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Sandman · 03-31-2024, 01:59 AM

Draft Thoughts (Felix the Cat Edition):

Left-Handed RW/C Felix Lacerte may be diminutive, at 5'10",168lbs, but he's carrying most of the load this season for Shawinigan, leading the team with 31 goals and 59 points in 52 games, to go along with 51 PIM. He's the main focal point for opposing checkers every night, and he's doing it without much help, as he's 13 points ahead of the next highest-scoring teammate- and Shawinigan is 15th in the 18-team QMJHL in goals-for. Lacerte led the Cataractes in scoring in 2022-23 as well, and was named to the All-Rookie Team, with 52 points in 67 games, to go with 5 goals in 5 playoff games. I think it's fair to say that Lacerte would have much more impressive numbers on a better team.

Lacerte leans a bit towards scoring goals as his preferred offensive contribution, but he sees the ice well in all 3 zones, and has finely tuned instincts. He's highly proficient at finding open lanes, which serves him well as a smaller player, and has the patience to wait for a play to develop, rather than throw the puck away, or force a rushed pass. His deception abilities are top-notch, and he can control and manipulate space for himself and teammates. He has a sniper's hands, with a lethal shot, and diguises the point of his lightning-quick release to fool goalies. He's a high-volume shooter, and scores a lot of his goals within ten feet of the net- he has soft hands in-tight, and can beat goalies 1-on-1. Lacerte is a slick puckhandler, cool and confident in possession, and can weave through traffic. Speed-wise, he's decent, with good acceleration, but needs to add another gear or two on top. His edges are strong, and he has the agility to elude checkers, along with a low center of gravity which makes it hard to knock him off the puck. Lacerte plays with a huge chip on his shoulder and a robust physical game. He can throw some heavy hits, and battles hard in the greasy areas against much larger opponents. He's a bit of an agitator, and gives defensemen fits with the way he causes havok in the crease, and his chippy play down low on the forecheck.

Lacerte has good awareness defensively, with the anticipation to intercept passes and close on forecheckers, but he lacks intensity in his own zone, and fails to put pressure on opposing attackers. In addition, his play with the puck in the zone, and his outlet passes are often sloppy. The main problem he has, and the reason some suggest he may slip to the late rounds in the draft, is his poor tempo, and the way he lacks pace in his game. Some players like to slow the game down, but Lacerte often shows a lack of urgency, and it's a big concern. Lacerte will need to build his strength and bulk considerably for the next level in order to be able to deal with larger pros, and he has to get a bit faster. His production can't be ignored, so I will guess 5th, or 6th round.

03-31-2024, 01:59 AM	#1562
Sandman Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Calgary Exp:	Draft Thoughts (Felix the Cat Edition): Left-Handed RW/C Felix Lacerte may be diminutive, at 5'10",168lbs, but he's carrying most of the load this season for Shawinigan, leading the team with 31 goals and 59 points in 52 games, to go along with 51 PIM. He's the main focal point for opposing checkers every night, and he's doing it without much help, as he's 13 points ahead of the next highest-scoring teammate- and Shawinigan is 15th in the 18-team QMJHL in goals-for. Lacerte led the Cataractes in scoring in 2022-23 as well, and was named to the All-Rookie Team, with 52 points in 67 games, to go with 5 goals in 5 playoff games. I think it's fair to say that Lacerte would have much more impressive numbers on a better team. Lacerte leans a bit towards scoring goals as his preferred offensive contribution, but he sees the ice well in all 3 zones, and has finely tuned instincts. He's highly proficient at finding open lanes, which serves him well as a smaller player, and has the patience to wait for a play to develop, rather than throw the puck away, or force a rushed pass. His deception abilities are top-notch, and he can control and manipulate space for himself and teammates. He has a sniper's hands, with a lethal shot, and diguises the point of his lightning-quick release to fool goalies. He's a high-volume shooter, and scores a lot of his goals within ten feet of the net- he has soft hands in-tight, and can beat goalies 1-on-1. Lacerte is a slick puckhandler, cool and confident in possession, and can weave through traffic. Speed-wise, he's decent, with good acceleration, but needs to add another gear or two on top. His edges are strong, and he has the agility to elude checkers, along with a low center of gravity which makes it hard to knock him off the puck. Lacerte plays with a huge chip on his shoulder and a robust physical game. He can throw some heavy hits, and battles hard in the greasy areas against much larger opponents. He's a bit of an agitator, and gives defensemen fits with the way he causes havok in the crease, and his chippy play down low on the forecheck. Lacerte has good awareness defensively, with the anticipation to intercept passes and close on forecheckers, but he lacks intensity in his own zone, and fails to put pressure on opposing attackers. In addition, his play with the puck in the zone, and his outlet passes are often sloppy. The main problem he has, and the reason some suggest he may slip to the late rounds in the draft, is his poor tempo, and the way he lacks pace in his game. Some players like to slow the game down, but Lacerte often shows a lack of urgency, and it's a big concern. Lacerte will need to build his strength and bulk considerably for the next level in order to be able to deal with larger pros, and he has to get a bit faster. His production can't be ignored, so I will guess 5th, or 6th round.