Quote:
Originally Posted by calgaryblood
Two guys who couldn't crack the NHL last season (albeit Hathaway deserved to be an NHLer) make up 2/3 of an above average 4th line? lazar definitely hasn't proven a single thing and Stajan while being a good team guy isn't much of a scorer.
Lazar is a 4th line plug until he proves he isn't. He could very well be one of the 4th line plugs you allude to in a few years.
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Lazar had mono last season, it was mostly a write-off. Can't really judge him based on that. Look at his scouting report when he was drafted IMO.
Here's Redline Report's scouting report on from 2003
"22. Curtis Lazar - C
Playing on deep championship club has allowed him to focus on play away from the puck, working toward a more complete game. Great first step explosion and has the speed to turn the corner on defenders using great puck protection. Has a clean, powerful stride and his strength on skates is a major asset - never gets knocked off the puck. Highly agile with great edging. Constantly involved in the physical aspect of the game and can dominate play down low. Determined and relentless in puck pursuit, creating space and opportunities for linemates. Crashes the net with intensity and hunger. Gets great torque on powerful shot. Tends to get tunnel vision with the puck in tight. Already plays a no-nonsense pro style — keeps things simple and avoids mental lapses. Big game player can elevate his level
Projection: Two-way 2nd line pivot on a good club.
Style compares to: Ryan O’Reilly"
Here's ISS's
12. CURTIS LAZAR
Position: C
Report Card
Size/Strength - Average
Skating - Very Good
Puck Skills - Very Good
Shot - Excellent
Offensive Play - Very Good
Defensive Play - Very Good
Physical Play - Good
Competitiveness - Very Good
Hockey Sense - Very Good
Strengths
1. Laser release on shot
2. Very good work ethic
3. Shows up when needed most
Weaknesses:
1. Needs to get stronger
2. Needs to put up more consistent offensive numbers
Skill: Very good two-way player with good fire in his game and good offensive capabilities.
Scouting Report:
It’s been an up and down season for Lazar in terms of his prospect status. He can be simply dominant and the best player on the ice at times, but he can also fall into long lapses where the offensive potential is nowhere to be found. Even so, he is consistently an effective player, who plays with good determination and high skill. He can grind with players much larger than himself, has very good smooth hands and can shoot the lights out from almost anywhere on the ice. He’s not the biggest kid, but he plays without fear or trepidation. The big knock so far has been in high exposure events (such as CHL TP game and Canada U18 evaluation camp) he has looked very average.
NHL Potential: 2nd/3rd line player with PP potential, could evolve into top line sniper."
Here's FC's
"No. 17
CURTIS LAZAR
POSITION: Centre
STRENGTHS: Lazar is a defensively strong forward with good speed and goal scoring ability. He possesses good quickness out the gate, has good mobility and turning ability, even at top speed. He’s a dynamic skater who has powerful legs and pretty solid acceleration. Lazar uses a wide balanced stance when protecting the puck and is hard to knock off stride and while he won’t blow the doors off of anyone, is tough to knock off the puck. He gets himself in good position to shoot, finding holes offensively, where he can unleash both a hard wrist or slap shot. He also has a very quick backhand in his shooting arsenal as well as a deadly one-timer. Is a killer from the slot-in with his great release and knows when, where and how to put pucks on net. Lazar isn’t afraid to deke to finish off plays from in close, either. He’s not just a shooter as his puck distribution and vision are superb and makes some excellent passes including quick cross-crease dishes on the backhand in tight to the net, multi-zone stretch passes from his own zone and soft saucer passes to streaking linemates. His passes have good velocity and are usually right on the tape. While he does have pretty good hands, he is not a real flashy puck dangling forward who will try to go end-to-end much if at all. He’s gritty, plays very physical when the situation calls for it and is versatile in that he can play on a skilled line as well as on a line with two very big and physical players. He bangs and crashes regularly along the walls, takes hits to make plays and shows the leadership and smarts that is rare for a player this age. He’s a true hockey player and a leader. He’ll be a glue guy in the NHL and a good guy in the room as a heart and soul player. He shows great inner drive, is a hard worker and displays great character, serving as an assistant captain as a 17-year-old on a veteran team. He will one day do that at the NHL level. Lazar plays with high energy and good intensity each and every shift. He has his head on a swivel each and every shift and his positioning in his own zone and in the neutral zone is fantastic. He is very good at reading the play and taking away lanes with his body and stick. Lazar will be one of the safest bets to make the Show out of this draft class as he is almost a guarantee to make an impression in one way or another.
WEAKNESSES: Lazar is a total defensive first player who does not take risks in the name of offense or to generating a scoring chance. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, it does reflect in his offensive numbers in junior and his perceived NHL offensive upside. He has not really shown much in the way of offensive creativity but instead just taking what he is given to produce opportunities. Is he a very good third line shutdown centre who can play your PK as well as add a little offense to your team or is he a great two-way second line center who can do it all and boost his offensive contributions?
SCOUTS QUOTE: “Some label Lazar as a great second or third liner, which tends to come with a negative stigma when people think first round talent. But, if by second or third liner, you mean a guy that can score 20-plus goals consistently, be a devastating weapon on the forecheck, and play well in all areas of the ice? Sure, I’ll take him in the first round any day of the week.”
NHL POTENTIAL: Top Nine Two-Way Forward"
So his upside when drafted was as a 2nd/3rd line centre. Sure he was rushed to the NHL and had mono last year but his skill didn't disappear off the planet. He may only project as a 3rd liner now but to call him a 4th line plug is pretty ignorant IMO. Perhaps you are not very informed on Lazar and reading too much into his early NHL seasons especially the year he had mono? Surely you must know that not all forwards have shown their complete offensive upside by his age. Look at one Mr. Backlund as proof of that. He wasn't even an NHL regular at Lazar's age now. Methinks you underrate his upside quite a bit. I'd suggest reading up on him a bit more and informing yourself.
