• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
New Jersey Devils

Is This Adam Larsson’s Last Shot with New Jersey?

By Corey Spina November 6th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

It has been a troubling couple of years in New Jersey for 21-year-old Adam Larsson. However, it finally looks as if Larsson has finally found a spot on a lineup he’s been trying to crack for years.

Injury Impact

Injuries can have a big impact on an organization in mostly negative ways, but there are times in which one player’s injury can lead to another’s success. A prime example of this is back in the 2011-2012 season, Travis Zajac went down with an Achilles injury; and Adam Henrique took his place on the top-line. He played with Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk at that time. With young defensemen Jon Merrill out for at least the Devils current road trip, Larsson shouldn’t have to worry about his spot being taken in the near future.

Even before Merrill’s was injured, Larsson has entered the lineup in each of the past three games while scoring the game-winner back on Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Larsson has looked more comfortable in each game, and it shows in the stat column as his time-on-ice has steadily increased from 15:11 in the game against Winnipeg to 17:09 against St. Louis Tuesday night. Larsson may still be a little away from crossing the 20 minute threshold, but for a player just looking to be in the lineup, this is an encouraging start.

While Larsson is going to get an opportunity to prove his worth to the Devils in this next stretch of games, it can be said that injuries have also taken a toll on his early NHL career. Larsson has sustained a couple of lower-body injuries such as bone-bruise courtesy of P.K. Subban, a knee injury, and pulled groins, which have come at some of the worst times. It always seems like just when Larsson begins to play well, he’s hit with an injury.

Even early last season; Larsson was playing great, while well paired with Eric Gelinas before he was hit with an knee injury in a game against San Jose. Shortly thereafter, Jon Merrill came in and took Larsson’s spot in the lineup, leaving the 21-year-old to toil in the minors for the remainder of the season.

I wouldn’t say that this is a role-reversal of sorts as its only coincidence that Merrill is the one hurt this time around. However, if Larsson can continue this level of play, then it forces Pete Deboer to keep him in the lineup.

Building Confidence

For Larsson, maybe the best attribute of his game is to just not be noticed, go out there, do your business and get off, at least that’s what Devils forward Adam Henrique thinks, “Some nights you might not notice him out there. Sometimes that’s a good thing. He just keeps it simple with every game and scoring a big goal like that, your confidence grows.”

Adam Larsson (Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

Adam Larsson (Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports)

When it comes down to it, confidence is the key for Larsson’s game. Confidence is something that helps tremendously in any sport but in hockey especially. Systems in hockey are at a premium now, so if a player like Larsson had the confidence that he can not only go out there any play the system to a tee, but also contribute with a goal, then the sky’s the limit for him.

His Last Shot?

One has to wonder though if this is Larsson’s last true shot with the Devils. It’s fair to say that the hype of him being a top-5 pick (4th in 2011), is long over, even though in our minds we believe the talent and potential is still there. For all we know, Larsson may have peaked. It’s a theory that makes drafting a player at any position a tough pill to swallow if he doesn’t pan-out exactly like they should have. Unfortunately, in every draft there are going to be the expected ‘busts’. Not every player can turn into that 1st line forward, or top-2 defensemen that they were hyped up to be. So does that make me believe Larsson’s a ‘bust’?

Not in the slightest.

When Larsson plays, it’s hard not to see the talent ooze off his stick. When Larsson gets the puck at the point, his one-ice vision is so advanced that he has the ability to skate down and either rip a shot like he did the other night, or make a seeing-eye pass right onto another players stick for an easy goal. We have also seen plays where Larsson makes a strong pass from inside his zone to spring a two-on-one or a breakaway.

There are times where Larsson has definitely gotten beat in the neutral zone, or gave the puck away in his own end. However, those are growing pains that almost every player goes through early in their career.

His hockey-IQ isn’t something that can be taught by doing after-practice drills to stay in game-shape. It’s something that has to be nurtured by consistently playing and being in the lineup. There isn’t anything more Larsson can learn from sitting in the player’s suite on a nightly basis.

Adam Larsson isn’t a ‘bust’, and it’s time for him to prove it.

  • Tags
  • Adam Larsson
  • Jon Merrill
  • P.K. Subban
  • Peter DeBoer
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 21st 5:55 PM
Edmonton Oilers

McDavid Has the Maple Leafs’ Number and Needs to Keep it That Way

Jan 21st 5:08 PM
Archives

NHLers by Country: On Top of Their Game and the World

Jan 21st 4:50 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Missing Klefbom and Neal on Power Play

Jan 21st 4:40 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild’s Soucy & Sturm Look Comfortable Filling Roster Gaps

Jan 21st 4:30 PM
Colorado Avalanche

Avalanche With Career Milestones in Sight in 2020-21 Season

Jan 21st 3:45 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning & Pat Maroon Are a Really Good Fit…For Now

Jan 21st 3:35 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights’ Depth Separates Them From the Rest

Jan 21st 3:15 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets’ Alexandre Texier, New Faces Shine to Begin Season

Jan 21st 2:45 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Neal, Yamamoto, Tippett, More

Jan 21st 2:15 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: Stützle, Norris, Galchenyuk and More

Editor’s Picks
NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

The 1979 NHL – WHA Merger

The 1979 NHL – WHA Merger

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information