Only question I have with lardis will his scoring translate to the nhl? Hope so but time will tell.
- Scott1977

I remember looking at the combine numbers and one of the interesting things that stood out was Lardis was top 10 in many of them. If he doesn't make it to the NHL it won't be for a lack of work ethic.

I watched the first two periods, man Lardis’ release and shot are next level. His shot is comparable to Bedard’s. He’s a much better skater than Bedard but Bedard’s hockey IQ and vision are off the charts. And while most of Lardis’ goals are from 15-25 feet out Vanacker must score most of his goals from within inches of the blue paint.
- paulr

What I like about Lardis is that he wastes no time getting the shot off. It's probably why he is scoring so much. In the NHL, a higher percentage of those shots will be saved/blocked, but if he keeps up this trajectory, he'll be a useful piece. From what I've seen (not nearly as much as you) his total game is better than last year - while coming back from an injury - and he's getting to the middle more.

Well Paul says he wonders if he's a team morale killer? That's a wee bit dramatic. Don't care who says it he's a kid who's never had to play defense and is learning how at the NHL level. Is he going to win every puck battle, or board battle no but he's trying. His style of play didn't cost the world junior club a gold medal. He'll be fine and he wants to win so he'll learn and get better but also becoming a man will help more than anything else.
- BetweenTheDots

Wasn't being a pud (at least not on purpose). I was actually asking your opinion if your view on the comment would change if it came from a different source. If it came from a former coach, current coach, GM, other team's GM, etc. I think we are all in agreement that it is not that big of a deal at the moment.

Messier isn’t wrong, it’s imperative Bedard does the bare minimum defensively, even Kane played some defense. But most team veterans aren’t great defensively either, Bedard wasn’t expected to play any defense in junior and he didn’t get any development in the minors so he has to figure it out on the fly. If he wants the captaincy he’ll have to remedy this part of his game.
- paulr

I'm really not sure if he gets the C when Foligno is done. Wouldn't surprise me if they waited a bit on him.

What I like about Lardis is that he wastes no time getting the shot off. It's probably why he is scoring so much. In the NHL, a higher percentage of those shots will be saved/blocked, but if he keeps up this trajectory, he'll be a useful piece. From what I've seen (not nearly as much as you) his total game is better than last year - while coming back from an injury - and he's getting to the middle more.
- Chunk

What Lardis does very well is find open areas of the ice and, as you say, releases the puck quickly, accurately and with lots on it. Lardis’ two way game has really improved and he’s not close to the perimeter player he was last season. The other thing is he’s battling for possession more and going to the hard areas of the ice. I’m hoping he can bring that speed and scoring ability to the next levels.

I'm really not sure if he gets the C when Foligno is done. Wouldn't surprise me if they waited a bit on him.
- Chunk

Don’t think it matters that much. Toews has the C since 19. We saw who the real leader of that team was and he wore #7. Later on after the cups it seemed like Kane took a huge roll in leadership.

Messier just likes to hear himself talk. Hossa didn’t play much D before he played with Dats for a year with the Wings at age what 31?.

Hossa viewed by many as an elite 2 way forward.

Bedard needs to play better D but also don’t blame him he’s 19. Prefer he doesn’t get rag dolled trying to win every board battle.

What Lardis does very well is find open areas of the ice and, as you say, releases the puck quickly, accurately and with lots on it. Lardis’ two way game has really improved and he’s not close to the perimeter player he was last season. The other thing is he’s battling for possession more and going to the hard areas of the ice. I’m hoping he can bring that speed and scoring ability to the next levels.
- paulr

Do you think part of it is being a 19 year old in junior and he has more confidence since he’s stronger than the younger kids? Or is it more development than being an older guy in junior?

Looking at the guys coming up soon, this is how I see them (goalies omitted, no one knows what the hell is going on there) - granted, I've seen a ton more AHL than anything else.

Pretty sure they'll stick (have fostered a mostly complete game, compete hard most/every shift, have been able to generate scoring):
Greene
Moore
Vanacker
Boisvert
Slaggert
Kantserov
KK
Lev
Rinzel

Not sure, but they got good tools or one specific great skill:
Dach
Lardis
Spellacy
James
Thompson (not sure if him being so much older is why he's scoring so much)
Savoie
Pharand
Pridham
Mustard (I've seen one good game and one bad - not really enough to form opinion)
EDM
Allan
Crev
Henry (I have seen none of his games, but am relying on 2nd hand accounts)

Gonna need to really make a jump in the next couple years to make it.
Hayes
Ludwinski (he's fallen off a bit)
Stjernborg
Misiak
Felcman
Marcel
Harding
Kelley

Totem/paulr/Boiler anyone else have comments or thoughts on where you would put these guys. I'd ask wiz, but he always sounds so busy.

Don’t think it matters that much. Toews has the C since 19. We saw who the real leader of that team was and he wore #7. Later on after the cups it seemed like Kane took a huge roll in leadership.

Messier just likes to hear himself talk. Hossa didn’t play much D before he played with Dats for a year with the Wings at age what 31?.

Hossa viewed by many as an elite 2 way forward.

Bedard needs to play better D but also don’t blame him he’s 19. Prefer he doesn’t get rag dolled trying to win every board battle.
- bhawks2241

Toews was considered by many to be one of the greatest leaders in hockey. It didn’t hurt that the team was made up of many leaders. Seabrook was a leader no doubt, and how he stepped up to calm Toews down in the Detroit playoff series was legendary but Seabrook, along with every other player on those teams will tell you who the team’s leader was.

Looking at the guys coming up soon, this is how I see them (goalies omitted, no one knows what the hell is going on there) - granted, I've seen a ton more AHL than anything else.

