Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.ushl.com
- Name: Nick Larson
- Position: C
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 185 lbs
- Birthdate: 1989-01-16
- Eligible for Draft: 2007
- Drafted: 2007
- Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota
- Acquired: 7th round (185th overall), 2007
- Playing In: NCAA
Nick Larson
Prospect Grade: 5.5 D (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2005-06: Larson scored 38 goals with 39 assists in 31 games to lead Hill-Murray HS in scoring as a junior. Hill-Murray finished 27-3-1 and finished fourth in Minnesota's AA state tournament. Larson scored 5 goals with 1 assist in three state tournament games and was named to the All-Tournament team. Larson was selected by the Omaha Lancers in the third round (33rd overall) of the 2006 USHL Entry Draft.
2006-07: Larson was one of the captains for Hill-Murray as a senior. He scored 27 goals with 30 assists and had 18 PIM in 25 games. Hill-Murray finished 23-4-1 but was stunned by Rochester Century in the Minnesota AA state tournament. Sophomore Joe Faupel scored four goals including the overtime game-winner in a stunning 6-5 upset. Larson scored a second period goal in the game. Larson was named St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Player of the Year and was a Mr. Hockey finalist and an Associated Press All-State honorable mention. Larson played ten USHL games for the Omaha Lancers and scored 3 goals with 2 assists and was +3 with 6 PIM. Two of his three goals were scored on the power play. Larson committed to playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota.
2007-08: Larson attended the University of Minnesota but did not play hockey due to injury.
2008-09: Larson played 14 games in his first WCHA season at Minnesota. Larson scored his first college goal in a 4-4 tie with Michigan State on November 29th. He finished the season with 1 goal and 1 assist and was +1 with 2 PIM. Larson was named to the WCHA All-Academic team.
2009-10: In his sophomore season, Larson had a regular, if limited, role with the Gophers; appearing in 33 of 39 games. Larson scored 4 goals with 4 assists and was -4 with 10 PIM for Minnesota. Larson had his best offensive weekend in a pair of games with Harvard in early January; posting an assist in a 5-2 win on January 8 and then scoring two goals in the Gophers' 3-1 win the next night. The Gophers, with 20 NHL draft picks on their roster, finished an uncharacteristic 17-17-2 and lost to North Dakota in a WCHA best-of-three first round playoff series two games to one.
2010-11: Larson skated in 30 of 36 games for Minnesota as a junior - missing six games early in the year due to injury. A reliable two-way forward for the Gophers, he scored 5 goals with 6 assists and was -9 with 8 PMs. The Gophers finished fifth in the WCHA but were denied an NCAA bid after falling to Alaska-Anchorage in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.
Talent Analysis
Larson is a big forward with soft hands and a quick release, but has holes in his game; most notably his skating, puck handling, and positional play. At the high school level, Larson often scored goals by driving to the net and using his size to ward off defenders or protect the puck. He was drafted as a late-round pick by Washington in the hopes that with time he would develop the skill level to supplement his offensive instincts. Injuries have slowed his progress in that regard.
Future
Larson, after being one of the top goal scorers in Minnesota high school hockey has been in a checking line role in his first three seasons of college hockey. Larson will be counted on as a senior to limit mistakes and take care of the little things for Minnesota. With so many highly-skilled offensive prospects in the Capitals' system, Larson, a late-round pick, is fairly low on the radar and will need to do all of the little things to earn a contract after graduating. Long-term, his ticket to pro hockey may be as a third or fourth line support player who uses his size to finish and create offense.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: November, 30th 2011
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