Guessing he is referring to Lardis being described as all offense and no defense. As I complain about ad nauseum, can we please let these kids actually develop before labeling them as anything (L1, bust, great, crap, whatever).
- Chunk

Great idea! Let’s start with Lardis and continue with the rest especially those in juniors/NCAA.

Isn't that the technique of a slap or snap shot, hitting the ice behind the puck to get more flex in the stick?

And golfers don't care about accuracy anymore, they just hit it as far as they can, go find it and wedge it on to the green.
- LAHawk

Yea but timing is every thing on the slap shot, i watch in slow motion and that stick bends so much i don't know how anyone can get off a good slap shot with that much bend.

Probably why his hardest shot is about 84mph

Isn't that the technique of a slap or snap shot, hitting the ice behind the puck to get more flex in the stick?


- LAHawk

It is -- you hit the ice behind the puck; in fact I remember (vainly as it turned out) trying to show guys on my team in Sydney how to do it - because they were literally trying to get all stick blade on puck (read this to mean -no ice at all) --- even got 'lectured' by one idiot about how I was wrong. And I am meaning 'idiot' in the sense of this dude literally demonstrated how he was wrong multiple times -and even me doing it and ripping some - it still wasn't enough for this clown's theory.

Doing it otherwise is a ticket to fan.


But yeh - you bite the ice a bit ... and Bedard uses a weeny level of flex. And it has caused him a fair few stick breaks (leastwise, last season).

Somebody here called Kubalik Hossa light back in 2019... Settle down Francis.
- rpeters01

I don't know that that's actually wrong --in the sense that, maybe he was Hossa double (or triple) extra light.

As I said “what are you talking about “. No one was talking about Kubalik, we’ve been discussing Lardis and Vanacker. Get with the program.
- paulr

People called Lardis "only a sniper." Same was true of Kubalik.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eZNAVixNToA

I have to say after watching this I'm a little disappointed, he looks like Eiserman, he has no defensive interest.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eZNAVixNToA

I have to say after watching this I'm a little disappointed, he looks like Eiserman, he has no defensive interest.
- BetweenTheDots

Yuck

this has to be a record. kid hasn't even played a shift as a pro and everyone is already writing him off.

FWIW, the Hawks need guys who put the puck in the net. let's see what happens once he turns pro.
defense can be taught. scoring goals is something you either have or you don't

this has to be a record. kid hasn't even played a shift as a pro and everyone is already writing him off.

FWIW, the Hawks need guys who put the puck in the net. let's see what happens once he turns pro.
defense can be taught. scoring goals is something you either have or you don't
- Elbows15

Not writing him off. That video breakdown was less than flattering. Like almost every prospect it appears there are several areas of his game he needs to work on.

Lardis is incredibly good at finding open spots to weasel into and hope the puck finds his stick before a defender finds it or him. Glad to see paulie coming around on how overrated Lardis is currently as his game just isn't going to transition to the pros unless he makes some adaptations. Remember the list of all those other former OHLers that had huge scoring years? Half were busts in the pros. I get some fanboys are tryna find something/anything positive within the organization to get excited about but please pump the brakes on Lardis til we see him in Rockford.
- Assman22

3 out of 10 but bust is misleading. Only one was drafted before the 3rd RD. Players after the 1st RD back then with less teams aren't what I would consider busts.

The other 7 had pretty good careers.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eZNAVixNToA

I have to say after watching this I'm a little disappointed, he looks like Eiserman, he has no defensive interest.
- BetweenTheDots

First of all, I’ve watched Lardis closely the last two years. Live 8 times and on TV over fifty times. His defensive play has improved this season. Yes he floats on occasion especially the last month or so as he’s been chasing 60 plus goals. Will he ever win a Selke for his defensive work? Very unlikely. And factor in Junior hockey is not as focused on defense as it is in the pros. Remember too, this guy is cherry picking a little looking for and highlighting Lardis’ flaws to make his point.

