Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II

[huerter]

I tried offering you guys the 3rd best player in the draft.

 

[JaeTM]

Yeah, buf and devs seemed a little scarier to me before the season which has changed my perception of our division of course, now as they've folded. Though our division is still filled with top ranking playoff teams. I don't want to use this as an excuse for our young guys. I honestly am even more impressed that they're hanging every night and some actually impressing under all the circumstances literally surrounding them daily. I think next year when we absolutely demolish 15 teams in multiple games each , you know, the teams some of these kids have played never or once. Cannot wait.

I finally see a decent (maybe a round win) playoff shot for the first time since Jesus, Staal and Holden out there with a minute left.

This is a good point which may benefit Laf and Kakko in the future (and as soon as next season); playing against these tough teams on a nightly basis this season. With a season under his belt and a normal schedule where you get to play lesser defensive teams, he'll find more room to succeed out there.

Laf looked pretty good to me in the first 20 or so games of the season. We all saw he clearly could have had multiple goals and a handful of points before he finally scored his first. Bad puck luck. He showed really good flashes there of high vision/IQ, puck handling skills, passing, shooting, etc. Obviously we all see he needs to work on his skating and engagements.

The kid line has moments but they haven't looked great as a line, still needing to gel with each other. Laf to me has shown more flashes of excellence and I expect him to be an elite player sooner rather than later.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

He looks like he has no idea where to be or what to do on the ice. Similar to how Kakko looked last year...

 

[Harbour Dog]

I tried offering you guys the 3rd best player in the draft.

Your point being?

You're still wrong.

 

[huerter]

Your point being?

You're still wrong.

Wrong? How could the person who offers the take it or leave it be wrong? I'm the banker.

 

[HFBS]

I dont care what Kakko and AL do this year or next. I care about what they do at 23 or 24. If they are stars at that point and carrying the Rangers who the hell cares how they looked at 19 or 20. I’m going to wait rather than burn them at the stake for sucking as teenagers or sophomores in a joke season with only 7 teams — 5 Cup contenders — on the schedule

Why would you think that what they do now has no relation to what they will be in 4 or 5 years? You seem to be implying that they are guaranteed future stars and we just have to hold our collective breath until that inevitability comes true.

While we are all hoping that is the case - and they will be starring for the Rangers - you saying it isn't worth the LCD it's written on.

If you are watching potential Olympic 100 meter sprinters and guarantee that a runner that finishes in 20 seconds is a future Olympian, no one's putting a ten spot on it.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Wrong? How could the person who offers the take it or leave it be wrong? I'm the banker.

You're not "offering the take it or leave it". You're trying to rub it in our faces that you're right.

It makes you come across as the only Rangers fan on the planet who is actively rooting against Lafreniere.

That's the difference in you and a guy like @KirkAlbuquerque . I don't agree with most of what he says about the kids, but he's angry and he wants them to be better. As a Rangers fan, I understand that.

But you're giving off a 'cat that ate the canary vibe'. Except you HAVEN'T eaten the canary, you only think that you have. We can all see the canary flitting around the room with as good or better a chance as all the rest of the canaries, to become the biggest, meanest canary. Then we look back to you, sitting in the middle of the room, grinning from ear to ear, announcing loudly that you have eaten the canary. But you haven't f***ing eaten him. I can see him right there; perched on the bookshelf. And we all own this aviary together. Why do you want to eat the canary in the first place!?

That kind of vibe.

 

[duhmetreE]

He looks like he has no idea where to be or what to do on the ice. Similar to how Kakko looked last year...

That's a common theme with this squad.

What other teams runs into eachother in transition?

 

[huerter]

You're not "offering the take it or leave it". You're trying to rub it in our faces that you're right.

It makes you come across as the only Rangers fan on the planet who is actively rooting against Lafreniere.

That's the difference in you and a guy like @KirkAlbuquerque . I don't agree with most of what he says about the kids, but he's angry and he wants them to be better. As a Rangers fan, I understand that.