Pretty sure they'll stick (have fostered a mostly complete game, compete hard most/every shift, have been able to generate scoring):
Greene
Moore
Vanacker
Boisvert
Slaggert
Kantserov
KK
Lev
Rinzel

Not sure, but they got good tools or one specific great skill:
Dach
Lardis
Spellacy
James
Thompson (not sure if him being so much older is why he's scoring so much)
Savoie
Pharand
Pridham
Mustard (I've seen one good game and one bad - not really enough to form opinion)
EDM
Allan
Crev
Henry (I have seen none of his games, but am relying on 2nd hand accounts)

Gonna need to really make a jump in the next couple years to make it.
Hayes
Ludwinski (he's fallen off a bit)
Stjernborg
Misiak
Felcman
Marcel
Harding
Kelley

Totem/paulr/Boiler anyone else have comments or thoughts on where you would put these guys. I'd ask wiz, but he always sounds so busy.

- Chunk

JFC Chunk, that’s a daunting list. I haven’t seen much of most of these guys so I’m not even going to attempt answering your question.

JFC Chunk, that’s a daunting list. I haven’t seen much of most of these guys so I’m not even going to attempt answering your question.
- paulr

Well then you've got some homework pallie. You heard Chuck...Wiz is busy!

Well then you've got some homework pallie. You heard Chuck...Wiz is busy!
- HawkintheD

You’re calling him Chuck now. What an inconsiderate bastage you are.

You’re calling him Chuck now. What an inconsiderate bastage you are.
- paulr

Buncha fuggers I tell ya!

I remember looking at the combine numbers and one of the interesting things that stood out was Lardis was top 10 in many of them. If he doesn't make it to the NHL it won't be for a lack of work ethic.
- BetweenTheDots

Have you watched any Brantford games? Lardis is far from a 200 ft player. Always near center ice cherry picking. Vanacker however is legit.

Have you watched any Brantford games? Lardis is far from a 200 ft player. Always near center ice cherry picking. Vanacker however is legit.
- Assman22

Interesting that you're bringing this up and yet I know a few people here watch Lardis and have not commented on this. Is this true or are you pulling this out of your ass man?

2-2-3-3-3

Interesting that you're bringing this up and yet I know a few people here watch Lardis and have not commented on this. Is this true or are you pulling this out of your ass man?
- wizardofi

Lardis isn’t anywhere near a center ice Cherry picker, although he will sometimes cheat to the offensive side of the game. Lardis has really improved his two way game and his on ice positioning. He’s also more involved in puck battles in most areas on the ice. Lardis’ game is about finding open areas to blast a NHL ready one timer at the net. Lardis is also a very good playmaker.

There is no cheat in Vanacker’s game, he’s positionally solid at almost all times. From the start of the game his sleeves are rolled up he’s looking to be in the middle of every puck battle, every scrum and in front of the net. Where Lardis finds open ice, Vanacker finds his way to puck battles and to the front of the net.

As the announcer said during yesterday’s Brantford game, Lardis scores most of his goals in open areas 10 - 20 feet in front of the net while Vanacker scores from one or two feet from the top of the crease.

A clip about Lardis and Vanacker.

https://search.app/vzoqa4pv9pNKAU7v5

Lardis isn’t anywhere near a center ice Cherry picker, although he will sometimes cheat to the offensive side of the game. Lardis has really improved his two way game and his on ice positioning. He’s also more involved in puck battles in most areas on the ice. Lardis’ game is about finding open areas to blast a NHL ready one timer at the net. Lardis is also a very good playmaker.

There is no cheat in Vanacker’s game, he’s positionally solid at almost all times. From the start of the game his sleeves are rolled up he’s looking to be in the middle of every puck battle, every scrum and in front of the net. Where Lardis finds open ice, Vanacker finds his way to puck battles and to the front of the net.
- paulr

Agreed on Vanacker. Solid 200 ft player that plays big, relishes going into the dirty areas, active stick, ruthless forechecker, and always motoring around puck hunting. He is a lot of fun to watch.
You're right, Lardis has improved from his lazy don't-give-a-poop about defense attitude he had last season but if you watch him in games in the d-zone, he's still floating up high and rarely goes below the blue line. I am however looking forward to seeing how he does in the AHL next season and hope he continues to improve his 200ft game.

Agreed on Vanacker. Solid 200 ft player that plays big, relishes going into the dirty areas, active stick, ruthless forechecker, and always motoring around puck hunting. He is a lot of fun to watch.
You're right, Lardis has improved from his lazy don't-give-a-poop about defense attitude he had last season but if you watch him in games in the d-zone, he's still floating up high and rarely goes below the blue line. I am however looking forward to seeing how he does in the AHL next season and hope he continues to improve his 200ft game.
- Assman22

I know the OHL is a big difference to the NHL, but how many top 6 forwards came out of that league not being in the top 20 in scoring? I can't imagine it's many.

I know the OHL is a big difference to the NHL, but how many top 6 forwards came out of that league not being in the top 20 in scoring? I can't imagine it's many.
- BetweenTheDots

Are you referring to Vanacker?

looks like Crevier on IR (concussion) and Arty brought up for a taste of the bigs.

https://www.nhl.com/black...m-levshunov-from-rockford

Buncha fuggers I tell ya!
- Chunk

I'll meet you at Fud Ruggers for lunch.

looks like Crevier on IR (concussion) and Arty brought up for a taste of the bigs.

https://www.nhl.com/black...m-levshunov-from-rockford
- Popsghostly

Unfortunately they said he is only up to practice with the NHL squad and they don't expect him to play any games.

looks like Crevier on IR (concussion) and Arty brought up for a taste of the bigs.

https://www.nhl.com/black...m-levshunov-from-rockford
- Popsghostly

Luckily only for practice