As for Lardis not being fast, this guy obviously hasn’t watched him much. Lardis is exceptionally fast. Unfortunately he doesn’t always use that speed like McDavid or McKinnon to back defenders off as he carries the puck. Lardis is hardly small, he’s slight in the upper body but he’s thick in the legs, like many hockey players. 5’11” 185 isn’t small. Unfortunately he doesn’t play big and he’s not physical.

I’ve said from the get go I thought there were aspects of Lardis’ game that made me question if he had a real shot to make the NHL. And all those knocks against Lardis is what Vanacker is already doing and why I’ve thought he was more NHL ready and plays an NHL style game already.

That said Lardis is a proven goal scorer. He’s got the ability to find open ice, he has an excellent shot and a lightening quick release. My fear is he may show better in the NHL than the minors where he may go to never be heard from again. He needs to go to Rockford next year stronger, with the mindset to do his part and be consistent defensively. I’d also like to see him use his speed more often to pressure defenders on the rush.

As Chunk says we’ll have to be patient and wait. Let’s see if the coaches in Rockford can develop him to be more consistent defensively, but ultimately that’s up to Lardis. I suspect he will immediately be moved to the left side. And look at the bright side, he wasn’t a first round pick if he doesn’t work out. Defensive play can be taught, speed and goal scoring ability can’t.

Not writing him off. That video breakdown was less than flattering. Like almost every prospect it appears there are several areas of his game he needs to work on.
- bhawks2241

He's 19. Very few 19 year olds don't have areas to work on. There have been a few interviews with him where is he aware of the need to work on his game for it to translate to the pros. Hawks see something they like cause they signed him pretty early on.

That is half the battle. FWIW I can take any players game and pick it apart. So could you.

There are just fans with opinions. Like us.

He's 19. Very few 19 year olds don't have areas to work on. There have been a few interviews with him where is he aware of the need to work on his game for it to translate to the pros. Hawks see something they like cause they signed him pretty early on.

That is half the battle. FWIW I can take any players game and pick it apart. So could you.

There are just fans with opinions. Like us.
- Elbows15

The fact he called Lardis small and wasn’t a real fast told me this guy is full of poop.

The fact he called Lardis small and wasn’t a real fast told me this guy is full of poop.
- paulr

yeah. I have seen other vids from that source that I found iffy at best.

The game or two he played in training camp his speed jumped out at you. As did his shot and release.

70 goals at any level is impressive.

this has to be a record. kid hasn't even played a shift as a pro and everyone is already writing him off.

FWIW, the Hawks need guys who put the puck in the net. let's see what happens once he turns pro.
defense can be taught. scoring goals is something you either have or you don't
- Elbows15

I was just thinking he has a lot to work on, but then i was also thinking i believe he did one on Arty and it wasn't very positive.

I'm glad to read Paul's post about watching him live and that game truly wasn't the norm. Who knows maybe the coach wanted him to cherry pick because of who they were playing

But that one game did not make Lardis look anywhere near a complete hockey.

I was just thinking he has a lot to work on, but then i was also thinking i believe he did one on Arty and it wasn't very positive.

I'm glad to read Paul's post about watching him live and that game truly wasn't the norm. Who knows maybe the coach wanted him to cherry pick because of who they were playing

But that one game did not make Lardis look anywhere near a complete hockey.
- BetweenTheDots

And therein lies the rub...

Regardless of where he is in his development, or what his ultimate ceiling is, basing any conclusion off of a single game - good or bad - is a useless exercise.

A little feel-good story for people to enjoy. I'm sure someone will quickly post a scouting report saying that he sucks, but until then, think happy thoughts:

https://www.bleachernatio...n-defenseman-of-the-year/

this has to be a record. kid hasn't even played a shift as a pro and everyone is already writing him off.

