2012 Draft - 6th Pick: Joey LaLeggia (DU eliminated, LaLeggia to Sign?)

[Karsa Orlong]

To be fair most of our upcoming defensemen are skyscrapers. Having one small, high offense guy with potential, is not a bad thing to spend your 5th rounder on.

 

[McDeepika]

I like this pick. Seems like an intriguing prospect with some upside

 

[ThePresent83]

Next to the two Russians we've taken, this is my favorite pick for its value.

I've seen him play a hand full of times, and I think that obviously due to his size he may not turn into anything. But I also think that if his development goes well, he could be a good offensive weapon on the backend, particularly on a PP.

 

[McRobbiezyg]

this pick isn't bad, maybe he plays bigger than he is? people are waaaaaay to quick at looking at his size and writing him off

 

[Alex87]

Tough to argue with a high risk, high reward pick at this stage of the draft.

 

[hfboardsuser]

Have liked this kid two years running.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=31619090&postcount=8

From the 2010 DobberHockey Prospects Report:

Since 1999-2000, only two defensemen have ever led the BCHL in scoring from the blueline during their first year of draft eligibility. One of them is Norris candidate Duncan Keith, who posted 82 points in 60 games way back in 2000-01, when the league was considered more a joke rather than a legitimate source of NHL talent.

The other? 5'9, 170 lbs Joey Laleggia. That itself puts the undersized defender into elite company, and despite his size, the diminutive puck mover is a truly stunning talent.

Well-regarded since the age of sixteen when he committed to the University of New Hampshire while still in Midget, Laleggia has nevertheless been underrated every step of the way- even after a remarkable rookie year in Canada's top Junior A league that saw him net 65 points in just 54 games, good enough for 22nd in league scoring. Much to the surprise of almost everyone, Laleggia was nominated for neither Defenseman of the Year- which he lost to three players that finished with seven, fourteen and twenty-three fewer points respectively- nor Rookie of the Year. One would assume, then, that Laleggia is merely a fourth forward and a giant defensive liability, but like Detroit mini-phenom Adam Almqvist, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Laleggia is a truly sublime skater, and is more than willing to use that plus every inch to not only set up but disrupt plays. It's not a coincidence that he was the team's top defender in every situation in a year that the Vees finished with the second-least goals against in the entire BCHL.

Laleggia is a major-league project, but like a notable quote about Almqvist from last year goes, he's smart enough to spring players for a break-away from his own zone. The team that gambles on him may not get a Duncan Keith, but he's not 18 until the day before the Draft and could easily end up alongside other great defensive mites like Brian Rafalski and Lubomir Visnovsky.

Upside- Top-two defender, PP specialist, 15-30-45

 

[Mr Forever]

MA Bergeron

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

MA Bergeron

With a brain? I'd take that.

 

[ThePresent83]

With a brain? I'd take that.

Yes, but not nearly the shot.

 

[OilerFan4Life]

lol at the whining.

We're absolutely stacked on the backend with defensive prospects. Why not take a risk on one of the best offensive d-men in collegiate hockey?

 

[Beerfish]

this was a good pick, a small puck mover later in the draft. No problems at all with the pick.

 

[jebs]

I really like this pick.

 

[hfboardsuser]

I really like this pick.

Within the next 24 months, LaLeggia breaks camp with the Oilers. He became the most offensively talented D prospect in the system at 10 AM. You want a guy who can head-man pucks up to Nugent-Hopkins et al? Here he is.

At 20, he's ahead of the pack in terms of development and could (but probably shouldn't) play in the AHL this year. Instead, he'll be a 40+ point player next season as the puck-mover for Beau Bennett, Dakota Mermis and Nick and Quentin Shore. J. Schultz- who everybody loves- had 44 points in 37 games this year. I'm confident LaLeggia can match that.

 

[Fedz]

Yes, but not nearly the shot.

Couldnt have said it better. Bergeron with a brain and not the heavy shot, though still very effective.

Realistically this kid could QB the Oilers PP right now and do a damn fine job, and in fact probably have some pretty good numbers but 5 on 5 this kid would get squashed. Luckily he will have a few years in College to develop that side of his game.

I would be very excited with this pick, he attended Canucks game last year and impressed big time.

Laleggia and Nugent-Hopkins were teammates in the BC Major Midget League.

 

[Usual_Suspect]

Within the next 24 months, LaLeggia breaks camp with the Oilers. He became the most offensively talented D prospect in the system at 10 AM. You want a guy who can head-man pucks up to Nugent-Hopkins et al? Here he is.

