He's having a good game tonight, I especially liked that give and go on his goal. He seems like a pretty good prospect whenever I watch him. Doesn't necessarily dominate the play, not one of these guys who the puck seems to follow around, but he has a great shot, he's a good skater, he plays hard, and he goes to the danger areas. I like him quite a bit, but I'm definitely not THIS enthusiastic:
Quote:
Originally Posted by I am the Liquor
The kid is an elite player.
Gtfo of here with the Fisher and Stoll comparisons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by I am the Liquor
He will be a top ten pick this year.
Quite possibly top five.
You obviously have no idea.
As usual.
People are comparing him to mid-second round picks.
Pfffffft.
I don't see him as a big time star in the NHL, I highly doubt he'll go top 5 this year and don't think he's a lock to go top 10 (possible, but not a lock IMO), but he's a good player who does a lot of things right. I could see him being quite a good 2nd line centre if he pans out, but I'd be surprised if he turns into a good 1st line centre. He could also easily end up on the wing.
While we're throwing out comparisons, I guess he reminds me the most of Kesler, except a couple inches shorter and not as blazingly fast (good speed, but not as fast as Kesler).
He's having a good game tonight, I especially liked that give and go on his goal. He seems like a pretty good prospect whenever I watch him. Doesn't necessarily dominate the play, not one of these guys who the puck seems to follow around, but he has a great shot, he's a good skater, he plays hard, and he goes to the danger areas. I like him quite a bit, but I'm definitely not THIS enthusiastic:
I don't see him as a big time star in the NHL, I highly doubt he'll go top 5 this year and don't think he's a lock to go top 10 (possible, but not a lock IMO), but he's a good player who does a lot of things right. I could see him being quite a good 2nd line centre if he pans out, but I'd be surprised if he turns into a good 1st line centre. He could also easily end up on the wing.
While we're throwing out comparisons, I guess he reminds me the most of Kesler, except a couple inches shorter and not as blazingly fast (good speed, but not as fast as Kesler).
Kesler is a whiny *****, diver and cheap shot artist. Lazar is none of those things. He plays an honest game and he plays hard. He is very fast, I dont know if I would compare him to Kesler in that regard, but he is just a kid and Kesler is a full grown man.
Ive watched him live lots over the last two years and am confident in my assessment. I may be a little optimistic, but he has the skills, the attitude (both on and off the ice), is strong on his feet, can fight, is good defensively, can hit, and has a very good shot with a very quick release.
All of that is gold to scouts. Add in the fact he is a center, who can also play wing and it makes the package even sweeter.
If he can put together a forty goal season (I think he can) he will be in the conversation for a top ten pick imo.
Kesler is a whiny *****, diver and cheap shot artist. Lazar is none of those things. He plays an honest game and he plays hard. He is very fast, I dont know if I would compare him to Kesler in that regard, but he is just a kid and Kesler is a full grown man.
Ive watched him live lots over the last two years and am confident in my assessment. I may be a little optimistic, but he has the skills, the attitude (both on and off the ice), is strong on his feet, can fight, is good defensively, can hit, and has a very good shot with a very quick release.
All of that is gold to scouts. Add in the fact he is a center, who can also play wing and it makes the package even sweeter.
If he can put together a forty goal season (I think he can) he will be in the conversation for a top ten pick imo.
Let's not make this about Kesler, although I think it is quite the apt comparison.
I think the main things that can prevent Lazar from being a top 5 pick are his hands (not superb) his speed (good, but not elite) and his passing ability (not as good as other forwards of his calibre). If he can improve on two or more of those areas, he will be a top 5 pick; otherwise, he is a fringe top-10 pick
Let's not make this about Kesler, although I think it is quite the apt comparison.
I think the main things that can prevent Lazar from being a top 5 pick are his hands (not superb) his speed (good, but not elite) and his passing ability (not as good as other forwards of his calibre). If he can improve on two or more of those areas, he will be a top 5 pick; otherwise, he is a fringe top-10 pick
His speed is going to prevent him from being a top ten pick?
No, but his speed, hands, and passing ability all together might
These aren't the qualities that define his game. Although I don't know what is wrong with his skating, he is agile, well balanced, and fast.
His hands aren't incredible, nor is his passing, but one could argue he does all he has to. He doesn't turn it over, he's very smart and makes good reads. Lazar is fine
Kesler is a whiny *****, diver and cheap shot artist. Lazar is none of those things. He plays an honest game and he plays hard. He is very fast, I dont know if I would compare him to Kesler in that regard, but he is just a kid and Kesler is a full grown man.
