Originally Posted by Sandman
LHD Carson Lambos.6'1"201lbs (Winnipeg,WHL) 2019-20: 57gp/8g/24a/32pts,32PIM, fantastic numbers for his D-1 year, top D-man for the Ice, and only 6 points down from Brandt Clarke. 2nd overall in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. Went across the pond this year to play for JYP J20 in Finland, where he put up 11pts in 13 games, first for players under 18 in p/gp, and ahead of players like Suomi, Heimosalmi, Ervasti, and Juusola. Came back home, but only got 2 games before sustaining a season-ending leg injury, that the team called a "Medical Procedure". Lambos is a two-way, all-situations minute muncher, with superb skill and anticipation.
Lambos has excellent skating ability, a notch or two down from elite, but good enough to skate the puck out of the defensive zone, past forecheckers. Great first-step, and acceleration, making top-speed in just a few strides. Same skill applies to his backwards mobility, aiding in his superb gap control. Fantastic mobility in all directions, and nice agility and edgework in walking the line. Lambos has top-notch vision and IQ-his passes are accurate to teammates in high-danger areas, or across the ice to open space. In the offensive zone he moves laterally, scanning for open lanes to pass or shoot-his decision-making is a big asset. Pinches to create offense, get a wrister on net from the circle, or simply just keep the puck alive in the zone. He has excellent power in his slap-shot and his one-timer, a quick and accurate wrister, and he consistently gets it on net-and much of the time, low and hard for rebounds. Lambos makes a good first-pass, and passes well in exits and entries, but often defers to his teammates to carry the puck out in transition, joining the rush as a trailer, and attacking open lanes.
Carson has an exceptionally strong two-way game, and elite shut-down skills. His defensive game is well-developed, and made better by spending the least amount of time in his own zone as possible, and turning defense into offense quickly-he simply turns the play back up the ice as soon as he gets hold of it. Tough to beat in 1-on-1s, he forces opponents to the boards and away from high-danger. Superb positionally, stays between his man and the net, but can sometimes take himself out of the play momentarily with one of his thunderous hits. Clogs passing and shooting lanes with his body and stick-he's not afraid to sacrifice by blocking shots. He's very strong on the puck, and wins battles on the wall, corners, and net-front. Plays the typical, Western-Canadian physical game, and will eliminate puck-carriers in open ice, or along the boards. He also gets good grades for his stickhandling.
Lambos doesn't have many flaws in his game, but he will most likely need more time in junior, as he hasn't played a whole lot of games this past year, and is recovering from an injury. If there's an issue to nitpick, it may be his distribution in the offensive zone, as he sometimes prefers to shoot in order to create offense and havok around the net, as opposed to finding teammates sticks. Not a huge issue. This kid has been compared to Pietrangelo-good two-way workhorse, who can shut down offensive players. Top-pairing player in the making.
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