Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II

[Peltz]

Guy is in his second season in show and people are calling him bust and being concerned.

This board really has some quick hot takes. Just because he was picked first does not mean he is going to produce. People are spoiled because of Matthews, McDavid etc.

He's not a bust, but I also don't think he's earning first line minutes right now. He's coughing up the puck too much.

I think you need to put him on the third line with Chytil until he finds his game. Kakko should be on the top line and Blais sould move up to the second.

Laf has the skill to do amazing things, but he's failing at the simpler parts of the game. Transitioning up the ice and doing the right things to pin the opposing team in the offensive zone.

 

[bl02]

He's not a bust, but I also don't think he's earning first line minutes right now. He's coughing up the puck too much.

I think you need to put him on the third line with Chytil until he finds his game. Kakko should be on the top line and Blais sould move up to the second.

If we are being objective this above is totally correct he’s not even close to earning first line action and neither is kreider btw.
Kakko and Blais were better game 1 and all preseason

 

[Kiekura]

He's not a bust, but I also don't think he's earning first line minutes right now. He's coughing up the puck too much.

I think you need to put him on the third line with Chytil until he finds his game. Kakko should be on the top line and Blais sould move up to the second.

Laf has the skill to do amazing things, but he's failing at the simpler parts of the game. Transitioning up the ice and doing the right things to pin the opposing team in the offensive zone.

Yeah absolutely agree.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He'll be fine. My biggest issue is, he needs to want the puck more.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I'd just like to see a bit more out of a guy who was #1 overall and was said to be on the same tier as Matthews as or prospect or slightly below. Even just flashes. He's not involved in the play like he should be. It's still early and no reason to go crazy but it would be nice to see.

 

[duhmetreE]

Best way to describe it Laf is still thinking too much.

Needs to get comfortable and his flow state

 

[Trxjw]

I'd really like to see him taken off the line with Zibanejad. There is just absolutely no chemistry between those two. Put him with Blais and Chytil. Those two have something going and need a skill guy on their wing.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Much like Kaako's game suffering playing with Panarin. I think Laf tries to hard to play a role to fit a vet's need vs playing his own game. He was running around trying his best Sammy Blaze impression because he wanted to be the grinder on that line. Laf you are a dynamic playmaker, stop, hold onto the puck and make a play.

Kaako in preseason without Panarin was a puck hog driving up and down the ice. Kaako with Panarin, "where's bread? I gotta give him the puck"

Both these kids suffer the same symptoms. Gallant needs to succeed where Quinn failed, tell them to play their game and stop trying to make the vets happy.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Much like Kaako's game suffering playing with Panarin. I think Laf tries to hard to play a role to fit a vet's need vs playing his own game. He was running around trying his best Sammy Blaze impression because he wanted to be the grinder on that line. Laf you are a dynamic playmaker, stop, hold onto the puck and make a play.

Kaako in preseason without Panarin was a puck hog driving up and down the ice. Kaako with Panarin, "where's bread? I gotta give him the puck"

Both these kids suffer the same symptoms. Gallant needs to succeed where Quinn failed, tell them to play their game and stop trying to make the vets happy.

Solution: get rid of Panarin and Zib. Then people will stop calling Kakko and Laf busts bc they will score 50 points each and we'll be cellar dwellars and we can get Shane Wright to center them on the ultimate tank line

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Solution: get rid of Panarin and Zib. Then people will stop calling Kakko and Laf busts bc they will score 50 points each and we'll be cellar dwellars and we can get Shane Wright to center them on the ultimate tank line

Not what I meant...

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Not what I meant...

i know

 

[CLW]

Best way to describe it Laf is still thinking too much.

Needs to get comfortable and his flow state

Yeah, but that goes for Kreider too...

 

[duhmetreE]

Yeah, but that goes for Kreider too...

It’s like everyone wants to be Panarin. Forcing to be something that they’re not

stop thinking about how to play and just play

 

[CLW]

Much like Kaako's game suffering playing with Panarin. I think Laf tries to hard to play a role to fit a vet's need vs playing his own game. He was running around trying his best Sammy Blaze impression because he wanted to be the grinder on that line. Laf you are a dynamic playmaker, stop, hold onto the puck and make a play.

Kaako in preseason without Panarin was a puck hog driving up and down the ice. Kaako with Panarin, "where's bread? I gotta give him the puck"

Both these kids suffer the same symptoms. Gallant needs to succeed where Quinn failed, tell them to play their game and stop trying to make the vets happy.

Butbutbut this organization has turned itself into a contortionist pretzel trying to make the vets happy and fit the PC & PR pieces into the lineup no matter what.

 

[CLW]

It’s like everyone wants to be Panarin. Forcing to be something that they’re not

so thinking about how to play and just play

If there is anything to Turk's "simple hockey" approach it has to take all these notions out of the players and have them play their best game. Kreider needs to skate and stop listening to people whining about physicality, he and Laf spent most of the game last night chasing hits, being hopelessly out of position and not playing to their strengths. Zib looked like he was on another planet partly because of that.

 

[3rd Guy High]

Much like Kaako's game suffering playing with Panarin. I think Laf tries to hard to play a role to fit a vet's need vs playing his own game. He was running around trying his best Sammy Blaze impression because he wanted to be the grinder on that line. Laf you are a dynamic playmaker, stop, hold onto the puck and make a play.

Kaako in preseason without Panarin was a puck hog driving up and down the ice. Kaako with Panarin, "where's bread? I gotta give him the puck"

Both these kids suffer the same symptoms. Gallant needs to succeed where Quinn failed, tell them to play their game and stop trying to make the vets happy.

kinda crazy to me - this is an indictment on Panarin and Zib more than anything. Did you hear Oshie in the pregame yesterday talking about how he just wanted to help out Lapierre?

