Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part III

[LokiDog]

And if you want to say we should trade him for like, MackInnon or someone else who is untouchable, that’s fine as rhetoric, but the Avs won’t trade their franchise player either.

And Laf is not getting moved for f***ing Jakob Chychrun one of the King’s centers or whatever the f***.

I mean… I agree, but Chychrun is only 3 years older, is an excellent physical defensive Dman and showed he has the talent to put points on the board as a 22 year old last year (40 in 56). He’s trapped on the worst franchise in the league. You could do worse than a 23 year old physical top pair D man with 48 points in his last 82 games, locked into a sweet heart deal for several more years.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

No based on what exactly?

If he wasn’t picked first overall, there wouldn’t not be any attachment. Nothing on the ice has warranted it.

He's only played 85 games and is just 20 years old?

 

[MysticLeviathan]

he looks so bad. no other way to put it. he’s not creating anything. he’s utterly incapable of a good zone entry. we haven’t seen his wrist shot in what feels like weeks and he has a good one. I’m flabbergasted at how bad he’s been.

 

[egelband]

Maybe? But that’s also Gorton’s pick, not Drury’s pick. And no you don’t give him away for chopped liver, but he simply should not be an untouchable anymore.

I think you’re jumping the gun big time. These guys are all so young. We need to give them time. Like, years. I’m not even done with Chytil and he has been around 4-5 years. These guys all need time and reps.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

People have no patience...just a kid, he'll figure it out but he needs players surrounding him that compliment him.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

It's about adapting. We know the talent is there, there is no question about that. It's a bigger jump for him than people realized. Again, you have to take the personality into account. If he has bigtime personality flaws, they'll show up in his frustration, and he won't get better. If he's humble, works hard and soaks up advice and information like a sponge, he'll be just fine. He seems like a great kid who know's he's got a lot to learn. Just needs time.

 

[duhmetreE]

he looks so bad. no other way to put it. he’s not creating anything. he’s utterly incapable of a good zone entry. we haven’t seen his wrist shot in what feels like weeks and he has a good one. I’m flabbergasted at how bad he’s been.

That's what happens when your confidence is shot. You overthink the scenario and your brain seizes up. Then he makes a pass to no one

He's getting to the loose pucks. He winning his battles. He's forechecking and causing turnovers. He really just needs better linemates. If he stays with Strome, I believe you will see a major difference. He has no guidance playing with Chytil. He's been playing with 2 players with room temperature Hockey IQ.

 

[patnyrnyg]

he looks so bad. no other way to put it. he’s not creating anything. he’s utterly incapable of a good zone entry. we haven’t seen his wrist shot in what feels like weeks and he has a good one. I’m flabbergasted at how bad he’s been.

 

[Savant]

He's only played 85 games and is just 20 years old?

But what have you seen on the ice that has warranted him being untouchable? It’s not his shooting, passing, IQ, two way play or physical play. What is it besides he is young and was drafted high?

I think you’re jumping the gun big time. These guys are all so young. We need to give them time. Like, years. I’m not even done with Chytil and he has been around 4-5 years. These guys all need time and reps.

If you want to be the last resident on. Chytil Island that’s your choice.

 

[bbny]

People have no patience...just a kid, he'll figure it out but he needs players surrounding him that compliment him.

Nothing to do with patience. He may turn out good still, but that’s not the point. He isn’t what they said he was at draft. He isn’t as valuable. Expectations have been adjusted, and so should his market value.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

The one thing with Laffy is he's got a good attitude. He realizes theres a lot of work that needs to be done, so its not like we will have him sulking or putting too much pressure on himself.

While he hasnt been great I think he is good at keeping things "light" - at least thats what I can see from the outside.

He may be beating himself up inside but hes still been a good teammate and continuing to come to the rink to put the work in.

Im not sure what that counts for in this discussion (likely not much) but I believe keeping positive will make it easier for him to grow, whenever that begins to happen.

I've come to terms that he isnt going to be lighting shit up this season, but what i'd like to see are some improvements in his pace of play, decision making with the puck and understanding how he can make a play at this level.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Nothing to do with patience. He may turn out good still, but that’s not the point. He isn’t what they said he was at draft. He isn’t as valuable. Expectations have been adjusted, and so should his market value.

He had the absolute worst draft year in history between not playing for 10 months, covid bubbles etc etc etc as well on being on a team with two good LW already on the team. I'll say this, he needs more minutes not less, his motor needs to rev and he needs to gain confidence through being relied on. Personally i think they need to move him to the right side and leave him there until he's comfortable there because thats where the need is.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

The one thing with Laffy is he's got a good attitude. He realizes theres a lot of work that needs to be done, so its not like we will have him sulking or putting too much pressure on himself.

While he hasnt been great I think he is good at keeping things "light" - at least thats what I can see from the outside.

He may be beating himself up inside but hes still been a good teammate and continuing to come to the rink to put the work in.

Im not sure what that counts for in this discussion (likely not much) but I believe keeping positive will make it easier for him to grow, whenever that begins to happen.

I've come to terms that he isnt going to be lighting shit up this season, but what i'd like to see are some improvements in his pace of play, decision making with the puck and understanding how he can make a play at this level.

