LaRose finished 2011-2012 with 199 shots on net, third only to Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal among Hurricanes, to go with 19 goals. Given how much time the 30-year old American missed due to injury last season, his shots total suggests a trend worth investing in this year in leagues that reward firing the puck.
Rather than letting LaRose walk as an unrestricted free agent this summer, Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford was able to keep him in Raleigh at the cost of $3.4 million over the next two seasons. Some might be puzzled by this move, as the 29-year-old finished with an unsightly minus-21 rating in 2010-11, and continues to have trouble shooting the puck with accuracy. However, the team appears willing to be patient with him considering his entire six-year career has been spent exclusively with the Canes. Whether or not fantasy owners share similar loyalty to LaRose could depend entirely on his ability to elevate his game with fellow forward Erik Cole no longer donning a Hurricanes sweater.
LaRose is a prime candidate to rebound from an uneventful 2009-10 season, provided he can swat away the injury bug more often. Carolina's second-line spark plug spent more than a quarter of the season watching from the press box thanks to upper-and lower-body injuries. Assuming his body holds up for most of the season, LaRose could generate 30-40 points for your fantasy team - just don't expect miracles.
LaRose is a role player who showcases enough energy and versatility to play on a number of different lines. Given his fan-favorite reputation, Carolina enthusiasts endured a temporary scare early in the offseason when it had appeared that Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford would not be able to re-sign him. But that didn’t last too long; the winger eventually calmed the nerves of fans by inking a two-year contract worth $3.4 million. LaRose’s statistics are trending upwards with 40-50 points certainly attainable in 2009-10.
It's easy to use the term "sparkplug" when describing LaRose, a fan favorite because of his aggressive play despite his modest size. The upcoming season will be his fourth in the NHL, and we see a jump to the 40-45 point range if he stays healthy.
LaRose is a gritty, smallish (5'10", 185) forward who is a fan favorite because of his evident work ethic on the ice. That doesn't translate well to fantasy value, though. While we expect a modest increase over last season, his numbers should still fall below the level that will attract interest in most fantasy leagues.
LaRose is still developing as a winger. At just 24, his most productive days are ahead of him, but he's never going to claim the Art Ross Trophy. Expect a slightly larger role for him, and a jump to around 20-25 points.
He's not shy about shooting the puck. We'll see if he can make the big club out of camp.