But you're giving off a 'cat that ate the canary vibe'. Except you HAVEN'T eaten the canary, you only think that you have. We can all see the canary flitting around the room with as good or better a chance as all the rest of the canaries, to become the biggest, meanest canary. Then we look back to you, sitting in the middle of the room, grinning from ear to ear, announcing loudly that you have eaten the canary. But you haven't f***ing eaten him. I can see him right there; perched on the bookshelf. And we all own this aviary together. Why do you want to eat the canary in the first place!?

That kind of vibe.

Ok Riiiiichie. Someone woke up bitter today.

All I'm doing is taking the temperature of the room. And it's reading that an offer that people scoffed at a few months ago might be more entiiiiiiicing now. And it wasn't an insulting offer in the first place! That's why I'm the king of take it or leave its.

 

[Synergy27]

That zone entry that Laf made late-ish in the second period tonight? Yes, more of that please. A flash, if you will.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

That zone entry that Laf made late-ish in the second period tonight? Yes, more of that please. A flash, if you will.

The one where he fired the puck on net?

 

[Synergy27]

The one where he fired the puck on net?

That one too but no. It was shortly after the save on Buchnevich (I think) after a quick, typical, over passing play. The puck ended up back in the Rangers zone and then Laf came off the bench, took a long pass, and beat two players down the opposite side of the rink. It was fast, decisive, confident, and “handsy”.

4:05 remaining in the 2nd period.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

You don't care about the present, at all?

If I had told you before the season that Laf wouldn't be a top-10 scoring rookie, you would have concluded that would mean that he was injured for over half the season.

Actually, you would still have been surprised that he didn't crack the top 10.

I don’t care about rookie scoring placement. Any rookie-year achievement is just gravy and media guide filler.

Besides, the Rangers already had an established top-6 when they drafted these two kids. I went on several podcasts telling Rangers fans to temper expectations surrounding Lafreniere’s production.

He’s a bottom-6 producing like a bottom-6. Won’t be for long.

 

[AlternateSideParking]

Why would you think that what they do now has no relation to what they will be in 4 or 5 years? You seem to be implying that they are guaranteed future stars and we just have to hold our collective breath until that inevitability comes true.

While we are all hoping that is the case - and they will be starring for the Rangers - you saying it isn't worth the LCD it's written on.

If you are watching potential Olympic 100 meter sprinters and guarantee that a runner that finishes in 20 seconds is a future Olympian, no one's putting a ten spot on it.

Two words.

Joe. Thornton.

Two more words,

Jimmy. Carson.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Two words.

Joe. Thornton.

Two more words,

Jimmy. Carson.

Owen Nolan, whose career took off after a coaching change....

 

[duhmetreE]

He has a phenomenal shot. We need a coach to drill it in... To him and Panarin... To put themselves in position to be a threat to shoot.

They both have similar habits in that they want to be the QB. They sometimes wait for the puck along the perimeter.

Has anyone gone 50-50 in the modern era?

 

[chosen]

I don’t care about rookie scoring placement. Any rookie-year achievement is just gravy and media guide filler.

Besides, the Rangers already had an established top-6 when they drafted these two kids. I went on several podcasts telling Rangers fans to temper expectations surrounding Lafreniere’s production.

He’s a bottom-6 producing like a bottom-6. Won’t be for long.

For an average rookie, I would agree with you. For a unanimous 1st pick of a draft, who some thought might be a generational talent, it's a huge disappointment.

He could still end up a perennial all-star, though.

We have established he's not a generational talent, and it's up in the air whether he becomes a superstar, but hope springs eternal because of guys like MacKinnon, who developed a bit slower, but he has always been a phenomenal skater.

Right now, Lafraniere is at the very best, an average NHL skater. Some think he's less than that. Presumably, in his second season, his skating will vastly improve, because that will be the focus of his off-season.

He already has outstanding vision, plays very smart hockey, and is already physical enough.

I still assume we'll all be ecstatic to have him, but absolutely no one thought his stats would be this dismal in his first season. A 20-point pace is pretty shocking for him.

 

[haveandare]

That one too but no. It was shortly after the save on Buchnevich (I think) after a quick, typical, over passing play. The puck ended up back in the Rangers zone and then Laf came off the bench, took a long pass, and beat two players down the opposite side of the rink. It was fast, decisive, confident, and “handsy”.

4:05 remaining in the 2nd period.

