Dallas signs Lessard

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Starsdude

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A better question may be where would he have gone in the draft. Does he have first round talent/top 6 talent or just a guy who had a nice year in college who can provide depth How would you rank him under HF criteria 7? Would he be considered a top 10 prospect for the stars along with guys like Erikkson, Jokinin Miettinen Polak
 
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leafaholix*

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Starsdude said:
A better question may be where would he have gone in the draft. Does he have first round talent/top 6 talent or just a guy who had a nice year in college who can provide depth How would you rank him under HF criteria 7? Would he be considered a top 10 prospect for the stars along with guys like Erikkson, Jokinin Miettinen Polak
I'd rank him in the top 10... he does have a Hobey Baker award... that says a lot.

Keep in mind though, he's 23 years old.
 

Oilers Chick

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Starsdude said:
A better question may be where would he have gone in the draft. Does he have first round talent/top 6 talent or just a guy who had a nice year in college who can provide depth How would you rank him under HF criteria 7? Would he be considered a top 10 prospect for the stars along with guys like Erikkson, Jokinin Miettinen Polak

As I mentioned over on the NCAA boards when this subject was first brought up, Lessard's success or failure will depend upon (among other factors) who he is on a line with and how well he fits into the Stars system. If you've followed UMD hockey this season (or even longer), Lessard's success has been greatly aided by those around him (such as his UMD linemate Evan Schwabe). He's a sniper who can greatly benefit a team (in this case Dallas) that pairs him with a linemates who can get him the puck. He's excellent in creating room for himself around the net. It's one area where he thrives. Now obviously, that task will be far more difficult at the NHL level than it is at the NCAA level. But I would venture to say that when the Stars scouts were looking at him during the FF tourney, that was one area that caught their eye.

Also, UMD plays a fairly wide open style, an area that suited Lessard and his abilities very well. That isn't necessarily the case in Dallas. Will Lessard be able to adapt? Yes. How long it will take and how easily he'll be able to are the real questions.

With all that said, IMO Dallas got an awesome player who could greatly benefit their team in the not-so-distant future that's quite the selfless player.
 

Big McLargehuge

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Leafaholix said:
I'd rank him in the top 10... he does have a Hobey Baker award... that says a lot.

Keep in mind though, he's 23 years old.

Not to take anything away from that but...so?

The Hobey historically has meant nothing in terms to NHL careers.
 

Starsdude

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Thanks for the insight. He looked physically a little like Morrow but it sounds like his game is different. Dallas has been relatively transistion oriented since Tippet got here. Turgeon Modano and kapanen all can handle the puck. With Young likely to be gone as Dimaio there is room on the right side. We need a young scorer since neither Mietinen or Tjarnqvist are best near ready prospects look to be more than depth guys although Miets could prove me wrong
 

Flames Draft Watcher

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Handsome B. Wonderful said:
Not to take anything away from that but...so?

The Hobey historically has meant nothing in terms to NHL careers.

The level of the winner has been improving drastically over the past couple decades. Take a look at the winners from the past 6 years before Lessard. You'd be crazy if you didn't want the vast majority of these guys on your team...

1997 Brendan Morrison
1998 Chris Drury
1999 Jason Krog
2000 Mike Mottau
2001 Ryan Miller
2002 Jordan Leopold

I'd say the trophy means more in terms of NHL potential then it used to because college hockey has improved in the past decade.
 

Mizral

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Flames Draft Watcher said:
The level of the winner has been improving drastically over the past couple decades. Take a look at the winners from the past 6 years before Lessard. You'd be crazy if you didn't want the vast majority of these guys on your team...

1997 Brendan Morrison
1998 Chris Drury
1999 Jason Krog
2000 Mike Mottau
2001 Ryan Miller
2002 Jordan Leopold

I'd say the trophy means more in terms of NHL potential then it used to because college hockey has improved in the past decade.

Good post. I've been saying this for a while lately.

Sejna looks like he'll make the NHL eventually for the Blues too (he's the 2003 winner).

The Hobey Baker winners lately have really turned into solid hockey players, particularly guys like Kariya, Morrison, Drury, and Leopold.
 

Freaky Habs Fan

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Mizral said:
Good post. I've been saying this for a while lately.

Sejna looks like he'll make the NHL eventually for the Blues too (he's the 2003 winner).

The Hobey Baker winners lately have really turned into solid hockey players, particularly guys like Kariya, Morrison, Drury, and Leopold.

But all these players were draft in a early round. Lessard was never draft and this year is his only good season...
 

Ajacied

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Freaky Habs Fan said:
He will probably be 6.5 or 7

That's rather generous for a Stars prospect. Our editor was quite critical so a 7 would have him in the same boat as Jussi Jokinen, Trevor Daley, Antti Miettinen, Jason Bacashihua and Loui Eriksson.. Personally, I was thinking of a 5.5/6. But then again, I don't know nothing about the kid..
 

leafaholix*

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Jacobv2 said:
So does Kip Miller.
Your point?

So does Neal Broten.

Lessard has the potential to be an NHL player... that's what matters.
 

X-SHARKIE

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Lessards game away from the puck isn't anythign special..and he only uses his big frame to hold onto the puck...Lessard is the freshman version of Thomas Vanek IMO..... Solid pick up for the Stars...a big man who can shoot...but he's being a taddd overated on here.
 

leafaholix*

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X-SHARKIE said:
Lessards game away from the puck isn't anythign special..and he only uses his big frame to hold onto the puck...Lessard is the freshman version of Thomas Vanek IMO..... Solid pick up for the Stars...a big man who can shoot...but he's being a taddd overated on here.
At 6'0, 195, he's hardly a big player.
 

TMHUNH

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Leafaholix said:
I'd rank him in the top 10... he does have a Hobey Baker award... that says a lot.

Keep in mind though, he's 23 years old.

And turns 24 in the next month... Dallas got themselves a good player, but I don't know if we can even consider him a "prospect".

Here is something to consider: Lessard's draft year was 6 years ago! He is the same age as Vincent Lecavalier, already closing in on 400 NHL GP and the captain of his team.

I just find it interesting that he is the same age as guys like Heerema, Milan Kraft, Mathieu Chouinard and others that in all three cases have been given up on as "prospects" by multiple organizations. Surely all three could have been Hobey Baker Candidates if they were playing their senior year in college this year, although have already been labeled busts.

That being said, I am a huge supporter of the college game, and wish Junior the best of luck and hope he can break in as an "older" rookie like guys like Liles or Preissing did this year. Congratulations to Dallas on the signing, I just think we can do without his hype as the latest best "Prospect"
 

Ajacied

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Well, he is currently listed at number 13, rated a 6.5 and is rumoured to replace Valeri Bure in the line-up next season.
 

MN_Gopher

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Lessard reminds me alot of Jeff Taffe. A pp specialist with a great one timer. Not going to light the lamp often on 5-5 but is not a liability either. A bit smaller than Taffe. But with a bigger heart. Taffe had 18 pts with 10 on the power play in 50 some games. I see simular numbers for Lessard. Maybe 30-50 points with half or so on the pp. In a full season.
 
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