Player Discussion Johan Larsson

[Nordic*]

What are your thoughts on Johan Larsson?

I have never seen him as a future star, but more like a defensive forward, pk-specialist with good leadership. I would probably compare him to Niklas Sundstrom, who was fortunate enough to get to play with Gretzky.

Thoughts on that and how he will be utilized this season. Third line and pk?

Click to read more...

 

[Chainshot]

You have him pegged fairly well -- good complimentary player but not a star by any means. He's probably going to be in the dog-fight for one of the Sabres bottom 9 slots. I suspect he'll be in Rochester to start the year and be an early recall.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Agreed with chain. Starts in rochester and comes up around Christmas maybe?

I think he'll be a solid bottom 6er. Vlad Sobotka and Jochen Hecht are the most common comparisons

 

[EichHart]

Agreed with chain. Starts in rochester and comes up around Christmas maybe?

I think he'll be a solid bottom 6er. Vlad Sobotka and Jochen Hecht are the most common comparisons

I like these comparisons.

 

[Chainshot]

If Larsson could become the Sabres version of Sobotka, I'd be one freaking happy fan. I still remember the number he did on the Sabres while a Bruin in 2010 defensively.

 

[Paxon]

As others have said, a glue kind of player like Hecht (without peak Hecht's production/offensive talent) or Sobotka, a guy who can play all spots in your bottom 6 and could possibly play in your top 6 as a winger if the other parts are a good fit. That's if he reaches his potential, of course. His offensive tools have become a bit underrated because he didn't get much done offensively in his stint last year. He has good vision, passing, and shooting; I'm pretty confident he'll bring the offense necessary to be part of a very good third line.

Defensively/off puck he's very strong, aggressive in puck pursuit. He's hard on the puck, tough along the boards, etc. Not a "big hit" kind of player but he brings a determined, relentless physicality to the game, and is willing to scrap. He's very strong and compact for a player of his height. His skating is underwhelming for a guy who's 5'11"/6'0" but it's improved over the years -- he takes smart skating lanes so he gets to point B appropriately. Still, it's the primary caveat when talking about whether he'll fulfill his promise or be as effective as we hope.

So in short, your assessment is accurate. I think he'll be a two-way player but his defining value will be the defensive role he plays. He already has improved the puck possession of linemates at the NHL level and I expect that to continue. It's unknown if he'll make the team out of camp as we now have a squeeze of legitimate options in the bottom 6. As he's waiver exempt, there's a good chance he starts the year in Rochester, but I have no doubt he'll be up in due time.

 

[Wisent42]

Defensive specialist, hard worker, that's what we've got in Larsson. However, he does possess some offensive talent too, but it may not translate well to the NHL. Still, I think those offensive abilities could give him an edge over other defensive forwards, because it gives coaches an option in case of an in game injury or something like that. I think Larsson is one of those "swiss army knife"-guys who can be used in any situation and position.

 

[Girgensons28]

Feisty 3rd liner who is aggressive on the forecheck. I really like his relentlessness.

 

[Rhett4]

I've watched a lot of this kid in Rochester. I see his upside as a feisty, grinding third liner who can hold onto the puck well, pitch in 15 goals, play against other teams top lines, and be a total pain in the ass to boot. I also see him with the versatility at wing and center to fill a second line role on occasion and when injuries require it (ala a prime Hecht, but with more jam).

 

[Husko]

What are the two best offensive lines we've had since the lockout?

Who played LW on both of those lines?

If Larson turns out to be like Hecht I will be more than happy.

 

[Jame]

As others have said, a glue kind of player like Hecht (without peak Hecht's production/offensive talent) or Sobotka, a guy who can play all spots in your bottom 6 and could possibly play in your top 6 as a winger if the other parts are a good fit. That's if he reaches his potential, of course. His offensive tools have become a bit underrated because he didn't get much done offensively in his stint last year. He has good vision, passing, and shooting; I'm pretty confident he'll bring the offense necessary to be part of a very good third line.

Defensively/off puck he's very strong, aggressive in puck pursuit. He's hard on the puck, tough along the boards, etc. Not a "big hit" kind of player but he brings a determined, relentless physicality to the game, and is willing to scrap. He's very strong and compact for a player of his height. His skating is underwhelming for a guy who's 5'11"/6'0" but it's improved over the years -- he takes smart skating lanes so he gets to point B appropriately. Still, it's the primary caveat when talking about whether he'll fulfill his promise or be as effective as we hope.

