C Amadeus Lombardi - Flint Firebirds, OHL (2022, 113th, DET)

[Lavar Ball]

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

 

[Filppula]

102 points, wow. What a season. The skill amd creativity on this kid is really exciting.

 

[deca guard]

'AMMO' had a great 1st star game tonite , 2g 3a . all the weapons = hauled the mail - dished the sauce - lit the lamp - rocked the dot :

Ontario Hockey League

Official Website of the OHL

ontariohockeyleague.com

 

[Christien]

 

[Savard18]

The let the kids pick their goal songs this year. That plays every time Ammo scores. It’s pretty often. His goal tonight was ridiculous.

 

[deca guard]

AMMO GOES COAST TO COAST : forget ammo , jk , this pbp guy owns all

 

[Faterson]

Falco is trying to take over this thread from the grave. Those pesky Austrians!

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[newfy]

If you read the replies he also finished 2nd best playmaker and second best stick handler in the west.

Pretty good year for where he was drafted

 

[GermanSpitfire]

 

[Sticktape]

Headed to Grand Rapids.

 

[HoweFan]

Just don’t get hurt. GR is a place this year where prospects go to get hurt for the year. Even Kasper who went to Detroit is done

 

[Kcoyote3]

I really hope he translates his game as he moves up levels because he's so fun. I've seen him a ton this year and his draft year in juniors. Watched the Red Wings development camp scrimmage today and he was probably the best looking prospect there. His game really stands out on a 3v3 game though so don't want to hype him up too too much. Still despite his size he can forecheck really well, is involved in stealing pucks constantly, and can use his body to shield pucks. He tends to overhandle a bit, but his hands are excellent. His skating is good. His playmaking is above average. Something about him feels like he could be a surprise top 6 NHL forward someday.

 

[Rolo Tomassi]

Anyone watch this kid regularly? He seems to have really taken his game to another level since he was drafted. He’s not tall but not tiny at 5’11 but he’s only listed at 170lbs. He has speed and skill though. Does he have a legit shot to be a valuable NHL player? Id love to hear thoughts from someone who is familiar with his game.

Little positive press for him: Red Wings Found a Hidden Gem In Lombardi

Little 22-23 compilation:

 

[Indrid Cold]

Anyone watch this kid regularly? He seems to have really taken his game to another level since he was drafted. He’s not tall but not tiny at 5’11 but he’s only listed at 170lbs. He has speed and skill though. Does he have a legit shot to be a valuable NHL player? Id love to hear thoughts from someone who is familiar with his game.

Little positive press for him: Red Wings Found a Hidden Gem In Lombardi

Little 22-23 compilation:

Some of the other Wings fans actually have him penciled in as a top 6'er.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Some of the other Wings fans actually have him penciled in as a top 6'er.

In Grand Rapids.

I think Lombardi has steal potential but I'm not sure he'll for sure reach it. The kid is ultra talented and a waterbug out there. He's still really small though. Maybe middle 6, maybe top 6. I don't know yet.

 

[Random Comment]

Top 6 easy

 

[newfy]

In Grand Rapids.

I think Lombardi has steal potential but I'm not sure he'll for sure reach it. The kid is ultra talented and a waterbug out there. He's still really small though. Maybe middle 6, maybe top 6. I don't know yet.

One of those covid picks thats really hard to get a read on. If he played his draft year, maybe he would've been a first rounder and now everything hes doing would have him as a top 30 prospect in the league. Instead hes a fourth rounder, taken as an "overager" and he wont get hyped up.

Size is the biggest concern, and for a forward in todays NHL its not even that bad. Its just hard to get excited given where he was drafted

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

In Grand Rapids.

I think Lombardi has steal potential but I'm not sure he'll for sure reach it. The kid is ultra talented and a waterbug out there. He's still really small though. Maybe middle 6, maybe top 6. I don't know yet.

The excitement over Lombardi kinda reminds me of the excitement we used to get over guys like Mursak/Pulkkinen/Jurco etc. There's talent there, I just don't know that he's ever good enough to hit and stay in the NHL. As opposed to Mazur whose game almost certainly translates to the NHL.

It's weird though, because we used to pump those guys' tires when they were the best in our pool. Now our pool is way better and there's a handful+ guys that are better than Lombardi and we're still pumping tires.

I'm ready to be flamed for this take....

