Player Discussion 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Pick 22: Capitals select Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL

[PB12]

Washington has traded the 24th and 80th picks to Calgary for the 22nd pick. With the 22nd pick, Washington selects Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Saguenéens / QMJHL.

Scouting report: Concussion and neck problems potentially derailed a season that got off to a spectacular start at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Lapierre is a high-end talent with excellent vision and puck skills, though his QMJHL performance when he was healthy -- or at least moderately healthy -- was not in line with his previously lofty projections. -- Peters

Team fit: The Capitals traded up to select Lapierre, and he'll be worth the third-round pick they anted up if he can stay healthy. Now, that's asking a lot, considering his three concussions in a 10-month span in 2019. That's a little scary. But when a young forward has the playmaking puck skills and skating ability that Lapierre does, with favorable comparisons to a player like Jonathan Toews as a two-way center, it's worth the shot. This could easily be one of those picks where hockey scholars in the future wonder how one of the NHL's better centers could have lasted this long in the draft.

Where Lapierre is most likely to play in 2020-21: QMJHL

2020 NHL draft: Pick tracker and analysis for every team

Click to read more...

 

[francaisvolantsparis]

He was good at the Hlinka Cup. The next Kuzy. The question is can he do the bird thing?

 

[Bieronymus Trotz]

Edit: wrong thread

 

[Cush]

 

[EroCaps]

Rich man's Joe Juneau.

 

[MileHighCapsFan]

Prospect of Interest: Hendrix Lapierre could be steal of the draft - Sportsnet.ca

 

[Cush]

First player from the Q since 2010.

Third player from the Q taken in Round 1 (Robert Picard - 1977 // Reggie Savage 1988)

 

[tenken00]

With Samsonov and Lapierre both dealing with neck/spinal injuries, GMBM could get great deals at the discount orthopedic store.

 

[Lucky Luke]

He is very good. Has the potential to eventually replace Backstrom if well developed and of course, if he's stays healthy.

 

[Carlzner]

The number helps obviously, but I see a lot of Kuzy in these highlights

 

[PB12]

Couple of things from Mac.

1.Even with the injuries, thought the upside was too good to pass up.
2.About trading the 3rd, he heard rumors that teams below were trying to trade up and didn't want to lose him. Also said the other players avaliable didn't have the upside he did.

 

[tenken00]

Kuzy Jr. Going to have to catch some Chicoutimi games in the coming months for sure.

Responding to you in this thread, but I think its really cool that Caps fans can actually watch and have a rooting interest in live hockey games (in a North American time zone) right now while the rest of the leagues are shutdown for who knows how many more months.

 

[Cush]

 

[Silky mitts]

Someone posted last year that the Caps may have been interested in trading up for Krebs who was coming off an Achilles, they must do their homework on these guys medically

 

[Bananas]

I love this pick.

 

[tenken00]

States that he models his game after Kuzy and wears 92. Big Ovechkin fan since he was a kid.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/06/hendrix-lapierre-capitals-nhl-draft/

Lapierre said he was a huge Alex Ovechkin fan growing up, and he had a poster of the Capitals’ captain on his wall as a kid. The first jersey he ever owned was a Capitals Ovechkin sweater, spurring his love for the team.

“Washington holds a special place in my heart, and I’m really, really happy to be a part of that organization, for sure,” Lapierre said.

 

[Roshi]

I love the 'boom or bust'. Though using both our top picks to climb up only 2 spots and for one guy seems a little reach, but the more I read about the guy the more im liking it. And obviously our scouting deserves to be trusted, they have very solid record.

Wouldnt def have minded Zary either, but hey, this is very interesting pick.

Draft fantasy for d2; Can we somehow get back into 2nd round? Im really liking Roni Hirvonen. Has some Sebastian Aho (lite)/Roope Hintz/Joel Kiviranta vibes in him, and his numbers are pretty similar. His size should drop him anywhere into the 50-70 mix and might end up being a steal.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

I see a lot of Hockey IQ in these highlights. Very good vision and playmaking. He has strong top 6 potential if he can stay healthy. I see why GMBM thought it was worth the risk. This could end up being the biggest bargain of the first round if it pans out.

 

[The Instigator]

I love the 'boom or bust'. Though using both our top picks to climb up only 2 spots and for one guy seems a little reach, but the more I read about the guy the more im liking it. And obviously our scouting deserves to be trusted, they have very solid record.

Wouldnt def have minded Zary either, but hey, this is very interesting pick.

Draft fantasy for d2; Can we somehow get back into 2nd round? Im really liking Roni Hirvonen. Has some Sebastian Aho (lite)/Roope Hintz/Joel Kiviranta vibes in him, and his numbers are pretty similar. His size should drop him anywhere into the 50-70 mix and might end up being a steal.

I wouldn't have minded Zary either, but to see us move up for a skill guy is a surprising development.

The people who make the decisions must be high on him and I'll easily jump on board for a guy with this kind of talent.

 

[HTFN]

The number helps obviously, but I see a lot of Kuzy in these highlights

Same, he's not as effortlessly smooth but he makes up for it with a little more defensive engagement by the looks of it.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

After watching his highlight clips he does look like Kuzy. Which means people on HF are going to hate him and want him traded every slump

 

[TheFountainhead]

There's some filth on these here highlights. Absolutely see how he could've been viewed as a top ten type talent prior to the injuries impacting his stock to the degree that they did.

 

[Chimaera]

If he's healthy, he looks like a heist.

Big if, but if the Caps are going to rebuild quickly at some point, they have to hit on some of these types of players. I think they felt as an organization that they could take this swing with McMichael already in the fold. Prospects with big time upside are what they need.

 

[Silky mitts]

Compares himself to Kuzy at 3:20, says he wants to add Barkov elements as well (interview from months ago, he’s added a lot of bulk since then)
Hendrix Lapierre - Centre - TSN.ca

 

[4thTierSport]

I legit thought that was Max Lapierre’s son for a second. Then I realized that Lappy probably isn’t even 40 yet.