At 20, he's ahead of the pack in terms of development and could (but probably shouldn't) play in the AHL this year. Instead, he'll be a 40+ point player next season as the puck-mover for Beau Bennett, Dakota Mermis and Nick and Quentin Shore. J. Schultz- who everybody loves- had 44 points in 37 games this year. I'm confident LaLeggia can match that.

LaLeggia looks to be a great pick. Good on the Oilers for taking a chance on him. LaLeggia has outscored Schultz at the same age/league every year. 44 in 37 in Schultz's 3rd year looks to be attainable for LaLeggia in his 2nd year.

Thanks for your insights Mr Bugg. Good to see a few guys you like being drafted by the Oilers.

 

[stratedge]

At 20 I don't think he's growing anymore. Interesting to see what type of player he develops into.

I think he could easily grow another inch or two, small guys aren't as done growing at 20 as the big guys who have their growth spurts at 16 are. And he can certainly add a lot of muscle just like anyone else could.

I like the very-talented-but-too-small guys as late round home run swings.

 

[nabob]

I dont mind this pick at all. with all the huge D prospects we already have in the pipeline it makes sense to take a flyer on a guy who has very good offensive skills that bring something that is lacking in the prospect pool.

 

[McOilbleeder]

I think he could easily grow another inch or two, small guys aren't as done growing at 20 as the big guys who have their growth spurts at 16 are. And he can certainly add a lot of muscle just like anyone else could.

I like the very-talented-but-too-small guys as late round home run swings.

You could be right. There was a HF thread on him where the thread starter claimed that Joey's dad was 6'1, so it's possible.

A good thing about him going the NCAA route is he'll have the chance to really bulk up. He'll need to be strong on his skates if he wants a chance to make it in this league with his size.

With the NCAA not having as many games as say the WHL, he'll have a chance to really hit the gym strengthen his core.

 

[Lay Z Boy GM]

You could be right. There was a HF thread on him where the thread starter claimed that Joey's dad was 6'1, so it's possible.

A good thing about him going the NCAA route is he'll have the chance to really bulk up. He'll need to be strong on his skates if he wants a chance to make it in this league with his size.

With the NCAA not having as many games as say the WHL, he'll have a chance to really hit the gym strengthen his core.

My father is probably 6'1 or 6'2 and I'm 5'9. I didn't grow much (vertically) after age 14. It would be great if LaLeggia grew a couple more inches but I highly doubt that's going to happen.

Obviously I'm just one example, but I can't think of anyone else I know that grew after the age of 20.

 

[gooilgo]

I maybe nitpicking here but elite prospects has Joey listed as 178cm which is closer to 6ft than 5'9". I know not a huge difference but...

Always found elite prospects a little more up to date than some other databases.

I dunno, maybe the 5'9" was when he was first draft eligible and he has grown a little since.

 

[Doomsday Device]

I maybe nitpicking here but elite prospects has Joey listed as 178cm which is closer to 6ft than 5'9". I know not a huge difference but...

Always found elite prospects a little more up to date than some other databases.

I dunno, maybe the 5'9" was when he was first draft eligible and he has grown a little since.

5'10" is still undersized for a defenceman and the few reports of LaLeggia from this season seem to think that listing is a stretch and that he's shorter.

 

[gooilgo]

5'10" is still undersized for a defenceman and the few reports of LaLeggia from this season seem to think that listing is a stretch and that he's shorter.

Any chance you could post links to those reports?

I was sort of thinking out loud when I noticed the discrepancy and 178 cm > 5'11".

Thanks

 

[Doomsday Device]

Any chance you could post links to those reports?

I was sort of thinking out loud when I noticed the discrepancy and 178 cm > 5'11".

Thanks

I'm not sure if you're disagreeing with me but 178 cm is approximately 70 inches which is 5'10". 0.3937 is the common conversion factor for cm to in.

http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1328
Corey Pronman mentions his height here.

The others were on college hockey message boards I was looking at when researching LaLeggia and McCarron.

 

[gooilgo]

I'm not sure if you're disagreeing with me but 178 cm is approximately 70 inches which is 5'10". 0.3937 is the common conversion factor for cm to in.

http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1328
Corey Pronman mentions his height here.

The others were on college hockey message boards I was looking at when researching LaLeggia and McCarron.

Not disagreeing with you. Just curious as I have been told many of the weights listed in some of the databases are not up to date. Was sort of hoping this might have been the case with Joey's height as he is an overager.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

They've got him at 5'10" and 180lbs. on the Denver roster page http://www.denverpioneers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18600&SPID=10862&SPSID=90196

That said if he's a strong kid, he could make it, he's obviously highly skilled.