I disagree with this... I honestly think Leo's biggest problem isn't necessarily his muscle or his physicality, it's been adjusting to the smaller NA ice. When he's at his worst, he plays like he has more space than he does. Another year in the SHL wouldn't have helped him with that.Hindsight is obviously 20/20 but I've come to agree that he should've spent a season in Sweden. Problem is I think his conditioning issues wouldn't have been any better. Would that have been a huge problem? I don't know. But the question of whether Leo is being developed properly as it stands now is a valid one.
The real problem with Leo is whether or not the Ducks have a clue why his development is moving at the pace it has. If the Ducks honestly think he's developing fine then we may have bigger problems. Of course if they too are disappointed with where he is at (which of course they will never say publicly) then the question becomes how are they going to fix that?
And for those who want to point at his age and preach patience here's the other side of that coin...Practically all the scouts were proclaiming that except for the generational talent named Bedard, both Leo and Fantilli were guys who would easily have gone #1 in most previous drafts.
Guys who are projected 1OA picks aren't expected to take 3 or more years to show something. But that's where we are currently with Leo unless he really breaks out the rest of this year.
Yeah, it would really suck having a 60 goal scorer and Selke Finalist as our 1CI just hope Carlsson doesn’t turn into Matthews.
John
I’m not writing him off by any means. But if he was playing in Canada or an O6 team there would be a lot hell being raised based on his so called pedigree that would expect better results by now.Devils advocate. I thought he showed a lot last year in what was a very difficult season for the team. A sophomore slump isn't unheard of in any professional league. Next year is going to be important for him. I would hope PV looks for a permanent and suitable option to play with him in the offseason.
Yeah, it would really suck having a 60 goal scorer and Selke Finalist as our 1C
You have to get there first…Yep. One of the best players over 82 games. Too bad never a Stanley Cup finalist.
The playoffs would suck more than the Boudreau years.
John