Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II

[Rangerfans]

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.

How could anyone want him to get more ice time when he's literally a black hole when it comes to possession. The kid has been given every chance to succeed and he will continue to get every chance to succeed, but he hasn't played well.

 

[HFBS]

We obviously don't know what the future will bring but I can't imagine at this point most of us would be in favor of taking this guy again. It's not just that he's been bad, he's been nothing. You could forgive him for trying to take over a game and failing but the most common time that I notice him is him standing still up against the boards with the puck waiting for someone to come over and take the puck away from him.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

We obviously don't know what the future will bring but I can't imagine at this point most of us would be in favor of taking this guy again. It's not just that he's been bad, he's been nothing. You could forgive him for trying to take over a game and failing but the most common time that I notice him is him standing still up against the boards with the puck waiting for someone to come over and take the puck away from him.

I still would not take Byfield or Stützle* over him. Lafrenière is not the issue here.

I am 100% convinced that if you put Stützle on this team, he'd have 4 points max. This team just isn't playing a style of hockey nor has a spot available for a kid like Lafrenière to thrive. That's not his fault.


*I am a big Stützle fan and would love to see him on the Rangers some day but the draft was, and still is, a no-brainer.

 

[HFBS]

I still would not take Byfield or Stützle* over him. Lafrenière is not the issue here.

I am 100% convinced that if you put Stützle on this team, he'd have 4 points max. This team just isn't playing a style of hockey nor has a spot available for a kid like Lafrenière to thrive. That's not his fault.


*I am a big Stützle fan and would love to see him on the Rangers some day but the draft was, and still is, a no-brainer.

What style do we have to play to have Lafrenière make an end to end rush and either score or set up a goal the way he's done his entire hockey life? I don't see him doing anything but lose the puck, no matter where his is on the ice. Is that the style we play, stand there and lose battles all over the ice? Does the rest of the team do this? Yeah, Trouba and Howden do it but do we blame our 'style' on that?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

What style do we have to play to have Lafrenière make an end to end rush and either score or set up a goal the way he's done his entire hockey life? I don't see him doing anything but lose the puck, no matter where his is on the ice. Is that the style we play, stand there and lose battles all over the ice? Does the rest of the team do this? Yeah, Trouba and Howden do it but do we blame our 'style' on that?

I just have a hard time believing that back-to-back consensus top-2 selections struggle on the same team and it being on the players. Can't really blame scouting for this either.

 

[CasusBelli]

I just have a hard time believing that back-to-back consensus top-2 selections struggle on the same team and it being on the players. Can't really blame scouting for this either.

Imagine picking the fourth BAP according to scouting and having him bust while the consensus 1OA flourishes elsewhere. Gorton would get fired on the spot. Just playing it safe. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting Jimmy Stu to be this good, let alone in his first year.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Imagine picking the fourth BAP according to scouting and having him bust while the consensus 1OA flourishes elsewhere. Gorton would get fired on the spot. Just playing it safe. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting Jimmy Stu to be this good, let alone in his first year.

Not one single team would have taken Stützle 1st overall in this draft. This isn't like the 2012 and 2017 draft where there were serious debates about who would go first overall. Or actually the 2021 in the months leading up to it, we still don't have a real stand-out prospect taking that top spot.

Two years in a row, the New York Rangers had the easiest decision in the draft in Kakko at 2 and Lafrenière at 1. There was no debate. Nobody would have picked anyone else in those spots.

 

[Nickmo82]

I know he hasn't #EarnedIt, but I'd try him back with Mika and Buch now that they are both scoring. Last time he played with those guys, Mika was AWOL.

 

[IronBloodedLion]

I know the coaching staff has an “earn your time” mentality, but I feel like him or Kakko on PP1 is a no brainer. That line desperately needs a left handed shot, and we all know he can snipe the puck. Gives him a chance to play with the other skill players too.

Plus if anything on the team needs help right now it’s the PP. Right now it’s just “put all the skilled vets together and pray for a goal.”

