.
 


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I didn't think Jackson would be a bust or anything but I really didn't expect this level of brilliance from him. My hype was focused on Minty, Zell, and Luneau, and it's still possible that one or more of them could end up better than JL, but right now he's our best bet to develop a true elite number 1 defenseman, and while I'm worried about our youth development as a while, it's been really nice to see Lacombe take such massive leaps forward.
 
Lacombe might be the best dman we've ever drafted. Well perhaps Shea Theodore but he never did it here.

For me, Theo is a lot better than Fowler and the way Lacombe looks right now I'd say he'll likely be better as well. I wasn't as high on Hampus Lindholm as most were.

Jury is still out on Minty and Zell but i think they will get there. Luneau looks fantastic as well. Really a high tide in franchise history for dmen.
 
On pace for a 51 point season now, something a ducks defenseman hasn’t done in 15 years.

Also a +9 now

Had to look it up. Ducks defensemen with 40+ points in a season:
  • Niedermayer: 69 (2006–07), 63 (2005–06), 59 points (2008–09), 48 (2009–10)
  • Visnovsky: 68 (2010–11)
  • Pronger: 59 (2006–07), 48 (2008–09), 43 (2007–08)
  • Olausson: 56 (1998–99)
  • Tverdovsky: 53 (2000–01), 51 (1999–00)
  • Fowler: 48 (2022–23), 42 (2021–22), 40 (2010–10)
  • Mironov: 46 (1996–97)
EDIT: Found a better source.
 
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On pace for a 51 point season now, something a ducks defenseman hasn’t done in 15 years.

Also a +9 now

27 in his last 33 dating back to the Toronto game on December 12th. 69-point pace since then over a full 82.

He's obviously gotta do it over the long-term, but it looks like we may finally have the answer to our years-long hypothetical of what Hampus would look like if he had elite level offense.
 
Lacombe might be the best dman we've ever drafted. Well perhaps Shea Theodore but he never did it here.

For me, Theo is a lot better than Fowler and the way Lacombe looks right now I'd say he'll likely be better as well. I wasn't as high on Hampus Lindholm as most were.

Jury is still out on Minty and Zell but i think they will get there. Luneau looks fantastic as well. Really a high tide in franchise history for dmen.
Hampus never fully put together his offensive game here.
Fowler's single season peak in 16-17 was really f***ing good. It just didn't continue.

I will say Lacombe is effecting the games in ways that haven't happened since Scotty. If he can continue this play without any fall off he will forsure be the best defensemen the Ducks have ever drafted.
 
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Hampus never fully put together his offensive game here.
Fowler's single season peak in 16-17 was really f***ing good. It just didn't continue.

I will say Lacombe is effecting the games in ways that haven't happened since Scotty. If he can continue this play without any fall off he will forsure be the best defensemen the Ducks have ever drafted.
I'd argue he really hasn't in Boston either - that one year appears to have been an outlier - Last year he was back to his Anaheim self. I know i'm probably in the minority with regards to all things Lindholm and that's fine. Full disclosure, i would've preferred Forsberg.
 

Some more fun with stats.


From the article:

Over that same span, LaCombe leads Anaheim in points (19) and is tied for first in assists (14), even-strength points (15) and power-play points (three).

It appears LaCombe is the engine that stirs our offense. Since Jan 1st, LaCombe's scoring rate is at 0.79 ppg. His 19 points factors in our total GF in that same span of 27.5% of the 69 goals for the team.
 
Hampus never fully put together his offensive game here.
Fowler's single season peak in 16-17 was really f***ing good. It just didn't continue.

I will say Lacombe is effecting the games in ways that haven't happened since Scotty. If he can continue this play without any fall off he will forsure be the best defensemen the Ducks have ever drafted.

If we're talking about affecting the game, then using only scoring stats shouldn't be the only factor.

The Ducks weren't deploying Lindholm as if he were an OFD. Hampus' game isn't seen on the scoresheet, but in possession stats. He tilts the ice considerably more such that there are articles out there citing this and rarely gets recognition for the work he does. When I was sharing info to the Bruins board about Lindholm, I denoted how Lindholm saves a goal per game against and improves the PK unit when he's on the ice. Then he actually repeats the same production with Boston. Lindholm is still under appreciated.

Here's an article from Sports Net, April of 2016:

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Had to look it up. Ducks defensemen with 40+ points in a season:
  • Niedermayer: 69 (2006–07), 63 (2005–06), 59 points (2008–09)
  • Visnovsky: 68 (2010–11)
  • Pronger: 59 (2006–07)
  • Olausson: 56 (1998–99)
  • Tverdovsky: 53 (2000–01), 51 (1999–00)
  • Fowler: 48 (2022–23)

Fowler hit 40 pts in his rookie season at age 19, 2010-11. He also topped that in 2021-22 with 42 points. (Source: Hockey-Reference)
 
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