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Outlaws Strengthen the Blueline - Add undrafted LeBlond
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eMLBCommishRegistered Member
x2 First Media
Today, the Anaheim Outlaws announced that they came to a deal with recently graduated Right Defenseman James LeBlond. Nicknamed "LB" or "Commish", the former Tigers Captain put pen to paper on a $6 million deal, which included a $2 million signing bonus. After the announced signing, The Morning Sentinel's Travis Lazarczyk was able to get a brief interview with the undrafted rookie and get his take on not being drafted but yet having landed a deal early in Free Agency. "Yeah, I admit it was tough not hearing your name get called. And, you know, trying to keep a positive attitude of what I can bring to a team. But almost immediately after the draft was done, the Outlaws reached out and said they really felt I could fill a need on their blue line. This is a franchise rich with talent and recent success, and the expectations are set to keep that going. I'm not one to back away from challenge, so....you know, I was honored to come to terms with them, and can't wait to earn that faith and trust they believe my game will offer them." LeBlond, a product of Biddeford, Maine and home of two-time champion of some 35 lb trophy in "that real life hockey league" Brian Dumoulin, had a Senior Year he wanted to forget. Into his 2nd game of the year, he suffered a high ankle sprain severe enough, it would've been faster to recover if he had broken his ankle instead. It really hindered his mobility and effectiveness, and the promise of what he showed in his prior 3 years for the Tigers was stalled. In his first 3 years of high school, the Right Defenseman logged 23 Goals and 61 Assists in 69 career games. The Tigers lost the Class A Championship to St. Dominic's in his Junior Year, and missed the playoffs with him missing three-quarters of his Senior Season, where he only tallied 2 assists and a -2. The worry about his injury was enough to keep him off the boards for the draft, but Anaheim saw something in the former Tiger Captain's leadership, poise, and ability to read the game. He's always considered the game to be a full 200 feet, and never lack in effort. Time will now tell if the Outlaws' faith in the 6'1", 205 lb youngster will translate into the consistency he had shown in the past. LeBlond is known for exceptional awareness in both the offensive and defensive zones, with excellent skating and vision. While not considered to have a heavy shot from the point, He's always been a selfless team player in finding sticks for deflections or re-directs on net. Not considered to be aggressive physically, he positions and stick checks above average, and isn't afraid to use his body when needed. LeBlond's biggest strength is that he's hungry for knowledge, eager to learn, and a perfectionist by trade. Asked how he would feel living almost 3,000 miles from home, he admitted some challenges he would have to deal with. "I've never been this far from home, even in any tourneys I was a part of. I've been fortunate to be able to travel with my family. But now, this will be a real adjustment. I'll have to get used to FaceTime discussions with my Mom, after I help her figure out how to use her iPad!", he said with a laugh. He does worry a bit about the potential for being homesick, but feels the Outlaws will keep him busy enough to be distracted from that. Time will tell if he can keep his feet on the ground, or will the big flashing lights of California and Hollywood bedazzle the youngster to new heights, or fizzling out. |
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