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Locke Lamora

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Everything posted by Locke Lamora

  1. Just heard Ray Ferraro pump the breaks on the “generational” Quinn Hughes talk. That would be my approach as well. I think there is a very good chance he will be very, very good. Even a chance he might step close to the “elite” echelon. But some are talking like it’s a done deal. His shot is a problem. His defending isn’t convincing against his peers. What happens next year in the NHL? Or...AHL. I still haven’t heard any explanation as to why his skating didn’t really wow in the tourney. It was good. But I’ve seen it several levels above “good” before.
  2. A bit more urgency from him in the third, but ultimately not the dynamic force I expected him to be in this game. The separation speed which usually makes him a human-zone-exit-machine was not much in evidence. I’ve watched the kid a ton previously where you are left breathless watching him skate. I’m going to engage in some idle speculation and say it looks like he might have been nursing a lower body injury.
  3. Perhaps the way Quinn is playing comes down to the coaches having him reigned in. If the US is still down halfway through the 3rd perhaps the coach whispers in his ear “Take this thing over, kid”.
  4. Dare it say that Quinn’s skating looks laboured at times? He’s not first unit PP either. Very curious.
  5. I preface this by saying one has to be careful to criticize Canucks prospects around here sometimes....but I would describe Quinn's overall game in this tournament as "ok". I realize that much of my opinion is formed by the fact that my expectations for him are high...especially amongst his age peers in a tournament like this. And weighed against such hyperbole as offered by the J.D. Burke above I think being somewhat (emphasis SOMEWHAT) underwhelmed by his tourney thus far is a valid opinion. I thought there would be more WOW moments for me. He could very well have an incredible Gold Medal game (against the Finns it looks like) and remind everyone what all the hype is about.
  6. When “Mikey” is down in the butterfly, there is a ton of room up top.
  7. Holy moly, Jack Hughes is good at hockey. Not a bulletin I know.
  8. USA all over Michigan in the early minutes. Quinn says screw this, rushes up the right side and almost sets up a goal.
  9. Much appreciated. No need to rush my workout at all then.
  10. So....1pm start time here? Gives me time to hit the gym and then settle down to watch this. While I will be focused mostly on Quinn, it will be interesting to see what Jack looks like in a full game...not that I think we have much chance of landing him (our team not sucking enough, and "Canuck luck"). I've not see Jack in anything but highlight clips. And is it me or is Quinn's "elite" skating more notable in terms of his turns and overall agility more than his top end speed? Or does he not shift into his top gear all that often when his lower gears are more than ample enough for him to excel on the ice? He does make it look easy out there at times.
  11. At the end of the year, assuming he avoids injuries, I highly doubt anyone of us will look back on EP’s year and label it as a “struggle” in totality. Just too much talent. But do you not allow for the fact that he might struggle with certain aspects within the game in his first season? In particular the physicality of 5 on 5 play?
  12. Awesome post. The narrative that anyone who chooses to point out flaws in Olli’s game or work ethic (my main concern) “doesn’t know hockey” is ridiculous. His jump from last years camp to this one, especially with the surgery factored in, is very encouraging. JamesB nailed it....he does the little, subtle things well based on his hockey IQ, but the jury is still out on whether he is driven to reach elite levels in the big things...fitness (strength and endurance) and skating. Assuming that he stays healthy this year, I suspect we will have our answer soon. The coverage of this team is so comprehensive that if It turns out Olli isn’t exactly burning the candle at both ends to improve as a player, we will know. Say what you want about JPat and Botch, this is the kind of thing they will sniff out. Any critique from me towards a prospect comes from a place of wanting that particular prospect to reach his potential. The ingredients are there for Olli to be very good...perhaps bordering on “great-ish” - which from my perspective would be a top pairing guy.
  13. I think he will be a power play savant from the get go and will steadily rack up points. 5 on 5 success will come eventually, but I predict growing pains. When other teams realize how he will kill them on the PP, I can see them making an extra effort to lay the body on him. He’s pretty slippery and quick, but you could see tonight he was getting buffeted about some, falling down a fair bit. The fans will likely be more upset than him. He’s a baby faced assassin. 5 on 5 success will come...but when? Perhaps from the get go, who knows? I’d be delighted to be wrong on this. Will be fun to watch this kid develop before our eyes over the coming years. And Quinn is coming.