FWIW, the Hawks need guys who put the puck in the net. let's see what happens once he turns pro.
defense can be taught. scoring goals is something you either have or you don't
- Elbows15

Elbows not calling a kid a bust before he's playing pro. That's funny.

I was just thinking he has a lot to work on, but then i was also thinking i believe he did one on Arty and it wasn't very positive.

I'm glad to read Paul's post about watching him live and that game truly wasn't the norm. Who knows maybe the coach wanted him to cherry pick because of who they were playing

But that one game did not make Lardis look anywhere near a complete hockey.
- BetweenTheDots

I could be way off base here, but it seems to me after watching more CHL games the last 2 years, that most every junior team has a role where a forward stays high on defense and engages less on the boards, but looks for an outlet to get the puck up ice quickly. Thought I noticed Koehn Ziemmer and Ryder Ritchie in the WHL, for example, doing this. Usually it is a player in their draft eligible year.

Lardis is very good at it and maybe he still is doing that for Brantford. If so, he might need to spend a couple of years in the AHL to upgrade some other parts of his game. Guess I would look for him to score less in ROC but improve in other areas, if he takes until 2027-28 to be NHL ready, nothing wrong with that.

A little feel-good story for people to enjoy. I'm sure someone will quickly post a scouting report saying that he sucks, but until then, think happy thoughts:

https://www.bleachernatio...n-defenseman-of-the-year/
- Chunk

Rinzel and Vanacker are the Hawks most intriguing prospects, both have high end potential. Other prospects might surpass them, however at this time, IMHO, they have the highest ceiling of all prospects not in the NHL.

Rinzel and Vanacker are the Hawks most intriguing prospects, both have high end potential. Other prospects might surpass them, however at this time, IMHO, they have the highest ceiling of all prospects not in the NHL.
- Angotti

At this point, I think any prospect who is close to or will be signing with the Hawks is intriguing. James, Greene, Moore, Rinzel, Lardis all will be interesting to see (assuming they all sign - Lardis already has).

Right now Moore is the most interesting option for me. People kinda crap on him because his point totals aren't really jumping off the page. He's learned to use his speed a bit better this year, and created a lot of chances for his teammates. He's shooting at about 11% but doesn't take a ton of shots.

At this point, I think any prospect who is close to or will be signing with the Hawks is intriguing. James, Greene, Moore, Rinzel, Lardis all will be interesting to see (assuming they all sign - Lardis already has).

Right now Moore is the most interesting option for me. People kinda crap on him because his point totals aren't really jumping off the page. He's learned to use his speed a bit better this year, and created a lot of chances for his teammates. He's shooting at about 11% but doesn't take a ton of shots.
- Chunk

The guys who intrigue me are two guys I’ve never actually seen play, Rinzel and Boisvert.

The Minnesota Men's Hockey Twitter page just posted
Rinzel is the first Gopher DPOY since Brock Faber won it back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.

That's a subtle brag.

The Hawks now have the last two BIG 10 DPOY in their system.

The guys who intrigue me are two guys I’ve never actually seen play, Rinzel and Boisvert.
- paulr

I've gotten to see a handful of Gopher games this year. Rinzel appears much more structured than Arty. He's willing to attack on offense, but maybe not quite as aggressive.

I think defensively, he relies more on positioning and being in the right spot, where Arty seems to just use his talent (skating, size, reach) to disrupt plays. Not to say Rinzel doesn't use his talent, but I rarely saw him scrambling for anything unless one of his teammates had a turnover that he had to chase down.

He obviously makes his own mistakes as well, but it's not because he doesn't know where to go or what to do with the puck. Similar to what Del Mastro worked on, he's pretty good at making quick decisions and plays with the puck in the D-zone.

A little feel-good story for people to enjoy. I'm sure someone will quickly post a scouting report saying that he sucks, but until then, think happy thoughts:

https://www.bleachernatio...n-defenseman-of-the-year/
- Chunk

must have been a down year for Big Ten D-men.