The few shifts he's had away from Chytil and Gauthier last game were his best in a while.

 

[romba]

He had his best chance in weeks last night, he received a pass of a turnover at the bottom of the circle, and he hesitated once he had the puck on his stick like he's not used to being all alone from that spot instead of acting like a skilled scorer. He looked more like Lindgren or Trouba in that spot instead of Panarin or Mika. He got too in deep and gave the goalie plenty of time to get set before shooting 5 hole due to no other place to put the puck. Goalie knew it and closed his legs for a pretty easy save. Against weaker goalies in lower leagues you can maybe sneak that 5 hole, not really in the NHL. Needs to rip that off the pass, he had no passing options, and even if the shot doesn't beat the goalie to the short side post you can still find a hole as the goalie is moving. You don't get silver platter chances like that often, need to capitalize.

 

[mas0764]

That's what happens when your confidence is shot. You overthink the scenario and your brain seizes up. Then he makes a pass to no one

He's getting to the loose pucks. He winning his battles. He's forechecking and causing turnovers. He really just needs better linemates. If he stays with Strome, I believe you will see a major difference. He has no guidance playing with Chytil. He's been playing with 2 players with room temperature Hockey IQ.

I agree - Lafreniere is still a great prospect but he's not at this point capable of dragging two other young kids who don't know what they are doing.

Strome is at least a good facilitator. I would like to see if he can feed Lafreniere a little to get his confidence up.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

He had his best chance in weeks last night, he received a pass of a turnover at the bottom of the circle, and he hesitated once he had the puck on his stick like he's not used to being all alone from that spot instead of acting like a skilled scorer. He looked more like Lindgren or Trouba in that spot instead of Panarin or Mika. He got too in deep and gave the goalie plenty of time to get set before shooting 5 hole due to no other place to put the puck. Goalie knew it and closed his legs for a pretty easy save. Against weaker goalies in lower leagues you can maybe sneak that 5 hole, not really in the NHL. Needs to rip that off the pass, he had no passing options, and even if the shot doesn't beat the goalie to the short side post you can still find a hole as the goalie is moving. You don't get silver platter chances like that often, need to capitalize.

I thought he made the right play, they showed the angle behind him at one point there was only the five hole to shoot at and the goalie made a nice save, sometimes you have to give the goalie credit.

 

[mas0764]

I think you’re jumping the gun big time. These guys are all so young. We need to give them time. Like, years. I’m not even done with Chytil and he has been around 4-5 years. These guys all need time and reps.

I mean, look at Ryan Strome.

It took him years and he at least eventually turned into like a 50-60 point pace player.

I think something like that is the absolute worst case for Lafreniere still. And I'm still hoping he's a 90 point stud.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Said it in the game thread but Laf reminds me of Buch when he got here, not strong enough to play the style of game he wants to, he'll get there like Buch did but the only difference is his natural abilities are better.

 

[romba]

I thought he made the right play, they showed the angle behind him at one point there was only the five hole to shoot at and the goalie made a nice save, sometimes you have to give the goalie credit.

Shoot off the pass before the goalie is set, don't wait and leave no other options

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Shoot off the pass before the goalie is set, don't wait and leave no other options

This is seriously nitpicking, he made a good shot the goalie just saved it.

 

[mas0764]

He had the absolute worst draft year in history between not playing for 10 months, covid bubbles etc etc etc as well on being on a team with two good LW already on the team. I'll say this, he needs more minutes not less, his motor needs to rev and he needs to gain confidence through being relied on. Personally i think they need to move him to the right side and leave him there until he's comfortable there because thats where the need is.

I think they need to move someone to the right side who it won't matter if they ruin.

Kreider.

Let Laf have that spot on the left.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I think they need to move someone to the right side who it won't matter if they ruin.

Kreider.

Let Laf have that spot on the left.

Watching Lafreniere in junior a lot of his powerplay goals came from him being able to shoot with his stick at the center of the ice, i honestly think he'd be better like that to be honest. Part of the reason Buch was so good with Kreider and Zib was that he was a left shot on the right side

 

[mas0764]

What I really want is to move Lafreniere to center.

 

[LORDE]

I'm not ready to trade him...

but he's been really bad. Like REALLY bad.

There hasn't been one flash of brilliance to tease us into thinking he'll be anything other than a 3rd line journeyman.

That' isn't to say he can't grow and evolve... he just hasn't shown ANYTHING yet.

 

[2014nyr]

People have no patience...just a kid, he'll figure it out but he needs players surrounding him that compliment him.

this. right now the only center that can work for him is strome, and given he can't play on the right thats off the table right now. i do hope if panarin misses time they keep him with strome, and kakko is who should be paired with him on the opposite wing - hes wasted with mika - he and laf play very complimentary games. strome isn't my favorite but he's the only c that plays a fundamental, intelligent game moving the puck and can be effective moving the puck in the o zone. mika is all over the place..defensive zone is chaos and no possession in the o zone. chytil is just out to lunch 85% of the time and also erratic. sadly the second best option right now is goodrow as far as centers go. not a skill guy but he can read the play, move the puck competently, and is useful on the forecheck.