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

One of those covid picks thats really hard to get a read on. If he played his draft year, maybe he would've been a first rounder and now everything hes doing would have him as a top 30 prospect in the league. Instead hes a fourth rounder, taken as an "overager" and he wont get hyped up.

Size is the biggest concern, and for a forward in todays NHL its not even that bad. Its just hard to get excited given where he was drafted

Maybe not first rounder in his draft year but I think there's a lot of similarities between what we saw in Lombardi's game when he was drafted and Gracyn Sawchyn who was drafted this year. Both terrific skaters, both great stickhandlers with a lot of offensive potential. Both pretty small. Both have big steal potential if they hit.

The excitement over Lombardi kinda reminds me of the excitement we used to get over guys like Mursak/Pulkkinen/Jurco etc.

There's talent there, I just don't know that he's ever good enough to hit and stay in the NHL.

It's weird though, because we used to pump those guys' tires when they were the best in our pool. Now our pool is way better and there's a handful+ guys that are better than Lombardi.

Mursak was never good enough at any single thing and had low hockey IQ. That was exposed at the NHL level and he's only been decent in the SHL. Pulkkinen was only good at one thing at the minor league level, his one-timer. When he went to the NHL that one thing was very mediocre. Also Lombardi is a better skater than both of them and it's not even close.

I get what you're saying though. The fact that Detroit picked Lombardi in the 4th and he's looking this good so far while still doing very well with their early round picks is making me very hopeful for the future of the team. It's still probably another 2-4 years away from fully being realized though.

 

[FriendlyGhost92]

Maybe not first rounder in his draft year but I think there's a lot of similarities between what we saw in Lombardi's game when he was drafted and Gracyn Sawchyn who was drafted this year. Both terrific skaters, both great stickhandlers with a lot of offensive potential. Both pretty small. Both have big steal potential if they hit.



Mursak was never good enough at any single thing and had low hockey IQ. That was exposed at the NHL level and he's only been decent in the SHL. Pulkkinen was only good at one thing at the minor league level, his one-timer. When he went to the NHL that one thing was very mediocre. Also Lombardi is a better skater than both of them and it's not even close.

I get what you're saying though. The fact that Detroit picked Lombardi in the 4th and he's looking this good so far while still doing very well with their early round picks is making me very hopeful for the future of the team. It's still probably another 2-4 years away from fully being realized though.

Oh there were definitely flaws in their game. I wasn't necessarily comparing playing style or talent level as much as just the concept that I feel like sometimes we (And every fan base, really) fall in love with a prospect and blow them up to more than what they are.

FWIW, I think Lombardi has a high ceiling. I just think it's highly unlikely he gets there. Which is what blows my mind about people calling him a surefire Top 6'er.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Oh there were definitely flaws in their game. I wasn't necessarily comparing playing style or talent level as much as just the concept that I feel like sometimes we (And every fan base, really) fall in love with a prospect and blow them up to more than what they are.

FWIW, I think Lombardi has a high ceiling. I just think it's highly unlikely he gets there. Which is what blows my mind about people calling him a surefire Top 6'er.

Also keep in mind that the 2008 to 2013 Wings were spiking the kool-aid. Local press articles were really pumping the tires of the scouting staff for those Holland drafts. (yuck) And I think the Wings staff were drinking their own kool-aid. I really don't think that the Wings developmental team in that era were very good and were a large part of the problem as well. Dick Axelsson, Johan Ryno, Daniel Larsson couldn't run away from Grand Rapids fast enough. I vaguely recall a negative interview from Grigorenko translated from Russian. Calle Jarnkrok also didn't seem happy there.

Detroit is hopefully well past those mistakes and guys like Mazur and Lombardi have a much better environment to develop in than in the past.

 

[McGarnagle]

I love you Dr. Zaius!

 

[Colezuki]

One of those covid picks thats really hard to get a read on. If he played his draft year, maybe he would've been a first rounder and now everything hes doing would have him as a top 30 prospect in the league. Instead hes a fourth rounder, taken as an "overager" and he wont get hyped up.

Size is the biggest concern, and for a forward in todays NHL its not even that bad. Its just hard to get excited given where he was drafted

Similar thing with a few different players, Covid kept them sort of under the radar and hiddent from the spotlight of being a first round pick. Similar to Joshua Roy on the Habs or Wyatt Johnson with the stars it's likely that there will be a few "steals" from the Covid drafts, mainly because these guys will be able to go to the AHL without the fanbase knowing them.