GDT: #16 - 02/24/21 | RANGERS @ flyers | 7:00 - MSG

[Synergy27]

Laf looks pretty bad. He is playing with Mika and Buchnevich. He played with Mika and Panarin. Even with that sort of supporting cast he is still not looking anything near as good as Blackwell has. All season so far.

We don't actually have to force him into big minutes. He clearly isn't one of those guys who came into the league ready to take it over. Let him develop.

I think playing Laf on the PP makes all the sense in the world despite the fact that he clearly hasn’t earned it. He needs to be put into a position to be a dynamic player. For whatever reason, he can’t be that right now at even strength, even when he’s flanked by the best players on the team.

Whatever can be done to kickstart him needs to be done because this kid absolutely has to work out.

 

[DialUp]

They will make the playoffs next year.

I would love for you to be right! For me, too many assumptions. If they do, it's a SURPRISE not a natural, expected progression of where they are now (or where they were at the end of last year). You can't count on surprises in this league for long term success.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

No but we had to send Theo Fleury to rehab when he was having a monster season after his disastrous first year.

Lol #throwback!

 

[CasusBelli]

It's a f***ing mystery to me. I watch highlights from Laf in the Q and I'm like

It wouldn’t be the first instance of a legendary CHL producer just flopping in the majors. I’m not saying that will be the case — way too early to tell — but, as another poster indicated, he did have an age advantage over his peers.

 

[Anthony5967]

Chytil, Kakko, Panarin, Trouba and Miller would displace a lot of those.

Where's the depth after three years? You mentioned five players. Aside from Panarin and Miller having good years so far, and Chytil's five games, they need a lot more help. Their rebuild was expedited when they traded for a Fox, signed Panarin, and then got lucky with two picks in the top-2 and one in the top-10 (Kravtsov)

 

[Tob]

I can feel how annoyed all the patient people who aren't ready to throw quinn under the bus are feeling

 

[DuneGoon84]

Nearly spilled drink seeing this. Rofl

 

[Crease]

It's a f***ing mystery to me. I watch highlights from Laf in the Q and I'm like

He’s somehow less explosive than Stepan

 

[rdhstlr23]

LaFreniere has been around some dirty spots and thought he might get a tough, greasy goal that period.

His best chance was a whiff on a rebound and a one timer where the puck bounced right over the stick.

Fine with loading 6-3, would love to see Zibanejad, LaFreniere, Fox or Kreider get the goal.

 

[Rangers in 7]

I’m very torn on laf, I can honestly say I have no idea what the f*** is going on with him. He’s not showing any elite skills. I mean none. We know from watching him play in juniors the skill he has. It’s like he doesn’t want to make a mistake so he just does nothing at all

 

[MetalJaws]

It was a different year than any other prospect ever went through, he should have went to world juniors, him not playing hockey for 10 months did nothing to help him get up to speed, especially given he was joining a faster league than he last played 10 months before

I understand there are many valid points as to why he's underperforming. However you'd think a kid of his calibre, with his pedigree, would adapt quickly with all his NHL readiness blah blah.

Some players you're just like. Damn this kid is special. I've been waiting for that moment. Haven't had it once yet.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Anybody liking brodzinsky better than howden?

 

[Machinehead]

I genuinely miss when the Rangers were the team who grinder out wins against more skilled teams. This team doesn’t grind AT ALL. It’s all skill. Most teams who play these guys on a nightly basis must love playing these guys.

The problem is, it's not skill either.

There's no oomph. There's no flair. Whatever you wanna call it. That goes for the skill and the grit.

Lafreniere looks afraid. Kakko looked afraid last year. On the other side of the coin, Lemieux isn't half as annoying as I wanted him to be. We never cycle despite having guys who are good at it.

It goes back to the lack of a plan. "Do it hard" can't be your gameplan. Do what hard?

I never bought the player's coach vs tactician dichotomy. If you don't have tactics, there's nothing to apply a mindset to.

 

[NYSPORTS]

he’s got that Tommy Shelby look

 

[DialUp]

He’s somehow less explosive than Stepan

EXACTLY! I got roasted here a few weeks back for saying he "skated like Stepan". It was kind of a joke, but..not fcking really. Dude's feet are moving through muck.

 

[Tob]

The alternating pictures of Quinn and Obama is going to push me over the line

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Some of you guys gotta step away from the phone and take a breath lol

Lafreniere will be fine

 

[Synergy27]

I almost exclusively watch him every shift. Most the time he's not really moving to open ice or trying to jump in the play. You can tell he never calls for the puck because he literally never has it on his stick.

I don't see anything that was advertised. Sure, he'll probably be one hell of a Ranger long term, god I hope so, But man he's way behind his peers and far behind his prospect/scouting reports.

I'll give em 7-10 games to figure out the speed but man this is getting a little long.

This is exactly where I am. These last two seasons have been the first in a long time where I have watched every game. I am here basically only because I am excited to have the opportunity to watch these two top picks grow. Been nothing short of a disappointment so far.

 

[RickChartraw]

Jonny Brod with almost 7 minutes. Julien with almost 4.

Lemieux with 5min, almost 2 on the pp. what the hell is going on here?

 

[Machinehead]

I think calling a team unprepared is just an easy narrative for fans to bestow on a coach/game.

They may be unprepared, but it’s really difficult to prove that.

Vets making the same mistakes? Fair. But also, some of the positions these guys are put in, is because of all the guys out. Is what it is.

It's difficult to prove that?

They've had a quality first period once all year.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I really hate this haven't played in 10 months excuse. Rust sure but almost 20 games in it has to stop being an excuse. K'andre barely played too but he steadied immediately.

Why does it have to stop being an excuse for a teenager in his first 17 games in a league 2 levels above what he last played 10 months ago? Kandre is 2 years older than Lafreniere so you can't compare how they fit in the league for another 2 years.

 

[CasusBelli]

Where's the depth after three years? You mentioned five players. Aside from Panarin and Miller having good years so far, and Chytil's five games, they need a lot more help. Their rebuild was expedited when they traded for a Fox, signed Panarin, and then got lucky with two picks in the top-2 and one in the top-10 (Kravtsov)

I think we’re going to regret that Kravtsov pick. Was skeptical at the time, as I often am with Russian players, and I’m only increasing my conviction.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I think we agree on the same thing.We can both see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But this tunnel, at least the part we’ve traversed so far, is darker than the dark ages. Those times were bad because there was no hope. In the moment though, the product was arguably better than what we’ve witnessed in 2020. And that team didn’t have to kick one of its better players off the team or a Russian media scandal to deal with.

Like I said its been a rough 16 games and the chances of them making the playoffs with so many key players out of the lineup is slim but future is very bright.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

strome keeps making these awful passes

 

[Anthony5967]

I’m very torn on laf, I can honestly say I have no idea what the f*** is going on with him. He’s not showing any elite skills. I mean none. We know from watching him play in juniors the skill he has. It’s like he doesn’t want to make a mistake so he just does nothing at all

Maybe he sees he's playing less and less, how the coach is focusing on guys that play that defensive game and does not want to make a mistake