So in short, your assessment is accurate. I think he'll be a two-way player but his defining value will be the defensive role he plays. He already has improved the puck possession of linemates at the NHL level and I expect that to continue. It's unknown if he'll make the team out of camp as we now have a squeeze of legitimate options in the bottom 6. As he's waiver exempt, there's a good chance he starts the year in Rochester, but I have no doubt he'll be up in due time.

Nailed it.

The biggest misconception is that he lacks offensive skills. He doesn't (He has a nasty/heavy wrister... ) But the issue with his offensive game is that he doesn't create scoring chances for himself, and he's not a playmaker on the rush... Which creates the perception of a lack ofFensive ability...In lieu of those skills he is a fierce forechecker and game controlling offensive zone player who creates opportunities for others via those skills.

His advanced possession metrics in Buffalo were not a fluke.

I believe he'll be a shutdown player who can eliminate the opponents top offense through his dogged possession game in all zones.

To me, that's a core piece.

The fact that he wasn't in our top 10 prospects list voted on by this board...was just comical

 

[Husko]

Nailed it.

The biggest misconception is that he lacks offensive skills. He doesn't (He has a nasty/heavy wrister... ) But the issue with his offensive game is that he doesn't create scoring chances for himself, and he's not a playmaker on the rush... Which creates the perception of a lack ofFensive ability...In lieu of those skills he is a fierce forechecker and game controlling offensive zone player who creates opportunities for others via those skills.

His advanced possession metrics in Buffalo were not a fluke.

I believe he'll be a shutdown player who can eliminate the opponents top offense through his dogged possession game in all zones.

To me, that's a core piece.

The fact that he wasn't in our top 10 prospects list voted on by this board...was just comical

How orgasmic is the thought of him and Girgensons on a third line together? Gives me flashbacks of Drury-Grier.

 

[Jame]

How orgasmic is the thought of him and Girgensons on a third line together? Gives me flashbacks of Drury-Grier.

Sometimes I get stuck dreaming of:
Baptiste-McDavid-Grigorenko - I call this line the "skate, score, **** everything else" line
Girgensons-Reinhart-Larsson - and this is the "everything else" line

We have plenty of other pieces to build a competent 2 way offensive 3rd line...

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Nailed it.

The biggest misconception is that he lacks offensive skills. He doesn't (He has a nasty/heavy wrister... ) But the issue with his offensive game is that he doesn't create scoring chances for himself, and he's not a playmaker on the rush... Which creates the perception of a lack ofFensive ability...In lieu of those skills he is a fierce forechecker and game controlling offensive zone player who creates opportunities for others via those skills.

His advanced possession metrics in Buffalo were not a fluke.

I believe he'll be a shutdown player who can eliminate the opponents top offense through his dogged possession game in all zones.

To me, that's a core piece.

The fact that he wasn't in our top 10 prospects list voted on by this board...was just comical

He's a better prospect than who among these ten?

1. Sam Reinhart, C: 99 of 158 votes, 62.66% (runner up: Rasmus Ristolainen, 55 votes)
2. Rasmus Ristolainen, D: 123 of 132 votes, 93.18% (runner up: Nikita Zadorov, 5 votes)
3. Mikhail Grigorenko, C: 61 of 133 votes, 45.86% (runner up: Nikita Zadorov, 50 votes)
4. Nikita Zadorov, D: 101 of 137 votes, 73.72% (runner up: Mark Pysyk, 26 votes)
5. Mark Pysyk, D: 73 of 130 votes, 56.12% (runner up: Joel Armia, 28 votes)
6. Joel Armia, RW: 43 of 119 votes, 36.13% (runner up: J.T. Compher, 24 votes)
7. J.T. Compher, C: 50 of 150 votes, 33.33% (runner up: Jake McCabe, 25 votes)
8. Linus Ullmark, G: 33 of 128 votes, 25.78% (runner up: Jake McCabe, 30 votes)
9. Jake McCabe, D: 45 of 132 votes, 34.09% (runner up: Hudson Fasching, 39 votes)
10. Hudson Fasching, RW: 57 of 145 votes, 39.31% (runner up: Johan Larsson, 45 votes)

 

[Jame]

He's a better prospect than who among these ten?