 

[ThirdEye]

He’s been a bit disappointing overall but to say he’s been “nothing” is just plain hyperbole. If Mika and Strome weren’t absolute dog poop the first two months of the season and he had a bit more luck he’d easily be at 15 points or so right now which isn’t too bad given he hadn’t skated in months prior to the start of camp. I know, could woulda shoulda, but it’s a legit argument.

I think he needs to slim down a bit and become more athletic during the offseason. Seems to have bulked up a bit much which is probably diminishing the explosiveness we’ve seen from him in the Q

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

can someone explain how howden has more shifts and minutes than laffy in 3 of the last 5 games? so much for developing our players of the future.

also getting this bad feeling the kid line might be discontinued during the next 5 games. whoever is running the show should let this line be together for remainder of the season. it'll be a gauge whether chytil can consistently center a line of his own for a long duration and if those other 2 can match the hype reaped upon them.

 

[Matz03]

I know he hasn't #EarnedIt, but I'd try him back with Mika and Buch now that they are both scoring. Last time he played with those guys, Mika was AWOL.

This is really not a bad idea to try again, balance out the lines a bit, the kid line is struggling a bit Laf-Mika-Buch, Kreider-Chytil-Kakko. I’m not a fan of Kakko and Laf together at this point. Both players are playing really conservative. You can also push up Kakko to Mikas right and drop Buch to the Laf-Chytil line.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I think this season was a rude awakening for Laf. He hadn't played in a while, no preseason games, and then playing in the NHL under Quinn. It's alot for a 19 yo rookie to handle even with his talents. I'm not excusing him either. He has been a disappointment on the score sheet and looked lost at times this year. I think we will see a totally different player next year after an offseason of training and being better prepared for the season. That plus the likelihood that Quinn won't be coaching this team next year. I laugh at the people calling him a bust after 30 NHL games during this clusterf*ck of a season.

 

[will1066]

I know he hasn't #EarnedIt, but I'd try him back with Mika and Buch now that they are both scoring. Last time he played with those guys, Mika was AWOL.

The problem with this to me is that he will drag those two back into slumps rather than get his game elevated. He's not playing at an NHL pace or intensity, even as subpar as our team's compared with other league teams.

 

[will1066]

can someone explain how howden has more shifts and minutes than laffy in 3 of the last 5 games? so much for developing our players of the future.

also getting this bad feeling the kid line might be discontinued during the next 5 games. whoever is running the show should let this line be together for remainder of the season. it'll be a gauge whether chytil can consistently center a line of his own for a long duration and if those other 2 can match the hype reaped upon them.

Howden kills penalties, so he gets minutes from there.

 

[Kords]

I think this season was a rude awakening for Laf. He hadn't played in a while, no preseason games, and then playing in the NHL under Quinn. It's alot for a 19 yo rookie to handle even with his talents. I'm not excusing him either. He has been a disappointment on the score sheet and looked lost at times this year. I think we will see a totally different player next year after an offseason of training and being better prepared for the season. That plus the likelihood that Quinn won't be coaching this team next year. I laugh at the people calling him a bust after 30 NHL games during this clusterf*ck of a season.

Yup, spot on.

This is a meat grinder of a season, particularly in this division. He is starting to look a little wore out from the scheduling. If he still looks flat footed tomorrow against the Sabres, i'd give him Thursday off and maybe Saturday too. A full week to recharge his batteries could benefit the kid and the team down the line. Though I shutter to imagine how the interwebs would react...

 

[HFBS]

The problem with this to me is that he will drag those two back into slumps rather than get his game elevated. He's not playing at an NHL pace or intensity, even as subpar as our team's compared with other league teams.

Which is my problem with him. The only time you notice him is when he's losing a battle for the puck, being both outworked and out-muscled. We were also told he played with en "edge". If he has an edge it's been invisible.

