Just going off of the Moose clips, there seems to be a lot of Ehlers in Lambert's game. Is that fair?
I'd say that Lambert plays a more direct game, that relies more on driving to the net either to shoot or pass off in danger areas. He's very quick and an excellent skater but not sure he has Young Nik's preternatural acceleration or edgework yet, or has his shooting tools/ ability (yet). He creates Ehlersian chaos but isn't quite as inventive or high-end in his puck skills (yet).
In Lambert's favour, his motor is always running and he seems never to tire, and he's a Tanev-level puckhound, who can cover the ice very quickly and takes good angles that make him hard to contain. He's a great retriever and effective along the line and IMO is an underrated passer, with good vision and adaptability.
Like Nik, he can outthink himself, overskate, and make reads a bit too quickly for his linemates, and is an unselfish player. I'm actually starting to see him less as an Ehlers-lite than as a Perrault-plus, since he combines high-end skill with the kind of all-zone peskiness Matty P managed at his best. I think his playstyle is likely to make him a fan fave and be easier on coaches than Nik's has proven to be, while still allowing him to pile up points and break games open at times, all while being a net positive possession player. FWIW, that's not to sell Lambo short, since I regard Peak Perrault as one of the most valuable Jets players of that era.
I also like him more at centre than wing. He's not going to Lowry players into next week but he's reliable and seems to be always everywhere all at once, like the best smaller centres often are.
Anyway, my 10 cents.