Ive watched him live lots over the last two years and am confident in my assessment. I may be a little optimistic, but he has the skills, the attitude (both on and off the ice), is strong on his feet, can fight, is good defensively, can hit, and has a very good shot with a very quick release.
All of that is gold to scouts. Add in the fact he is a center, who can also play wing and it makes the package even sweeter.
If he can put together a forty goal season (I think he can) he will be in the conversation for a top ten pick imo.
Heh, I can see you don't like Kesler, but I wasn't try to compare their personalities, just their strengths/weaknesses on the ice. He reminds me of Kesler because they're both speedy centres with great shots, decent but not amazing playmaking, who are physical but not hitting machines. Both are quite versatile on offence, they can stand in front of the net and get garbage goals or snipe from the perimeter, and both are responsible defensively. Both are guys you could play at centre or on the wing. They just seem to have a lot in common, though as I mentioned before Kesler is taller, and his speed is more game breaking. Of course, as with all players, comparisons aren't that useful, everyone is their own player, and similar style does not necessarily mean similar upside. But watching Lazar, I am reminded most of Kesler, though I don't mind the Doan comparison either.
Also, agreed that he could be in the conversation for a top 10 pick, I just thought that before you were saying he was a top 10 lock, and could go top 5. I can't see him going top 5 personally, because this is just such a strong draft (at centre alone I prefer MacKinnon, Barkov and Monahan, and while I haven't watched Lindholm personally, he sounds sick too).
With all that being said, I've only seen Lazar once this year, and a handful of times last year, so I've seen much less of him than you. I definitely like him, I can see him becoming a good NHLer, but I'm not sure I see him becoming a big time star at the NHL level.
I was at the Oil Kings game tonight and was sitting right in front of scout from NHL's CSB. I asked him about Lazar and he told me he sees Curtis as a 2nd line guy but not a #1 center. He said he thinks he will score at the NHL level, just not at a PPG pace. If others feel the same way Curtis could drop to the mid-late first round in such a deep draft.
He also told me he was very interested in Brayden Point for 2014, who he thinks will be "very good".
I was at the Oil Kings game tonight and was sitting right in front of scout from NHL's CSB. I asked him about Lazar and he told me he sees Curtis as a 2nd line guy but not a #1 center. He said he thinks he will score at the NHL level, just not at a PPG pace. If others feel the same way Curtis could drop to the mid-late first round in such a deep draft.
He also told me he was very interested in Brayden Point for 2014, who he thinks will be "very good".
I agree with that..
At the Mem Cup he just didn't show that he had the skills to play at a PPG in the NHL....
Well in his defense he did have 19 points in 20 games that playoffs, while I believe playing sheltered minutes.
He just wasn't dominant, I don't see the same dominance I see in other 2013 top guys... He's not skilled enough. He'll be a good 2nd center, maybe a top one.
He just wasn't dominant, I don't see the same dominance I see in other 2013 top guys... He's not skilled enough. He'll be a good 2nd center, maybe a top one.
So far he hasn't been able to produce points at a pace that someone like Schenn did in the WHL, does he project out better than Schenn in other aspects? Is he a slow starter in a the dub like Kane was? Or is he "just" a 2nd liner in the NHL, which is still pretty damn good!
And Point reminds me of Weal, small, you don't notice him but he produces points. Some of his positioning reminds me of RNH, he's a very smart player. (I'm not saying he's as good as RNH, just that he uses the ice differently than most players, similar to RNH)
Just saw the Warriors last night and I noticed Point. How could you not? That kid can fly. He's got great wheels and is pretty fearless/goes to the tough areas for a small guy.
Lazar's skillset is just fine and projecting to be a #2C in the nhl is pretty damn good.
Another viewing of Lazar last night and he's honestly not jumping off the page at me the last three games I went to. I zeroed in on him for most of the second and he showed great tools but I don't know, my eyes were drawn to other players more. Think I'd have Pulock over him at this point, Shinkaruk too probably. Missed the PA game so can't say too much about Morrissey. However, I still think he's a good prospect but I'd be leery of a top 10 if I were to purely base it off this season so far, of course there's 60 more games to play (plus playoffs).
Just saw the Warriors last night and I noticed Point. How could you not? That kid can fly. He's got great wheels and is pretty fearless/goes to the tough areas for a small guy.
Lazar's skillset is just fine and projecting to be a #2C in the nhl is pretty damn good.
The bold part would be fine with me if the #1C in front of him is RNH and the plugs beside him are Hall and Yakupov.
Can somebody who follows the WHL a lot give me an update on Lazar's play this season..he's being quiet in terms of production but does he still have a chance to be considered a top 10 pick?
