Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe making strides in first NHL season

In just his first season as an NHLer, Jackson LaCombe finds himself already playing a crucial role on the Ducks’ blue line.

During the second period of a game between the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 20, Jackson LaCombe launched a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot, trying to sneak one past Mackenzie Blackwood, who was scrambling back into his net.

It was unclear initially whether he’d done so, but a video review confirmed that the puck had completely crossed the goal line. LaCombe had his first career NHL goal.

“It was great,” said LaCombe. “It was exciting obviously to see it go in. It was pretty relieving. It was a close call, but it was great.”

The 22-year-old is the latest Duck to score his first NHL goal this season, joining Pavel Mintyukov, Leo Carlsson, Tristan Luneau and Urho Vaakanainen.

LaCombe also came close to scoring not once but twice in a return to his home state of Minnesota just before Anaheim’s bye week. It was one of his best games as a pro.

“Yeah, it was special,“ he said. “It’s what you dream about as a kid growing up there and to get a win there was even better. It was just really special for me.”

Head coach Greg Cronin picked out LaCombe as the player he thinks has improved the most since the start of the season. LaCombe is currently averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game and is regularly a part of the penalty kill as well.

“He was great in Minnesota," said Cronin. "I think just technically, his defensive ability has improved. The big thing with him is aggressiveness. He’s not really an aggressive person by nature. He’s not afraid, he’s not going to initiate a lot.”

“And I don’t mean that physically either, sometimes it’s just decisiveness with the puck. Like getting the puck and getting up the ice and making plays with it with momentum going forward instead of standing still and hoping.”

Cronin also said that LaCombe’s game is “really going to pivot off of his ability to play aggressively with the puck.” He also wants to see LaCombe be more involved offensively away from the puck.

Some of LaCombe’s improved play has come from moving back to his strong side as a left-handed defenseman. Previously, he had been playing his off-side with Cam Fowler and had struggled at times to make the right read or play at times.

“Everyone’s coming quicker and you have to have your head up and be ready so it’s a bit of a challenge catching (the puck) in some areas and being ready to make a play,” said LaCombe. “I think you kind of have to learn how to do that and adjust to that pretty well, so it’s been a challenge.”

Cronin pushed back on the idea that LaCombe’s improved play has come from simply moving back to his strong side, instead opting to point out the difficulties for any defenseman playing on their off-side.

“It’s very difficult on the breakouts and then in the neutral zone because they have to turn their body to really pass a puck hard,” he said. “The days of guys passing on their backhand—because of the stick technology—has become less and less accurate. So you’ll see as a lefty, they’ll turn and they’ll throw it (back toward the middle), which makes it predictable for the defensive group. And it’s kind of awkward for them because they stall momentum where if you go up on your natural side and you can move it, you can break off the pass. Same thing as in the corners.”

“It’s just a big jump,” said LaCombe of making the transition from playing collegiate hockey to playing professionally. “The NHL is the best league in the world so it’s a challenge in many areas. I think just trying to learn every day has been a big key for me. I think I'm just starting to get more comfortable and adjusting a lot better now so it’s been great.”

LaCombe has already been able to play against a few of his former college teammates as well. Just recently, he faced off against Ryan Johnson and Brock Faber, who play for the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild respectively. Earlier this season, LaCombe also played against Logan Cooley (Coyotes) and Matthew Knies (Leafs).

“Every time we get to play one of those guys, it just makes it a lot more fun,” said LaCombe. “You see them and you smile a bit and it brings you joy seeing them do so well. We had a special bond last year so it just makes it even better.”