Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II

[Synergy27]

That two on one pass above Kakko's knee was alarming.

The Caps announcers said that he was practicing the super high saucer pass all warmup. That was a major WTF moment for me too, but perhaps this team just gives Alexis very narrow things to focus on each game? Grasping at straws maybe, I dunno.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That two on one pass above Kakko's knee was alarming.

I have noticed Laf often puts the puck in the air on his backhand passes even if nobody is in between the pass. I do not know if that is based on his stick curve/lie are just a bad habit from practicing lifting the puck on backhand shots.

 

[Machinehead]

Why not? If he's as good as he has been for us it's worth it. Worst comes to worst we LTIR him. He's not even old... trading him would open up a huge hole in the lineup.

I firmly believe the inconsistencies in his play are due to him breaking down. It's going to get worse, not better.

 

[Sayba]

Do people honestly keep tuning in every game hoping this must surely be the night?

Yeah it sucks but he’s not going to magically be a star 48 hours later.

You hope to see improvement and more engagement, not sure we are seeing much of either.

I remember Brandon Dubinsky's first year, I didn't think he was a NHL player at first. He showed he belonged very quickly and to be a good player at that.

I would just like to see a little more improvement, especially from a 1OA pick who was born the same year as Kakko.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Is the Q still running ?

 

[CLW]

I mean, I do and I don’t. My brain and my eyes tell me that I’m waiting until next year at best, but then you have the “not concerned” crowd and the analytics crowd trying to say that both are playing great and that the puck luck dam is about to break.

Honestly though, and I’ve mentioned this before, these kids are the only reason I’m watching so intently this year. I have two kids and a very busy life now (COVID notwithstanding) and it’s been a long time since I’ve been this invested. It’s 100% because they finally decided to rebuild and we were “rewarded” with these top talents. All I want to do is watch them grow and become the players we were all so excited about on successive draft days.

Panarin, Zibenijad, Buch etc all broke out when they were around 25. That's a LOT of development time for kids aged 19/20. I keep thinking of the old Romans, they reckoned it took 4 years to build up a recruit (from the age of 20 to 24) to the standard of an elite legionnaire. Look at Zib this year, without that first step explosiveness and speed he is average, with his full speed he is dominant.

Laf looks a bit shell shocked and overwhelmed atm, like Kakko did last year. That knee height back hand pass is not something I'd expect to see from a player like Laf if he was at the top of his game, or Kakko deciding to pass instead of shooting at an open goal from a few feet out.

Once the kids hit their full stride they will be fine, it just sucks to be in that pre-/in between period IF you expect them to dominate from the get go. Even so, it was good to see the kid line tilt the ice against Cup winner standard NHLers (Backstrom line) like they did the last game against the Caps for two periods.

 

[Sayba]

Laf in 29 games played only has 37 shots on goal. I'd like to see him with double that.

 

[Synergy27]

Panarin, Zibenijad, Buch etc all broke out when they were around 25. That's a LOT of development time for kids aged 19/20. I keep thinking of the old Romans, they reckoned it took 4 years to build up a recruit (from the age of 20 to 24) to the standard of an elite legionnaire. Look at Zib this year, without that first step explosiveness and speed he is average, with his full speed he is dominant.

Laf looks a bit shell shocked and overwhelmed atm, like Kakko did last year. That knee height back hand pass is not something I'd expect to see from a player like Laf if he was at the top of his game, or Kakko deciding to pass instead of shooting at an open goal from a few feet out.

Once the kids hit their full stride they will be fine, it just sucks to be in that pre-/in between period IF you expect them to dominate from the get go. Even so, it was good to see the kid line tilt the ice against Cup winner standard NHLers (Backstrom line) like they did the last game against the Caps for two periods.

This is all fine. It’s also not relevant.

None of those guys were top 2 picks. Top 2 picks, by definition, are supposed to be on steeper development curves than everyone else. They are also supposed to get you elite production for cheap, which is why they are so critical in the cap era.

 

[CLW]

This is all fine. It’s also not relevant.