Can anyone imagine Zib or Panarin saying the same about Kakko or Laf? These guys should be helping them feel comfortable and guide them in finding a way to play their own game.

 

[leetch99]

If there is anything to Turk's "simple hockey" approach it has to take all these notions out of the players and have them play their best game. Kreider needs to skate and stop listening to people whining about physicality, he and Laf spent most of the game last night chasing hits, being hopelessly out of position and not playing to their strengths. Zib looked like he was on another planet partly because of that.

Unfortunately Kreider does not know how to hit . Let's face it...he is not a hitter nor does he have the mentality to be one . He made a lame attempt at a guy last night and instead veered off and hit the boards....I guess he figured the scare would be just as good LOL. I think there was another moment when he actually told a Cap player with a bum pat...I'm sorry ! Gallant has some work ahead of him there .

 

[duhmetreE]

Lafreniere silences the haters tonight

 

[huerter]

Need to see one dynamic play. Just one. Just to know it's in there.

 

[brakeyawself]

He's not a bust, but I also don't think he's earning first line minutes right now. He's coughing up the puck too much.

I think you need to put him on the third line with Chytil until he finds his game. Kakko should be on the top line and Blais sould move up to the second.

Laf has the skill to do amazing things, but he's failing at the simpler parts of the game. Transitioning up the ice and doing the right things to pin the opposing team in the offensive zone.

Definitely agree that Laf hasn't earned top line minutes. But completely disagree with putting Blais in the top 6. Not from what I've seen from him at least.

Kreider and Panarin on the left, top 6, Kakko and Kravtsov at top 6 Rw. Oh wait. Damn, never mind. Um... I guess I think Gauthier even would be a better fit for the top 6 than Blais right now. Heck, I would love to see what Jones could do as a forward.

Really, I'm ok with Laf on the 2nd line. If he doesn't progress like he should, we are screwed either way. So might as well give him every opportunity for success.

But really, this all could have been avoided if they just kept Buch and moved Kravtsov. But hey, yea whats done is done.

 

[Zamboner]

The scariest thing about Lafrenière is the lack of flashes of future greatness. Expectations of him being a McDavid type are probably unfair (although it should be noted he was hyped as more than the average #1 pick), but regardless, at least show some more signs. I don't think we've gotten enough signs.

I don't know why, but I'm thinking of that really frustrating Nikolay Zherdev year, where there were so many red flags that he was never going to reach his full potential. And yet, there were so many flashes of absolutely insane skill that you'd want to talk yourself into the whole thing.

Just give me some flashes, Lafrenière. I so want to believe.

 

[Shadowtron]

My personal opinion is the Ranger lucked into the top two picks in back to back average drafts. I think he and Kakko will have fine careers. But not great careers. I don't think either will finish as Rangers. Again just my personal opinion.

 

[mas0764]

Guy is in his second season in show and people are calling him bust and being concerned.

This board really has some quick hot takes. Just because he was picked first does not mean he is going to produce. People are spoiled because of Matthews, McDavid etc.

He was supposed to be Matthews/MacKinnon level or close to it. Even if he didn't burst onto the scene with 40 goals or 70 points I was thinking surely like a 25-25 wouldn't be unreasonable relatively quickly, but he wasn't that last year and doesn't look that much better this year, granted through preseason and one game.

Though it's a fair point that MacKinnon had a 38 point second season at least (though after a 63 point rookie year).

 

[brakeyawself]

My personal opinion is the Ranger lucked into the top two picks in back to back average drafts. I think he and Kakko will have fine careers. But not great careers. I don't think either will finish as Rangers. Again just my personal opinion.

That's what I am starting to think. Well except for the 2020 and 2019 drafts not being good. Lol. I think outside of Laf and Kakko, those other players drafted look very good so far all be it mostly at lower levels.

I mean, look at the players drafted after Kakko and after Laf....... Not exactly chopped liver.

As far as Laf goes, I am getting some bad Angelo Esposito vibes. I hope I am way wrong in the long run. I'm not calling him a bust or anything yet, but my optimism has dimmed a great deal. The hype surrounding Laf was unfortunate. But look at Raty. Only a year prior to the draft he was the consensus 2021 number 1 pick. And within one year, doinked.

It's a shame there was no Wright available instead of Laf. The only thing that really makes me not blame the organization is that I am pretty sure every single other NHL team would have made those exact two choices those drafts. Even though at this point, it's arguable that we should have taken Byfield simply for his ceiling.

NHL scouting and drafting is far more based on luck than good scouting. I think the statistics support that. The extraordinarily low success rate even in the 1st round, but absolutely in round 2 onward. Only the MLB draft is worse.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Lol dude we have a former division 1 hockey player on here who was drafted by an NHL team.

Also if we have a HFNYR meet up I am going to bury you for saying this lolol.

Always knew David Quinn was reading these boards.

He was supposed to be Matthews/MacKinnon level or close to it. Even if he didn't burst onto the scene with 40 goals or 70 points I was thinking surely like a 25-25 wouldn't be unreasonable relatively quickly, but he wasn't that last year and doesn't look that much better this year, granted through preseason and one game.

Though it's a fair point that MacKinnon had a 38 point second season at least (though after a 63 point rookie year).

Here's the thing though, is it really that surprising that he didn't burst onto the scene after having such a long layoff from hockey? He had a really long offseason and never had a true preseason to get adjusted to the NHL pace, and it took him a while to round into form. If this continues longer into this year, sure, be concerned, but I really wouldn't put too much stock into his start last year. Even a kid like Stützle who started hot had a rough finish to start the season.