As an attendee of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft could recall, one could feel chills down their spine Florida Panthers General Manager Dale Tallon took to the podium to announce who they were going to draft with the 11th overall selection. Not since the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs has there been so much excitement in South Florida and the noise level at the BB&T Center was through the roof. When Dale Tallon handed the mic off to Bill Torrey, the cheers started to grow louder and when Lawson Crouse was announced as the latest edition to the Florida Panthers, nothing was stopping the standing room only crowd of Panthers fans to cheer on the hometown team on nailing another potentially successful draft choice.

The point being, Lawson Crouse is now a Florida Panther and Panthers fans should be excited for what’s to come.

Throughout social media, fans were split on the decision that the Florida Panthers have made. Many fans were behind the potential drafting of Mikko Rantanen, but the decision was changed to “draft the best player available”. And that player is Lawson Crouse.

Dale Tallon had this to say regarding the drafting of Crouse:

“We are thrilled to have selected Lawson in front of our fans at BB&T Center,” said Tallon. “He is a strong, skilled and physically mature forward who possesses excellent character and led Kingston in points last season. Lawson is another building block for our team and we are confident that he will fit well with our young core of talented players that includes Aleksander Barkov, Nick Bjugstad, Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau. We look forward to his continued growth and contributions to our team and the South Florida community.”

Lawson Crouse met with the media following his selection and had this to say:

“It was a special thing,” said Crouse of his thunderous welcome to South Florida. “When I was up on stage and they were cheering…it’s something I can’t even explain. I couldn’t be happier to be a Florida Panther.” “I’m a big player. I like to play tough and I like to play strong,” said Crouse. “I excel in the defensive zone and chip in on offense when I can. I pride myself in doing the little things well. I think that’s what makes me stand out as a hockey player.” “I love to hit. I’m a very physical player. I don’t mind a fight either.”

One of the hardest working players in the draft, Crouse led the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs in goals (29) and points (51). A solid penalty killer, Crouse likes to compare himself to Milan Lucic. Crouse is a physical player who doesn’t mind dropping the gloves to defend his teammates. In addition, Crouse possesses a strong two-way game with good offensive awareness and a high hockey IQ.

Future Considerations had this to say about Lawson Crouse’s game:

“A big-bodied forward who gives opposing defenses headaches with his effort on the forecheck…tough to contain with his huge frame and strength…impossible to separate from the puck and consistently is successful winning pucks and generating scoring chances through his hard work…moves the puck well with good vision and passing skill…a strong net-front presence… has decent speed for his size, though he could improve his quickness…plays hard on defense; forces plays and takes away angles…uses his size to play physical, including laying some devastating hits…is a moose along the wall down low…tremendous potential going forward. (August 2014)”

Take a look over at Last Word On Sports for some positive and negative notes regarding Crouse:

“Was part of Team Canada’s Ivan Hlinka winning squad this summer leading the team with 6 goals in 5 games. He has followed that up by making the World Junior Team and playing an important defensive role on the fourth line and penalty kill. Others have Crouse slightly higher than I do, and while I like him enough to have him in the top 10, and he’s a very complete player, I’m just not convinced about his high end offensive upside right now. Don’t get me wrong, I think he can be a top 6 forward at the next level, there are just some questions about whether or not Crouse has enough offensive potential to be a first line player. He has 18 goals and 28 points in 36 games for Kingston so far this year. At 6’4″ and 212 pounds Crouse is a budding power forward. He has a powerful skating stride, but could work on his first step and acceleration. That good power allows him to fight through checks and get to the net. He loves to get in the forecheck, and finishes his hits along the boards. He is very good in protecting the puck in the cycle and has the soft hands and can bang in goals from the front of the net. Lawson Crouse is also an excellent penalty killer, and has excellent defensive instincts. If he can show some more offense down the stretch, he could rise rapidly on my final rankings.“

One takeaway from the comments above: Benn Kerr’s main criticism is aimed towards Lawson Crouse’s offensive gain, claiming that it can be questionable due to the left wing’s underwhelming stats (51 points | 56 games). In Crouse’s defense, the Kingston Frontenacs are one of the more defensive teams in the league. Another thing to note: while teammate Sam Bennett was out for a majority of the season, Crouse scored 22 goals. When Bennett returned from injury, Crouse only scored 7 goals for the rest of the season. Crouse’s role deceased due to the return of Bennett, in addition to being paired with less talented linemates.

Now Panthers fans must be asking, where is Lawson Crouse going to fit in the lineup going forward? Nick Bjugstad’s wingers rotated every 5-10 games, as he never gained perfect chemistry with any winger aside from Jonathan Huberdeau. One would think that the 6’6 Bjugstad would mesh well with 6’4 Crouse. Add Jaromir Jagr to that line in a mentoring role to both players, and you have yourself a solid second line. As for when he can play in the NHL, it is expected that Crouse could make an impact as soon as next year. He clearly has the size (6’4, 215 lbs.), in addition to his ability to “throw logs into the fire”, as him and his father love to say.

Lawson Crouse is a solid addition to the Florida Panthers. While he was not the pick that Florida Panthers fans expected, Crouse could end up being a home run in the long run. The solid two-way player is an excellent penalty killer, in addition to possessing a solid offensive game. Look for Crouse to start his road to the NHL next week (June 29th – July 2nd) at the Panthers Ice Den, as the team will hold their annual development camp.

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