He has to have changed his mind if he has seen Thomson play since last WJC. If he didn’t change his opinion during that time, then he must be a fool. Thomson has been really bad and with that low quality hockey IQ play no one with a credible hockey mind should see a clear potential top 4 NHL defenceman in him.
RD Lassi Thomson (2019, 19th, OTT; claimed by ANA; claimed by OTT)
- Thread starter ChicagoBullsFan
- Start date
And FYI, I’m a big fan of Ilves (Thomson’s Liiga team), and I had really high hopes in Thomson based on his CHL success. But of course playing against kids is a completely different thing than playing against professional men. He just looks seriously like a bust. I will be extremely surprised if he will ever have a true NHL career.
W0w, your opinion of Thomson now is a complete sea change from where you were at July 2019. Do you remember this exchange?
i would like to know everyone's thoughts on ville heinola and lassi thomson. In my keepers league i'm thinking of drafting one or both of them ?
I think they both are VERY talented. But most probably both will still play next season in Liiga. At least I have understood that it is practically sure already that Thomson will play for Ilves (Tampere) next season.
Both of them have good potential to be even top pair defencemen in the future. Thomson is physically more ready than Heinola, but Heinola has probably a tad better hockey IQ (Thomson’s hockey IQ is good too though). Both seem to have great skills, most of the tools and even a good toolbox to become very good or even elite defencemen, in the best case scenario. Ippenator, Jul 26, 2019
Nobody is disputing that Thomson has not yet lived up to expectations. But his unimpressive showing since the WJC does not mean he is a bust.
I'll boldly predict that he'll silence the skeptics before the end of this season at Ilves.
The truth is definitely that his play has taken quite a nosedive since the last WJC. But I can't say that his IQ truly impressed me even before that.
Now that I think of it, he just made clearly less of the bad decisons than how he has been doing since the WJC. It looks to me that he is trying to be more productive with the puck, but just doesn’t really have the hockey IQ in him to make smart and productive choices with the puck.
But yeah, sure, if a player starts playing with a constantly boneheaded manner and making awful decisions on a regular basis, it will make me definitely change my opinion on the player.
And yes, Thomson would definitely have great tools to become a very good defenceman, if his hockey IQ would be really on a good level. Sorry for my earlier misjudgement on that. I was definitely being too generous with saying that his hockey IQ was good.
But ok, I hope that you will be right with your bold prediction. That would really be cool after all if it turned out like that!
Last edited:
I believe your first impression of Lassi was correct. But perhaps something has happened in his life - off-ice - that explains his uncharacteristic performance.
I’ll agree so far to be more patient with him. He is still that young anyway. But honestly it might be difficult as he is playing for my favorite Liiga team, and it has been really frustrating to watch him make so many bad decisions with the puck. He seems offensively completely useless at the moment. At least he hasn’t been a complete disaster defensively, although I can’t say that he has been too impressive with his defensive play. At least hasn’t been making as clear and bad mistakes as with the puck.
Last edited:
Well, we really appreciate you keeping an eye on him. If Thomson can return to earlier form, with greater concentration and focus, he could be a valuable weapon - with his wicked shot - on Ottawa's 2nd PP unit. But that's not something we should expect until the 21/22 NHL season.
What happened to this guy? Started off hot last year, had a bad WJC and fell off a cliff points-wise. Does his play represent in the point totals or is he just extremely snakebitten?
SensBrawler
Registered User
- Jun 24, 2013
- 7,310
- 1,501
Nikita Zaitsev was placed in Covid protocol at the last minute, so Lassi's about to make his NHL debut.
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
- Jul 20, 2020
- 12,440
- 22,535
And people thought he was a bust. How many “busts” get to play an NHL game in their D+3 season?
bert
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2002
- 37,576
- 23,899
Only took 13 regulars out!
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
- Jul 20, 2020
- 12,440
- 22,535
Dirtyf1ghter
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2019
- 2,673
- 1,733
I think you are referring to my words about him so I am answering your question : A lot. There were even flops that started at Draft +1.
His appeal means that there are no other alternatives as RD. Nothing exceptional that he was called up to play in the NHL at 21. Almost all of the players selected in the 1st round succeed to play in NHL. I had no doubts about it. Will he stay there ? Will he be effective there ? More than Heinola ? I have doubts.
Sun God Nika
Palestine 🇵🇸
He looks like he is on the path to becoming an average #4D, and being a right shot. I don't think thats a "flop" at all for 19th overall
bert
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2002
- 37,576
- 23,899
Dirtyf1ghter
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2019
- 2,673
- 1,733
20 minutes played against LA = he is establishing himself as a top 4 defender. This is a statement that needs to be confirmed over time.
