Prospect Info: #75OA - G Jack LaFontaine - U of Minnesota - signed 1/9/22

[Anton Dubinchuk]

This is a very weird situation - I am hopeful Jack knew he wasn't going to unseat Andersen or a healthy Raanta, and was just going to get his one game as a thanks for doing us a solid with the COVID thing.

It seems like he gave up a potential national championship and then free agency for essentially his 15 min against Columbus and then his start in Jersey.

I mean, on the one hand good for us for doing what was needed to get him in the fold, on the other hand I hope we've actually followed-through on whatever reasonable expectations Jack would've had for this and he's not disgruntled about the last 2 weeks.

 

[bleedgreen]

This is a very weird situation - I am hopeful Jack knew he wasn't going to unseat Andersen or a healthy Raanta, and was just going to get his one game as a thanks for doing us a solid with the COVID thing.

It seems like he gave up a potential national championship and then free agency for essentially his 15 min against Columbus and then his start in Jersey.

I mean, on the one hand good for us for doing what was needed to get him in the fold, on the other hand I hope we've actually followed-through on whatever reasonable expectations Jack would've had for this and he's not disgruntled about the last 2 weeks.

I’ve been a little curious about all this. He’s 24 with one really good season which is the COVID year that you can’t take too seriously. He’s likely a minor league prospect. I thought all the criticism we took for signing him was potentially pretty legit at the time and it seems pretty accurate now. Changing his whole career trajectory mid season because we had it tough for a week seemed like an odd choice. If he’s out of the league in a couple of years that would be pretty disappointing. I know he was ok with it obviously. We could’ve just waited until his season was over to put him on the taxi squad.

 

[chaz4hockey]

I’ve been a little curious about all this. He’s 24 with one really good season which is the COVID year that you can’t take too seriously. He’s likely a minor league prospect. I thought all the criticism we took for signing him was potentially pretty legit at the time and it seems pretty accurate now. Changing his whole career trajectory mid season because we had it tough for a week seemed like an odd choice. If he’s out of the league in a couple of years that would be pretty disappointing. I know he was ok with it obviously. We could’ve just waited until his season was over to put him on the taxi squad.

Pro athletes often don't think worst case scenario. He wasn't young at 24 (although just turned 24) and prior to signing had no pro experience so the clock was ticking.

At the very least, he'll get $70K+ for signing[; he was in 2 NHL games and will get an opportunity to improve with professional coaches/AHL level competition going forward.

I thought his footwork was really slow with poor positioning and at this point don't see him getting back to the NHL but who knows.

I wish him well.

 

[Borsig]

He played so deep in the net, and so off center that he left wide areas of it open. No way to cut off angles.

His glove was so slow, that he never moved it while, shots went past with out him even reacting.

I have no idea what they saw in him, but I'm not even a goalie guy and I could see those things.

I'd be surprised if he even lasts in the AHL.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

He bet on himself. That's what ambitious people do. It doesn't always work. But it's better to regret something you did do, rather than something you didn't do.

 

[Svechhammer]

He needs a lot of conditioning and training before he's going to be ready for any serious NHL playing time in the future. I would be shocked if he doesn't end up in the ECHL sometime soon, his instincts are going to get him feasted upon in the AHL.

If anything, this kind of highlights just how much the NCAA still has to go in order to be a good developmental league. LaF was named the best goalie last year in all of the NCAA and looks completely in over his head at the NHL level. Not a great look for cawledge hawkey.

 

[chaz4hockey]

^^^^^
Agree overall re: College hockey GT development (forwards/d are much better) but don’t forget Hellebuyck & Knight are from the college system (of course the best ever was Dryden from Cornell).

 

[tarheelhockey]

He played so deep in the net, and so off center that he left wide areas of it open. No way to cut off angles.

His glove was so slow, that he never moved it while, shots went past with out him even reacting.

I have no idea what they saw in him, but I'm not even a goalie guy and I could see those things.

I'd be surprised if he even lasts in the AHL.

Honestly I think the pace of the game just got away from him at times. It's not like he had an offseason and training camp to make the adjustment from NCAA speed to the professional tier. He seemed to be taking a split second (like literally half a second) to think about his next move, and that's not something we're used to seeing. Mainly because the NHL weeds those guys out in training camp.

 

[Negan4Coach]

someone give jack a rabies vaccine before its too late

The rabies vaccine is actually a series of 3 shots...3 very unnecessary ones, tbh.

 

[Negan4Coach]

He bet on himself. That's what ambitious people do. It doesn't always work. But it's better to regret something you did do, rather than something you didn't do.

This. You gotta take the shot when you get one. So few get 'em.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

It was one game... a very bad one game... but once the wheels came off, it's hard to know what you were watching other than a goalie failing miserably. You'd like to think that even in a blowout the fundamentals of reflexes, positioning, rebound control etc would still be there but maybe he was just so in his head and second guessing absolutely everything that it was like he was playing in sand rather than on ice.

Can't really take away anything good from that but if he wants to make it in this league or any other 'pro' league he knows there is a lot to work on and get better for next time... if there is a next time.

 

[Tryamw]

His outing for Chicago Feb 5 didn't go well. 4 goals 11 shots. less then a period he didn't get the loss though

 

[WreckingCrew]

How soon is too soon to buy him out? I think we actually did UoMinn a favor...Justen Close (great name BTW) looks to have been solid so far