Also good to see is he only gets better in the playoffs & doesn't disappear.
In addition he's not like Brock Nelson - a big body who isn't physical, this article illustrating dude plays like a true power forward, playing physical and can play in trenches on top of having a wicked shot.
Lavoie will probably play in the NHL at the same size as Mark Stone 6'4" 219lbs, Lavoie like Stone just has to work hard on his skating, but they have all the other NHL attributes to succeed.
IF Boldy isn't there at #10 I'd think long and hard about reaching a tad for Lavoie who is ranked #11 by FC, #12 ISS and #14 by Bob McKenzie.Halifax Mooseheads forward Raphael Lavoie is showing he can do a little bit of everything ahead of the NHL draft.
Score, hit, even chirp.
“Game gets hard and sometimes, it happens that we say love words to each other, I think it’s part of the game,” said Lavoie.
The 18-year-old from Chambly, Que., is the top-ranked draft-eligible player at the Memorial Cup and is heading to Sunday’s final after producing a goal, assist and 12 shots on net in three round-robin games.
Lavoie’s blend of soft hands and strength were on full display in the Mooseheads’ 4-2 round-robin win over the Guelph Storm.
as the game got more physical, he didn’t shy away and won a 1-on-1 battle with Guelph blue liner Sean Durzi by overpowering him and sending him crashing into the net. Lavoie even had a few choice words for Durzi after the whistle.
“You need to be mobile, strong on your feet because guys are gonna push you,” said Lavoie. “I have a pretty big body, try and use it as much as I can. Hockey is physical, you need to hit.”
Mooseheads coach Eric Veilleux added: “He’s a good two-way player, works hard and can defend. He does it all on the ice, loves taking the puck to the net … For me, he’s a complete player.”
The six-foot-four, 198-pound Lavoie is powerful and deceptively mobile, and a threat to score with his wrist shot any time he cuts across the opposition’s blue line.
He considers himself a natural power forward that prefers to play the wing, but can shift to centre when needed.
Lavoie scored 17 times in his first 16 playoff games before ending the post-season first in goals (20) and second in points (32).
“He has an NHL top-notch shot,” said Veilleux.
Linemate Samuel Asselin says at times in the post-season, Lavoie put his teammates on his back.
“He really, really improved his game during the playoff run and since then he’s been so good for us,” said Asselin.
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn ... -nhl-draft
