What it is starting to look like, and this is just my opinion, but he was an early developer physically. For the last like 2-3 years of his amateur career, he was substantially more physically mature than most other players. And when he got to the NHL, that edge completely disappeared. And he wouldn't be the first player that happened to.
Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II
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What it is starting to look like, and this is just my opinion, but he was an early developer physically. For the last like 2-3 years of his amateur career, he was substantially more physically mature than most other players. And when he got to the NHL, that edge completely disappeared. And he wouldn't be the first player that happened to.
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
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I'm more worried about Miller than I am about Lafrenière.
DanielBrassard
It's all so tiresome
Thing is we can handle Miller not living up to expectations. With Lafreniere that would really hurt. So that's why I would be more concerned about how Laf is developing than vice versa.
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
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Well, that's true. This org is one bust away from ruining a rebuild wherein they were gifted two top picks.
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
Someone follows Yolo Pinyato on twitter and saw his post today, I guess...
...Yolo is an idiot.
...Yolo is an idiot.
Not seeing many good things out of Lafreniere, to be honest. He just doesn't have the wheels yet for the NHL; that's his biggest issue for me. Needs a better first step and the ability to maintain that speed to be able to create separation and use his skill. He's been a turnover machine and loses almost every puck battle
Before he was drafted Laf was touted as a guy who would stalk the opposition to get pucks. Just a world class stalker. And he would usually have the good fortunate of having good things happen.
Now he's basically just a well-groomed youngster. I'm sure he's a willing learner. Very impressionable.
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The latter is a major reason I'm not giving up on him. By all accounts he seems like a guy that is willing to put in whatever work necessary to get better. You can put him anywhere and he will try to make the most out of this opportunity
I'm not overly worried yet because there is clearly skill there and his shot is way above average. He just hasn't been able to create enough room for himself yet to utilize any of it. To me, his main focus this next off-season should be improving his skating and becoming more lean. He looks way too bulky to me
Unpredictable1
Registered User
Alexis has the tools, still holds up way too much and too many one and done. But so far this season I'm seeing someone whose definitely faster than the year before, and he's also far more physical.
I'm praying that playing in Montreal this Saturday night ignites this french kid. Please...I have so many friends who are Habs fans. lol
I'm praying that playing in Montreal this Saturday night ignites this french kid. Please...I have so many friends who are Habs fans. lol
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
I’m pretty sure this is also his first game with his parents & sister in attendance
will1066
If you score four, you better f'n win the game
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Im pretty sure he wakes up in cold sweats regularly after recurring nightmares about being this era's Alexandre Daigle.
Unpredictable1
Registered User
I’m pretty sure this is also his first game with his parents & sister in attendance
And his sister apparently HATES the Rangers lol
Please Lord grant me this coming out party in Montreal haha
Unpredictable1
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will1066
If you score four, you better f'n win the game
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Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
I still think the type of talent we have on this team and the resulting under-reliance on young players has slowed things down for him and Kakko.
If we were feeding him top six and first unit minutes constantly, he might be one of the most ineffective 5v5 players in the league but we wouldn't care because he's sponging up points. Not mentioning any names.
I think the worst thing we could do right now is demote him. Let him have a solid ass chunk of the season to work through this with some big minutes.
If we were feeding him top six and first unit minutes constantly, he might be one of the most ineffective 5v5 players in the league but we wouldn't care because he's sponging up points. Not mentioning any names.
I think the worst thing we could do right now is demote him. Let him have a solid ass chunk of the season to work through this with some big minutes.
NickyFotiu
NYR 2024 Cup Champs!
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I agree about not demoting him. I would keep Laf and Kap in the top 6 but nobody is holding them back from scoring but their own play. Actually maybe the 3rd line might be better at times. They would face easier matchups in some rinks. Maybe a kid line 3rd line would let them relax a bit.
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
Don’t dare not give underperforming high draft picks less mins in the top 6 or PP but sending one to the AHL in favor of career 4th liners is fine!
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
If we didn't already have two other ones, then yes.
You can bellyache about it all you want, but Kravtsov would be on our first line right now if two wingers didn't fall from the lottery gods. Should we have said "no thanks" and sent the balls back?
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
And here's another thing, and I'm stealing this point from a buddy of mine because I think it's good.
We always talk about "other team's top picks are doing this and that" and I get that, but you have to compare Lafreniere and Kakko to other wingers.
Young centers have a way easier time jumping right in. McDavid, Eichel, Matthews, etc. all the big hits -- all centers.
That's odd because center is ostensibly a harder position, but I just think better/more ready players happen to be playing center at lower levels.
High-drafted wingers take a minute. Svechnikov was underwhelming D+1. For all the love Brady Tkachuk gets, his pro-rated career high in points in 53. Marner debuted D+2 and was just ok until the second half. Hubedeau debuted D+2, won the Calder, kinda fell off, and then really broke out like, D+7. Drouin is still weird. Lafreniere outscored Stuztle at even strength last year with way less TOI despite all the whining over that.
The only top 5 drafted wingers to step right in are Landeskog and Laine, and Laine sucks. Even Landeskog was a high-50's point player until D+8 when he became a PPG player.
Tbh wingers are even slower-cooking than defensemen somehow.
We always talk about "other team's top picks are doing this and that" and I get that, but you have to compare Lafreniere and Kakko to other wingers.
Young centers have a way easier time jumping right in. McDavid, Eichel, Matthews, etc. all the big hits -- all centers.
That's odd because center is ostensibly a harder position, but I just think better/more ready players happen to be playing center at lower levels.
High-drafted wingers take a minute. Svechnikov was underwhelming D+1. For all the love Brady Tkachuk gets, his pro-rated career high in points in 53. Marner debuted D+2 and was just ok until the second half. Hubedeau debuted D+2, won the Calder, kinda fell off, and then really broke out like, D+7. Drouin is still weird. Lafreniere outscored Stuztle at even strength last year with way less TOI despite all the whining over that.
The only top 5 drafted wingers to step right in are Landeskog and Laine, and Laine sucks. Even Landeskog was a high-50's point player until D+8 when he became a PPG player.
Tbh wingers are even slower-cooking than defensemen somehow.
NickyFotiu
NYR 2024 Cup Champs!
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I'm not saying we should demote anyone but I would be curious to see Laf and Kap on a line centered by Goodrow.
Not buying it. Kane, kovalchuck, gaborik, nash, ovechkin all were top 5 picks who dominated right from the get go.
Some take longer, some dominate. Hall of famers tend to dominate right from the beginning.
not saying kakko or Lafreniere wont be good, or even great. But i dont buy that wingers take longer.
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
Gaborik had 36 points his first year and his first PPG season was D+5. Kovalchuk played in Russia D+1 and didn't crack PPG until D+4. Nash had 39 points his rookie year and hit PPG D+3. You're seriously misremembering on those.
Kane and Ovechkin are zeroth ballot Hall of Famers. Lafreniere was never that. And FWIW Ovechkin also spent his D+1 in Russia because of the lockout and wasn't a PPG player in the KHL. So yeah, even f***ing Ovechkin.
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
KHL is lower scoring than NHL
Practically nobody is PPG in KHL. Hence why people are bozos when they just look at Kravtsov’s stats and say he only has this many points in the KHL lol!!! Meanwhile he’s rewritten the record books and is basically the Gretzky of the KHL at this point
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
That doesn't change the fact that the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history wasn't a PPG player D+1. What more evidence do we need that wingers are slow burners?
Kravtsov hasn't broken .5 PPG in any pro league and you're convinced he'll be a better Panarin any day now so I know you get the concept here.
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