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Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II

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i'm not giving up on this kid - not by a longshot.

there's a player that's active in the league that also had a real awful rookie year at the age of 18. his numbers were very identical to laffy's. at age 21 he would wind up being an all star.

i'm not implying that laffy will be as good as this player, but i can still dream.
 
Amazing Kreiderman said:
He, Robertson and Miller spent a lot of time with Kreider and Prentiss in the off-season. I think a full off-season (Lafrenière basically had just 6 weeks after being drafted) would definitely help get him to that next level. But I think the system the Rangers are playing just doesn't allow for him to use his strengths.
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An off-season with CK training would transform Gumby into The Hulk. For that reason alone I’m comfortable giving him $2MM of his $6.5MM salary: he’ll more than add $2MM of value to the combined value of his mentees / trainees. Add another $1MM for leadership. That leaves $3.5MM for scoring and on-ice contributions. I’m cool with that for a consistent 20-goal second liner.
 
Literally nothing to worry about dudes.

The guy's going to be a stud.

I saw that goal even at 3-3, you saw his IQ off the charts & received a perfect pass & goal.
Even though Alexis's not performing to expectations, we saw his killer instinct with the puck & I think he'll score 40 goals at least in his prime.

His skating is above average like tons of elite players but his IQ is so off the charts to compensate but he hasn't had the linemates to show that. I've been watching hockey a long time & trust me the kid's going to be a stud. He will be so much stronger on the puck & so much quicker his sophomore year when he loses fat gains muscle & improves stickhandling.

He dominated the Q because his ability to outsmart the opposition to find high danger chances & outscore/exploit them.

The kid's 19 with no preseason or practice. We can't expect him to implement his biggest strengths on the biggest show right away. He's not being up to game speed, & as a 19 year old rookie simultaneously, we can expect Lafreniere to struggle production wise. Look at Nylander and how much he sucked when he took that time off. AL will be fine yo. Some players just take longer to develop, especially big guys. He's shown he belongs & is a slightly below average hockey player at 19. That is impressive in itself. Expectations from the media & insiders way too high for a kid.

He didn't look comfortable at first & maybe he doubted himself but he'll pick it up & won't be even anywhere CLOSE to a bust. It's all confidence. Once he finds it more & more he'll be a monster & scoring machine. Some power forward type players take longer to develop & Kappo & AL will be total studs & eventually PPG players at least.

Be patient these kids are young. A few more pieces and in a few years you'll be a dynasty.

Good luck this season,
-a genuine hockey fan,
 
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PANARIN BREAD FAN said:
i'm not giving up on this kid - not by a longshot.

there's a player that's active in the league that also had a real awful rookie year at the age of 18. his numbers were very identical to laffy's. at age 21 he would wind up being an all star.

i'm not implying that laffy will be as good as this player, but i can still dream.
Click to expand...
yea thornton had 7 points in 55 games his rookie year lmao

then 41 in 81 the next year
 
Eichitelharthlinsson said:
Literally nothing to worry about dudes.

The guy's going to be a stud.

I saw that goal even at 3-3, you saw his IQ off the charts & received a perfect pass & goal.
Even though Alexis's not performing to expectations, we saw his killer instinct with the puck & I think he'll score 40 goals at least in his prime.

His skating is above average like tons of elite players but his IQ is so off the charts to compensate but he hasn't had the linemates to show that. I've been watching hockey a long time & trust me the kid's going to be a stud. He will be so much stronger on the puck & so much quicker his sophomore year when he loses fat gains muscle & improves stickhandling.

He dominated the Q because his ability to outsmart the opposition to find high danger chances & outscore/exploit them.

The kid's 19 with no preseason or practice. We can't expect him to implement his biggest strengths on the biggest show right away. He's not being up to game speed, & as a 19 year old rookie simultaneously, we can expect Lafreniere to struggle production wise. Look at Nylander and how much he sucked when he took that time off. AL will be fine yo. Some players just take longer to develop, especially big guys. He's shown he belongs & is a slightly below average hockey player at 19. That is impressive in itself. Expectations from the media & insiders way too high for a kid.

He didn't look comfortable at first & maybe he doubted himself but he'll pick it up & won't be even anywhere CLOSE to a bust. It's all confidence. Once he finds it more & more he'll be a monster & scoring machine. Some power forward type players take longer to develop & Kappo & AL will be total studs & eventually PPG players at least.

Be patient these kids are young. A few more pieces and in a few years you'll be a dynasty.

Good luck this season,
-a genuine hockey fan,
Click to expand...

Really appreciate this from a fan of another team. So what do you want for Eichel?
 
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Laf looked more comfortable and confident in his latest interview. You can see it building.

Even he said it was 10 months since the last game he played before jumping right into a short camp and season.

It’s about 20 games in now. He’s gotten a chance to get more ice time and settle in. He’s absorbing all aspects of the game.

I think we will start to see more and more of the player the Rangers drafted as the season goes on.
 
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Eichitelharthlinsson said:
Literally nothing to worry about dudes.

The guy's going to be a stud.

I saw that goal even at 3-3, you saw his IQ off the charts & received a perfect pass & goal.
Even though Alexis's not performing to expectations, we saw his killer instinct with the puck & I think he'll score 40 goals at least in his prime.

His skating is above average like tons of elite players but his IQ is so off the charts to compensate but he hasn't had the linemates to show that. I've been watching hockey a long time & trust me the kid's going to be a stud. He will be so much stronger on the puck & so much quicker his sophomore year when he loses fat gains muscle & improves stickhandling.