Brannstrom hasn't even managed to win yet.
Dirtyf1ghter
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2019
- 2,673
- 1,733
While writing his lines I clicked on the list of players selected in 2009.
Only 1 player has never played in NHL. I looked at the 2008 list, 3. The 2010 list, 0.
My point is completely true.
Svedu
Registered User
- Apr 23, 2019
- 2,881
- 1,910
He was so bad for Finland when playing the WJC´s, actually the worst player. Even if one tournament does not have to mean he's a bust... I´ve just never seen anything special in him. He's no way near other young finns like Laaksonen, Salo, Niemelä, Heinola, and quite frankly I just don't see the potential in him.
Oh, and i forgot Välimäki, Jokiharju etc.
Not mentioning Heiskanen because he was a top3 pick.
I hope he surprises me and becomes a top4 but I doubt it. To me, he feels like one of the Honkas. Talented and all... Sure, but I just don't see it. Did not give me the impression of being able to read the game properly. I don't think he was any better than a player like Saarijärvi at the same age either. I would go so far and say that Vaakanainen probably has higher potential as a defending D and Reunanen with a higher upside offensively. Yeah, you guys get the point.
Even if numbers don't tell the whole story, just look at his time at Ilves. Two points in 18 games and he showed quite the flaws when it came to positional awareness at defense.
In all honesty, Ottawa has chosen two prospects who a lot of fellow finns feel insecure about, Järventie and especially Thomson. Their performances are the worst I´ve ever sen in a Pikkuleijonat jersey. Again, I hope they prove me wrong.
Oh, and i forgot Välimäki, Jokiharju etc.
Not mentioning Heiskanen because he was a top3 pick.
I hope he surprises me and becomes a top4 but I doubt it. To me, he feels like one of the Honkas. Talented and all... Sure, but I just don't see it. Did not give me the impression of being able to read the game properly. I don't think he was any better than a player like Saarijärvi at the same age either. I would go so far and say that Vaakanainen probably has higher potential as a defending D and Reunanen with a higher upside offensively. Yeah, you guys get the point.
Even if numbers don't tell the whole story, just look at his time at Ilves. Two points in 18 games and he showed quite the flaws when it came to positional awareness at defense.
In all honesty, Ottawa has chosen two prospects who a lot of fellow finns feel insecure about, Järventie and especially Thomson. Their performances are the worst I´ve ever sen in a Pikkuleijonat jersey. Again, I hope they prove me wrong.
Last edited:
Dirtyf1ghter
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2019
- 2,673
- 1,733
Jarventie is 2 years younger. Regarding this player, I thought on draft day that he was a good choice and his career profile seems to be interesting. I think he will win in NHL.
Svedu
Registered User
- Apr 23, 2019
- 2,881
- 1,910
Yeah, I believe a lot more in Järventie than Thomson. Two reasons for that. One is as you mention, he's younger. But mostly because he seems to produce. Perhaps he was ill or something because he was truly horrendous at the WJC´s. He was do damn sluggish and out of place.
Thomson on the other hand? He had a very naive way of defending in my opinion and he overplayed very often and tried to compensate for his misses and all in all it just ended making it even worse. I question his "IQ" for now, but let's hope I´m wrong here.
Sun God Nika
Palestine 🇵🇸
He is likely a year maybe 2 away from it but a side from watching his first NHL game the coach in Belleville has been singing his praises on his improvements from the start of last season. Its equally comical to label him a bust as a 21 year old Dman.
bert
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2002
- 37,576
- 23,899
GermanSpitfire
EU Video Scout for McKeen’s | Rest Easy #13
- Jul 20, 2020
- 12,440
- 22,535
The hate boner you have for Ottawa is impressive. Lets talk about Galchenyuk, or Scherbak, or McCarron, or Leblanc, or White, or Juulson, or Mete, or Kotkaniemi, or Poehling, or Tinordi, or Fischer. Quite impressive how often the team you cheer for misses on their HIGH selections. You’re in no position to talk to someone about drsft busts. Ya’ll gonna destroy Caufield’s promise too. Or maybe he’ll just get offersheeted.
Blacephalon
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2018
- 1,165
- 1,382
Latest posts
-
Speculation: Roster Building Thread : Part XVIII ( TDL is March 7th)- Latest: KirkAlbuquerque
-