 

[Mugless]

I don't think the debate should be Lafreniere vs. Stutzle alone. The debate should be Lafreniere vs. the package of players/picks you possibly could have gotten for trading #1. I'm not saying the pick should have been traded, but I think the argument to consider is something like a trade with Ottawa, who had multiple first rounders. Lafreniere vs. Stutzle/Lundell/+. Can't be sure Ottawa made the offer, but you'd have to think there was some discussion.

 

[HFBS]

I know the coaching staff has an “earn your time” mentality, but I feel like him or Kakko on PP1 is a no brainer. That line desperately needs a left handed shot, and we all know he can snipe the puck. Gives him a chance to play with the other skill players too.

Even good power plays only have one 'sniper' and we have one of the best. So far I see no indication that either one of them can snipe at this point, so why would you dilute our power play with them? Our problem is no DeAngelo, not a lack of a sniper.

 

[will1066]

Even good power plays only have one 'sniper' and we have one of the best. So far I see no indication that either one of them can snipe at this point, so why would you dilute our power play with them? Our problem is no DeAngelo, not a lack of a sniper.

I just had a thought about a left-handed shot at the point who can shoot the puck, playing catch with Panarin at the left circle.

 

[clmetsfan]

Even good power plays only have one 'sniper' and we have one of the best. So far I see no indication that either one of them can snipe at this point, so why would you dilute our power play with them? Our problem is no DeAngelo, not a lack of a sniper.

DeAngelo didn't even play with the first PP unit.

 

[LokiDog]

DeAngelo didn't even play with the first PP unit.

He most certainly did...

 

[GAGLine]

Stutzle is a better skater than Laf, which makes it easier for him to create separation. He is given more ice time and a more prominent role on a bad team (nearly 3 minutes of PP time per game). He also has experience playing against men and got to warm up playing in the WJC. It's not surprising that he is doing better. But more points as a rookie doesn't mean he will be the better player long term.

Laf's skating will likely improve, but where he really needs to improve is the pace at which he processes the game. And he will. He isn't the first kid to struggle with it and he won't be the last, but he has shown good vision and hockey IQ at every other level, and we've seen flashes of it at the NHL level. He's been dominating against kids for the last 2 years. Playing in the NHL is a big adjustment, no matter who you are.

But I get it. We all want instant gratification. No one wants to read posts by other fans calling him (or Kakko) a bust. But that type of stuff shouldn't be driving the Rangers' decision making when it comes to developing these kids.

 

[haveandare]

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.

No coach is going to purposely not try to win games. Kids can play all game long if they actually make a difference sometimes. Look at Miller for an example. Laf, unfortunately so far, is barely there most of the time. He’ll make some eye popping passes now and then but aside from that you barely notice him. No coach should be rewarding this play with extra toi. Guys with a fraction of his talent actually show up and skate and at least try to make things happen shift to shift. He needs to at least start to do that. He had a real motor in juniors. If he can’t make a huge impact on the scoresheet at this level yet, that’s fine, but skate.

 

[NYRFAN218]

I know the coaching staff has an “earn your time” mentality, but I feel like him or Kakko on PP1 is a no brainer. That line desperately needs a left handed shot, and we all know he can snipe the puck. Gives him a chance to play with the other skill players too.

Plus if anything on the team needs help right now it’s the PP. Right now it’s just “put all the skilled vets together and pray for a goal.”

100% agreed and I posted this in the PGT the other night and Vally also alluded to it the other night. Strome on that half board eliminates Panarin dishing it out to the other side for quick shots or 1 timers. A lefty on that side of the ice is important especially when the only lefty on the entire unit is in front of the net. Give Laf a shot there or even Kakko.

PP1: Fox, Mika, Panarin, Laf, Kreider
PP2: Strome, Chytil, Buch, Kakko, Trouba

Miller should be nowhere near the power play and if you really wanted to spread the talent around to have 2 units that actually work I wouldn't be opposed to swapping Fox and Trouba. But I'd definitely give that PP1 spot to Laf. Like Brooks wrote in the article the other day, it's important you give these kids the ice time and chances to flourish as our long term success hinges on them.