Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part II

[Miamipuck]

Laf has a knack for finishing. It’s a skill. So many times pucks will hop over a player’s stick or they will whiff, etc. Laf finishes. He had hands of gold.

Yes, that's a big quality of his, as is getting in the right spots to score which is a skill in and of itself. For instance, if it was so easy Gauthier would be 50 times better. You can't teach hockey sense, hands too obviously.

I would rather those two qualities than flash, there are lots of guys that can stickhandle in the AHL, too bad rinks aren't round.

 

[bleedblue94]

Let this kid run wild on his own line with solid support players and he’ll start to take off. He has much more jump in his step and is moving all over the ice when he’s not thinking about deferring to star/veteran players.

He looked a lot more decisive and assertive like he did at the WJC. He’s not fully there yet but I saw a lot more flashes of that player last night and hopefully it’s just the beginning!

Once he gets on a roll and the confidence in himself at this level rises then you can think about putting him with guys like Bread and Mika but he needs time to grow his game without them in my opinion.

It's kind of funny because last year when clueless Quinn did exactly that he got absolutely crucified for it. It's just funny how perception changes in a year...

 

[DanielBrassard]

Last night was his best game of the year, just in the sense of being involved, and around the puck. He does have a hard and heavy wrist shot when he gets it off, he just needs to create more time and space for himself to do so. It was nice to see him create two chances off of good defensive play as well.

 

[Rempe73]

Ok so what I learned is

1. Yes Laf can be valuable as a finisher. That’s something. Most players say scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in the league.

2. I don’t care if some players require a dangle to be successful, and some don’t. Lafreniere does imo. For one, his skating isn’t where it needs to be. And he DOES have, at the very least, high-end hands to pull off some moves.

3. Like someone else said, I can see how his floor is a 2nd liner that can score 25 goals in a year. I’ll admit that’s good for a guy that young, although just “not bad” for a 1OA.

4. The people who said he defers too much to older players may be right. He’s way better on the 3rd line. But hopefully, his success won’t be dependent on Chytil.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Last night was his best game of the year, just in the sense of being involved, and around the puck. He does have a hard and heavy wrist shot when he gets it off, he just needs to create more time and space for himself to do so. It was nice to see him create two chances off of good defensive play as well.

The talk about 'flashes' or seeing something special every game is noise. Go play NHL 22 if you want through the legs dekes from you 'X-factor players'. Laf had 4 shots and a beautiful goal in 11 mins of ice time last night. He 'faded in the third?' He played 2mins!

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Ok so what I learned is

1. Yes Laf can be valuable as a finisher. That’s something. Most players say scoring goals is the hardest thing to do in the league.

2. I don’t care if some players require a dangle to be successful, and some don’t. Lafreniere does imo. For one, his skating isn’t where it needs to be. And he DOES have, at the very least, high-end hands to pull off some moves.

3. Like someone else said, I can see how his floor is a 2nd liner that can score 25 goals in a year. I’ll admit that’s good for a guy that young, although just “not bad” for a 1OA.

4. The people who said he defers too much to older players may be right. He’s way better on the 3rd line. But hopefully, his success won’t be dependent on Chytil.

This is bullshit.

He was pretty dominant yesterday with OUT the flashy dangles (though he did have one where he walked a guy and then fired a shot over the net.) What he needs so to be that involved on a more regular basis like he was in this game. That will be his path to success because well, it's whats been why he was so dominant at every other level that he played at.

 

[Rempe73]

This is bullshit.

He was pretty dominant yesterday with OUT the flashy dangles (though he did have one where he walked a guy and then fired a shot over the net.) What he needs so to be that involved on a more regular basis like he was in this game. That will be his path to success because well, it's whats been why he was so dominant at every other level that he played at.

Sure he’ll be somewhat successful but I meant relatively successful for what we expected out of our first 1OA. It is what it is. And yes he needs to be involved AND use his hands, which I think are great.

 

[Leonardo87]

That pass from Fox tho…

 

[IronBloodedLion]

He should absolutely be kept on the third line with Chytil and Blais. That group has real chemistry.

 

[Miamipuck]

I think both Laf and Blais mouthed "how" after the goal.

I hope someone can read lips better than me. lol

 

[Mac n Gs]

I think both Laf and Blais mouthed "how" after the goal.

I hope someone can read lips better than me. lol

He did - Giannone even mentioned it during the post game. You can see it here too

 

[dangsLITE]

fox is also smart enough that he wouldn't necessary make that pass to just anyone. he executed perfectly obviously but it's a still a risky play with potential for a bad turnover... imo think it shows that he has confidence in laffy to know he would be there without looking.

 

[Miamipuck]

He did - Giannone even mentioned it during the post game. You can see it here too

I didn't see the post game I was out with friends.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I didn't see the post game I was out with friends.

Humble brag.

 

[zlev]

erase last season, pretend he was in the AHL or something. he's only 20 years old. if this was his rookie year and he started with 3G 1A in the first 8 games would anyone be calling bust? he looked awesome last night, he had 3 or 4 other scoring chances that he created on his own.

 

[Miamipuck]

Humble brag.

Lol maybe if it was a Monday or Tuesday but Friday is the day I pay people to be my friends. A Friday before Halloween can get expensive. lol

 

[Adam Fox Time]

This is the player I want to excel most in all sports right now.

 

[Rongomania]

Kids stats over his first 82 are shaping up to look very 'haters should shut the f*ck up'-ish.

 

[mas0764]

Kids stats over his first 82 are shaping up to look very 'haters should shut the f*ck up'-ish.

Hes at .5 ppg this season which is strikingly like the last half or so of last season, which is way better than his invisible first half of last season.

Was hoping for 60+ points out of him this season not 40. Perhaps once Panarin and Zibanejad start scoring Laf will up his pace a bit as well.

 

[Rongomania]

Hes at .5 ppg this season which is strikingly like the last half or so of last season, which is way better than his invisible first half of last season.

Was hoping for 60+ points out of him this season not 40. Perhaps once Panarin and Zibanejad start scoring Laf will up his pace a bit as well.

I wish Fox could just play 56 minutes per night. He makes everyone play better.

 

[mas0764]

I also wish he would do something jaw dropping. Not that his hustle and tap-in goals aren’t important too but that wrister he unleashed in garbage time against the Devils last year, where is more of that? The thing was a laser.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I want to see him start racking up some assists, he has 10 in 64 career games, which is shocking.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Hes at .5 ppg this season which is strikingly like the last half or so of last season, which is way better than his invisible first half of last season.

Was hoping for 60+ points out of him this season not 40. Perhaps once Panarin and Zibanejad start scoring Laf will up his pace a bit as well.

60+ points is never going to happen unless he's getting PP1 minutes, and as I've mentioned before, there's really no reason to break up the Panarin-Mika-Strome-Kreider-Fox unit since it's one of the most productive powerplay groups in the league over the last two seasons. Would I like Kakko or Laf on PP1? Of course, but I also like having one of the best powerplay units in the league when it's fully healthy and rolling.

 

[Chytilmania]

I also wish he would do something jaw dropping. Not that his hustle and tap-in goals aren’t important too but that wrister he unleashed in garbage time against the Devils last year, where is more of that? The thing was a laser.

I'm pretty sure he had another laser last year that was called down due to a high stick. 99% sure it was him on the breakaway when he knocked the puck out of the air and then just torched the goalie.

 

[ORRFForever]

I didn't see the post game I was out with friends.

I didn't see the post game, I was out with a Super Model.

Canadian here...

What is a realistic ceiling on this kid? Someone mentioned a 2nd line player - hopefully he is better than that. Does he have to potential to be a PPG+ player?