Connor McDavid has met his match in Jackson LaCombe: 16 stats

In any Edmonton Oilers playoff series, the most important player will always be Connor McDavid. The second most important player is the guy tasked with stopping him. In Anaheim, that’s Jackson LaCombe and he’s the biggest reason the Anaheim Ducks are one win away from the second round.LaCombe’s stock has been steadily on the rise since his breakout 2024-25 season that earned him a hefty eight-year, $72 million extension last summer. After a difficult rookie season, LaCombe took a massive jump, scoring 43 points while tilting the ice in the right direction despite playing some of the league’s most difficult minutes. His puck-moving acumen in all three zones jumped off the page as he began to grow into a legitimate No. 1 defenseman. LaCombe’s growth continued this season, culminating in an invitation to join Team USA in Milan. Although he didn’t play, an inclusion like that amidst such a stacked field speaks volumes.Advertisement