None of those guys were top 2 picks. Top 2 picks, by definition, are supposed to be on steeper development curves than everyone else. They are also supposed to get you elite production for cheap, which is why they are so critical in the cap era.

Supposed this and theory that. Who is seriously looking at 19/20 yo's for elite production?

 

[Synergy27]

Supposed this and theory that. Who is seriously looking at 19/20 yo's for elite production?

Every team lucky enough to land a first overall draft pick.

 

[CLW]

Every team lucky enough to land a first overall draft pick.

Subjective expectations meet reality.

 

[Machinehead]

This is all fine. It’s also not relevant.

None of those guys were top 2 picks. Top 2 picks, by definition, are supposed to be on steeper development curves than everyone else. They are also supposed to get you elite production for cheap, which is why they are so critical in the cap era.

We always hear this but who's actually won the Cup with all these teenagers in their lineup producing at an elite level on an ELC?

I feel like it's just one of those things people just say that doesn't actually happen.

The Kings and Pens combined for four Cups with some of the oldest rosters in the league. What ELC's did the Lightning have last year besides Cirelli who is 25 and was late bloomer?

 

[Synergy27]

We always hear this but who's actually won the Cup with all these teenagers in their lineup producing at an elite level on an ELC?

I feel like it's just one of those things people just say that doesn't actually happen.

The Kings and Pens combined for four Cups with some of the oldest rosters in the league. What ELC's did the Lightning have last year besides Cirelli who is 25 and was late bloomer?

Yeah, you know, I can’t really argue this.

 

[McRanger]

We always hear this but who's actually won the Cup with all these teenagers in their lineup producing at an elite level on an ELC?

I feel like it's just one of those things people just say that doesn't actually happen.

The Kings and Pens combined for four Cups with some of the oldest rosters in the league. What ELC's did the Lightning have last year besides Cirelli who is 25 and was late bloomer?

The Blackhawks in 2010?

 

[Machinehead]

The Blackhawks in 2010?

That's probably the last one, yeah. And ever since then everyone seems to think it's a prerequisite even as aging rosters won the next ten Cups.

Everyone is always chasing the secret sauce but there isn't one. You need a good roster and luck.

 

[EdJovanovski]

I hate how right by assessment of prospects is as I didn’t like Kakko or Lafreniere
I was also right that Laf should’ve went to the WJC

 

[DanielBrassard]

Malkin was on his ELC when Pitt won their first cup I believe as well. Getzlaf and Perry with Anaheim, Staal in Carolina. But yeah I think MH is right that it hasn't happened as much as it has been made out to happen.

 

[NickyFotiu]

If he turns out to be a point a game player nobody will care about a slow start. I'm actually more concerned with Kakko now.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

If we need to wait until these guys are 25 years old in order to break out like Buchnevich that’s not good enough. Zibanejad and Panarin will be geezers by then so our window will be closed. If neither Laf nor Kakko become impact players sooner than later this rebuild is DOA , unless my some miracle Kravtsov becomes that guy which is not likely.

 

[Hire Sather]

He's not an NHL player right now.

I'd send him to Hartford when Krav is eligible.

 

[Harbour Dog]

He's not an NHL player right now.

I'd send him to Hartford when Krav is eligible.

I think he would have to go to the Q, no?

 

[Hire Sather]

I think he would have to go to the Q, no?

Yep. Poor job outta me, not AHL eligible

 

[EdJovanovski]

If we need to wait until these guys are 25 years old in order to break out like Buchnevich that’s not good enough. Zibanejad and Panarin will be geezers by then so our window will be closed. If neither Laf nor Kakko become impact players sooner than later this rebuild is DOA , unless my some miracle Kravtsov becomes that guy which is not likely.

Kravtsov >>> Laf & Kakko
He’s gonna tell Quinn to go f*** himself, skate out there on his first shift blazing down the wing with a 60BPM heart rate, do his signature between the leg dangle and score

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I think he would have to go to the Q, no?

he would.

This send him down talk is nonsense.

Though if the coaching staff is going to continue to ride the vets like this, trade all the young kids for trusty veterans who you'll actually play.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Kakko is the one trending on Twitter but Laf has been horrendous lately