  14. I think OJ was just fine. Especially when you think back to the trainwreck of a camp last year. But my expectations for his play are much higher than what he is currently displaying. I do take into account his still young age and his recent recovery from back surgery and am not close to uttering the b*st word. I do wonder, based on his history and the words of notable hockey people (Sami Salo) if the kid has the “inner fire” to reach his potential. If word starts to filter out of Utica in a few months that Olli’s commitment to fitness is still an issue...my concern will start to grow a bit. I’ll want the kid to be great, but so much depends on him and how much HE wants it.
  15. OMG! I see the extra 10 pounds of muscle! Neck is noticeably thicker!
  16. I have been consistent that the smaller ice surface will not be ideal for him at his current frame. I saw him struggle a bit with it at World Juniors against his age peers. Now he will be up against big, fast men in that condensed space. The insane talent will help mitigate this to a considerable degree. But I still think it's prudent to approach his first NHL experience with this mindset: hopeful yet cautious.
  17. I don't necessarily think that Quinn signing with the Canucks would have been a poor decision. I just happen to think that this is the better one. And if Michigan happens to be playing on an off night for the Canucks....I know what I'll be watching.
  18. Some pretty compelling debates here as to what is the right course of action for QH. I'm still leaning towards the "back to college with thee" mindset. But...if he does indeed sign with the Canucks I will be as excited as anyone and will be pulling for him as strongly as anyone here. One more thing....people like to use Hughes' success at the World Hockey Championships, "playing with pros", as an argument in favour of him being ready for the NHL. But people don't seem to want to comment on the fact that it was played on bigger international ice surface. It is a different brand of hockey....very advantageous to players like Quinn Hughes and our very own Elias Petterson. These players THRIVE when there is more time and space, and a lack of physical congestion and contact when compared to the NHL. This is a large part of the reason why I've tried to temper my expectations for EP, and will do so for Hughes (the next Bobby Orr I read here. Someone please tell me that was an attempt at humour) if he suits up for the Canucks this upcoming season. Heard former NHL'er Brian Campbell on the radio comparing Hughes skating ability to Connor McDavid. I saw absolutely nothing with my own eyes (I went to a few practices and watched the Summer Showcase like many of you) that suggested that. Kid must have been laid really low by the flu. His character and drive are such that I don't believe it was a matter of him not trying. I await Quinn's and the Canucks decision eagerly....
  19. Just for fun I went back and looked at a bunch of the past Grouse Grind group pictures. It is a stark reminder how few of these kids actually make it because as I went through the pics over the past 4 or 5 years it was amazing how few of those kids remain in the organization. Very cool to see a young Horvat and Boeser though...a couple of YouTube vids revealed that poor 'ol Tryamkin had a tough time on the climb - his teammates had to PUSH him up the slope at times. :D
  20. Grouse Grind for the prospects today. A few days ago I did it in 52 minutes. I hope none of them prove to be slower than some old, retired guy posting on an Internet forum!
  21. I mentioned in the Prospects Camp thread that I thought his legs weren't really there last night. There wasn't one instance in which I saw him wind up in his own D-zone and just GO - one instance where he reached a velocity where I went "whoa". All the other parts of his game were there, great passing (teammates often couldn't handle them), silky soft hands and sick dangles and a deceptively good and accurate wrister. I saw the story emerge last night that he lost 6 pounds from that flu bug...and increasingly it's clear he is not recovered. I went back and looked at some WJC, Michigan and World Hockey Championships to looked at his skating there compared to last night. Quite a stark difference. The fact that he was still one of the better skaters out there while not close to 100% says how great a skater he can be. I find myself increasingly in favour of his return to Michigan. But if he is in main Camp in September (having signed a contract), I'll be as excited as anyone.
  22. I noticed that too. Dark bags under his eyes and everything. He did some really nice things at the end of the period. The skillset is really special. But to me, his legs looked pretty heavy out there tonight for the guy touted as the "best skater in the draft". Did not see him in top gear once I don't believe. When Tyler Madden made Quinn look a bit like Dana Murzyn (exaggeration), I suspected that the flu probably did a number on him. Not concerned at all. Kid is going to be great. Even if it's next year for us.
  23. Sounds like Hughes was on for the goal against during the start of 3 on 3. I say SOUNDS LIKE.....because the feed crapped out.
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