The Coke Machine

The Florida Panthers elected to play it safe with their 11th overall pick by selecting Lawson Crouse. In getting Crouse it would appear the Panthers will be getting an NHL player that will be a contributor to their lineup for the next ten years or so. Crouse recently signed his entry-level contract with the club; however, there are concerns over what kind of a player he will end up being. Crouse put up 51 points in 56 games for a bad Kingston team. Those 51 points were enough to lead his awful team in scoring where he picked up most of his points at even strength. Despite not putting up extreme numbers in his draft year Crouse found himself on Team Canada’s World Junior team at age 17, when not many do at that age. Crouse made the team because he is viewed as being exceptional defensively. While going up against the opponent’s best Crouse picked up 3 points in 7 games in the tournament showing he can handle his own against the best of his age group. He also played a feature role on the PK unit at the tournament. However, this is where things get dicey. Crouse’s junior numbers show quite a range of comparables. On the high end he compares favorably to Todd Bertuzzi or Benoit Pouliot. On the low end he compares to Kyle Clifford or everybody’s favorite Chris Thorburn. If there is a spot for Crouse to make the Panthers, perhaps as early as this fall it is on the wing where the Panthers do not have much depth. The Panthers said goodbye to Kopecky, Upshall, and Boyes this summer so there is a spot available for some younger talent. I expect Grimaldi, Howden, and Crouse to battle it out for a spot on the Panthers wing in training camp. Crouse has shown that he has the ability to play a rugged checking game on the 4th line but he also has the talent to play with skilled players. I wouldn’t be shocked if Crouse made the Panthers, but another year in junior working on his offense and a shot at the Memorial Cup with a more prominent role at the World Juniors would also help his development. Either way it will be tough to knock this guy down the depth chart in Florida for long, as Crouse is not easy to knock over, because at 6’4” 215lbs, the guy is like a coke machine on skates. You can’t do it in one push.