1. Sam Reinhart, C: 99 of 158 votes, 62.66% (runner up: Rasmus Ristolainen, 55 votes)
2. Rasmus Ristolainen, D: 123 of 132 votes, 93.18% (runner up: Nikita Zadorov, 5 votes)
3. Mikhail Grigorenko, C: 61 of 133 votes, 45.86% (runner up: Nikita Zadorov, 50 votes)
4. Nikita Zadorov, D: 101 of 137 votes, 73.72% (runner up: Mark Pysyk, 26 votes)
5. Mark Pysyk, D: 73 of 130 votes, 56.12% (runner up: Joel Armia, 28 votes)
6. Joel Armia, RW: 43 of 119 votes, 36.13% (runner up: J.T. Compher, 24 votes)
7. J.T. Compher, C: 50 of 150 votes, 33.33% (runner up: Jake McCabe, 25 votes)
8. Linus Ullmark, G: 33 of 128 votes, 25.78% (runner up: Jake McCabe, 30 votes)
9. Jake McCabe, D: 45 of 132 votes, 34.09% (runner up: Hudson Fasching, 39 votes)
10. Hudson Fasching, RW: 57 of 145 votes, 39.31% (runner up: Johan Larsson, 45 votes)

In my rankings system Pysyk and Larsson were tied at #5

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1712281&page=4

 

[jvirk]

I see him as a 3rd liner on this team, and a pretty good one at that. I want him to be the pesky in your face defensive forward who skates hard and shows good leadership. Just an overall solid player who works hard and pisses off the opposition by being relentless

 

[Havok89]

Sometimes I get stuck dreaming of:
Baptiste-McDavid-Grigorenko - I call this line the "skate, score, **** everything else" line
Girgensons-Reinhart-Larsson - and this is the "everything else" line

We have plenty of other pieces to build a competent 2 way offensive 3rd line...

I think I'd rather see an Armia/Compher/Fasching in that 2RW and let Larsson play the 3C.

 

[Jame]

I think I'd rather see an Armia/Compher/Fasching in that 2RW and let Larsson play the 3C.

Armia: I went with Grigs on the 1st line... You can swap them... But I think the odds of both of them turning out, is a long shot

Compher: 3rd line center

Fasching: I'd like that too

My dreams are more rational, than ideal

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Sometimes I get stuck dreaming of:
Baptiste-McDavid-Grigorenko - I call this line the "skate, score, **** everything else" line
Girgensons-Reinhart-Larsson - and this is the "everything else" line

We have plenty of other pieces to build a competent 2 way offensive 3rd line...

I imagine a new version of the 06-07 RAV line: feast on offensive zone matchups behind the top 2 lines (McEichel & Reinhart lines). Larsson could really help as the glue guy--stick him with Ennis/Hodgson and Armia.

Compher-McEichel-Grigorenko
Girgensons-Reinhart-Fasching
Larsson-Ennis/Hodgson-Armia


Compher plays the glue guy role on the top line but has the skill to play with the two dynamos. Second line is matched up against top opposition, gets more defensive zone starts, etc. 3rd line preys on the weak. Add in a physical 4th line from guys like Foligno, Kea, etc and that is one well balanced squad.

(of course a lot has to go right in the development of a lot of guys, but we are talking dreams here...FA/trade can plug holes if someone doesn't pan out)

 

[Jame]

I imagine a new version of the 06-07 RAV line: feast on offensive zone matchups behind the top 2 lines (McEichel & Reinhart lines). Larsson could really help as the glue guy--stick him with Ennis/Hodgson and Armia.

Compher-McEichel-Grigorenko
Girgensons-Reinhart-Fasching
Larsson-Ennis/Hodgson-Armia


Compher plays the glue guy role on the top line but has the skill to play with the two dynamos. Second line is matched up against top opposition, gets more defensive zone starts, etc. 3rd line preys on the weak. Add in a physical 4th line from guys like Foligno, Kea, etc and that is one well balanced squad.

(of course a lot has to go right in the development of a lot of guys, but we are talking dreams here...FA/trade can plug holes if someone doesn't pan out)

I guess my dream was attempting as little "fingers crossed" as possible

Mcdavid and Reinhart are high end locks

Girgensons and Larsson are middle lineup locks

And I went with Baptiste and a grigo as the "hit their ceiling" types... Maybe it's compher and fasching, or armia and carrier... Or any other combo...

 

[Nordic*]

Jesus Christ, your prospect pool is insane. Can Ottawa have a couple of them, please?

 

[Zman5778]

Jesus Christ, your prospect pool is insane. Can Ottawa have a couple of them, please?

Sure. Who you gonna give us????

 

[Nordic*]

Sure. Who you gonna give us????

Phillips is the worst player in the league, you can have him ;-)

 

[ZZamboni]

Jesus Christ, your prospect pool is insane. Can Ottawa have a couple of them, please?

Suck for a few years and sell off any players who have decent to high value for draft picks. Does Ottawa have the stomach for that though?

 

[Chad Thundercock]

Larsson needs to be in Buffalo next year, and this team needs to re-sign him. If he rots away in Rochester half the year again because of Nolan's garbage and goes to a team that correctly uses him... GRRRAAAAARRRRR.