Yeah I noticed that, too. It was very nice little flash and something he has to do more of. He’s faster than I realized when he really skates hard.

 

[TUQ]

For an average rookie, I would agree with you. For a unanimous 1st pick of a draft, who some thought might be a generational talent, it's a huge disappointment.

He could still end up a perennial all-star, though.

We have established he's not a generational talent, and it's up in the air whether he becomes a superstar, but hope springs eternal because of guys like MacKinnon, who developed a bit slower, but he has always been a phenomenal skater.

Right now, Lafraniere is at the very best, an average NHL skater. Some think he's less than that. Presumably, in his second season, his skating will vastly improve, because that will be the focus of his off-season.

He already has outstanding vision, plays very smart hockey, and is already physical enough.

I still assume we'll all be ecstatic to have him, but absolutely no one thought his stats would be this dismal in his first season. A 20-point pace is pretty shocking for him.

I see a lot of young Pastrňák in him (notwithstanding the fact that Pasta played half of his first season in the AHL)

 

[LokiDog]

He has a phenomenal shot. We need a coach to drill it in... To him and Panarin... To put themselves in position to be a threat to shoot.

They both have similar habits in that they want to be the QB. They sometimes wait for the puck along the perimeter.

Has anyone gone 50-50 in the modern era?

Ovechkin

05-06: 52/54 (as a rookie!)
08-09: 56/54
09-10: 50/59

Also went 46/46 in 06-07 and 65/47 in 07-08.

People have really forgotten how incredible Ovie’s career was and act like he’s always been a one-timer machine. Guy is still hammering 50 goal seasons into his mid 30s. Fell two short last year due to the stoppage. Lost a full year to a lockout, half year to a lockout, 14 games last year to Covid, half a year this year to Covid. More 50/50 seasons in the modern era than any of the stars who are deemed superior to him. Should hit, or come right up to, 600 career assists this year on top of his 720+ goals.

Jagr in 05-06 54/69 (for us). Also had 52/69 in 2001

Crosby in 09-10 51/58

Malkin in 11-12 50/59

Draisaitl in 18-19: 50/55

Also went 43/67 in 71 last year so it was possible.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Funny to read in this thread the infrequent comps between Stutzle and Draisaitl--easy enough as 3OA German centers. OTOH Draisaitl was very slow out the gate from a numbers standpoint, and frankly is still a mediocre skater at best. There's a lot more Draisaitl in Lafreniere's game than in Stutzle's IMO.

 

[chosen]

I see a lot of young Pastrňák in him (notwithstanding the fact that Pasta played half of his first season in the AHL)

Because I'm old, he reminds me of Shanahan as a rookie.

The stats weren't there for him either, as a rookie.

Both show glimpses of outstanding ability.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

well, even with his struggles and is disinterested play, after the games he's all smiles and looks like a great teammate. Not moping, or looking like he's about to cry like Kakko lol

 

[The New Russian Five]

well, even with his struggles and is disinterested play, after the games he's all smiles and looks like a great teammate. Not moping, or looking like he's about to cry like Kakko lol

There is good and bad to that. It's good that he maintains a positive attitude, but you'd like to see some type of frustration from the kid too. That he isn't content with the way he is playing. With Kakko, sure he mopes, but you can see the competitive spirit in it where he is doing whatever he can to be better. Right now I have more confidence in Kakko to improve because he looks like he wants to do better.

 

[LORDE]

For an average rookie, I would agree with you. For a unanimous 1st pick of a draft, who some thought might be a generational talent, it's a huge disappointment.

He could still end up a perennial all-star, though.

We have established he's not a generational talent, and it's up in the air whether he becomes a superstar, but hope springs eternal because of guys like MacKinnon, who developed a bit slower, but he has always been a phenomenal skater.

Right now, Lafraniere is at the very best, an average NHL skater. Some think he's less than that. Presumably, in his second season, his skating will vastly improve, because that will be the focus of his off-season.

He already has outstanding vision, plays very smart hockey, and is already physical enough.

I still assume we'll all be ecstatic to have him, but absolutely no one thought his stats would be this dismal in his first season. A 20-point pace is pretty shocking for him.

This post makes me sad... usually ur posts make me angry.

I'd like to go back to that now thanks.