He dominated the Q because his ability to outsmart the opposition to find high danger chances & outscore/exploit them.

The kid's 19 with no preseason or practice. We can't expect him to implement his biggest strengths on the biggest show right away. He's not being up to game speed, & as a 19 year old rookie simultaneously, we can expect Lafreniere to struggle production wise. Look at Nylander and how much he sucked when he took that time off. AL will be fine yo. Some players just take longer to develop, especially big guys. He's shown he belongs & is a slightly below average hockey player at 19. That is impressive in itself. Expectations from the media & insiders way too high for a kid.

He didn't look comfortable at first & maybe he doubted himself but he'll pick it up & won't be even anywhere CLOSE to a bust. It's all confidence. Once he finds it more & more he'll be a monster & scoring machine. Some power forward type players take longer to develop & Kappo & AL will be total studs & eventually PPG players at least.

Be patient these kids are young. A few more pieces and in a few years you'll be a dynasty.

Good luck this season,
-a genuine hockey fan,
Click to expand...
He's got that sixth sense for sure. On that assist yesterday he just dropped the puck into a spot without looking and BOOM there's Colin Blackwell. Just knew he would be there and saw the play happen before it happened.

We appreciate the input!
 
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Well they did fish out another Meaningless Stat, that Thornton made his first assist in what like 20ish or 30ish game. Guess few would complain if he turns out to be a Thornton...
 
admittedly I was keeping the cup bit in mind when posting))

as for the second point... wasn't Laf pitched as someone who's good at getting under other's skin?
 
tlk said:
admittedly I was keeping the cup bit in mind when posting))

as for the second point... wasn't Laf pitched as someone who's good at getting under other's skin?
Click to expand...

I haven't seen anything yet personally, but he's still finding his feet... so maybe when he grows in confidence.
 
Nickmo82 said:
I haven't seen anything yet personally, but he's still finding his feet... so maybe when he grows in confidence.
Click to expand...
If you watch highlights from WJC, Laf was throwing his body around everywhere. It's clearly a size and strength issue at the NHL level. I remember seeing him trying to throw a big hit last game. He had to use all of his momentum and put his entire body into it, and he still somewhat bounced off the player. He's aware of the size difference at the NHL so he's not trying to hit as often as he usually does. Once he grows into his body, I think you'll see it a lot more.

Excited about the prospect of him training with Kreider for a whole off season. Kakko should stick around and join them.
 
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The New Russian Five said:
If you watch highlights from WJC, Laf was throwing his body around everywhere. It's clearly a size and strength issue at the NHL level. I remember seeing him trying to throw a big hit last game. He had to use all of his momentum and put his entire body into it, and he still somewhat bounced off the player. He's aware of the size difference at the NHL so he's not trying to hit as often as he usually does. Once he grows into his body, I think you'll see it a lot more.

Excited about the prospect of him training with Kreider for a whole off season. Kakko should stick around and join them.
Click to expand...

I know Kakko trains with his Finnish buddies over in his homeland (which is really all he could do before the season anyway), but I dont know what his gym time is like or if he works with a specialist.

If he hasn't had a complete pro plan (we know he has the diet, which is just as important) its scary to think how this kid could develop physically in a Prentiss-like environment.

He's already taken the next step physically in his game, but you have to think there is a level or two more that he will grow into. Same goes for Laf. That comes with confidence both on and off the ice.
 
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HockeyBasedNYC said:
I know Kakko trains with his Finnish buddies over in his homeland (which is really all he could do before the season anyway), but I dont know what his gym time is like or if he works with a specialist.

If he hasn't had a complete pro plan (we know he has the diet, which is just as important) its scary to think how this kid could develop physically in a Prentiss-like environment.

He's already taken the next step physically in his game, but you have to think there is a level or two more that he will grow into. Same goes for Laf. That comes with confidence both on and off the ice.
Click to expand...
It made sense to go back to Finland last time. First season living abroad, English wasn't great yet, had a rough first year not meeting his own expectations, and then of course the pandemic. Of course he was home sick and it was good to go back home. But he looks way more comfortable this season, and I think staying here could do him wonders, especially in such an important development year.
 
I see in that video from yesterday Laf’s face is getting more angular. I also remember a while back after a shift going into tv timeout he remained on one knee kinda longish. Seems like a game shape issue is in need of working itself out.
 
ArPanet said:
I see in that video from yesterday Laf’s face is getting more angular. I also remember a while back after a shift going into tv timeout he remained on one knee kinda longish. Seems like a game shape issue is in need of working itself out.
Click to expand...

No doubt.

You would have to think that the 10 months of quarantining prior to camp was the only time in his conscious life that he wasn't playing competitive hockey in some capacity. He likely didn't go more than a couple of weeks off the ice.

That's a long time and not something a kid of his age has experienced. Throw in the pressures of a #1 in NYC and all that comes with it as well as being the anointed Quebec son...

Judging by all of his questions - I'm sure Dan Rosen is about to release an article about that and all of the other unique challenges any other first overall in the history of the game hasnt had to deal with.

So many other things like be prevented from going out to dinner with the team both in Manhattan and in other cities, seeing his parents & sister regularly & having them be in attendance for games, having NO fans at all in the stands up until this past week, going through the various daily protocols, etc. etc.

These things count for something in a teenager's development, trying to become a pro in a man's game. Yet he has handled it all very well and professionally. Fans really need to understand all of that.
 
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