leetch99
Leetch66 Joined 2007
Matthews...now your cooking with gasoline LOL....it is fun to chat about but because of Panarin's deal and clauses...almost a 99.9% a given it never happens . But...I never say never !
Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part III
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LORDE
I am Lorde, YA YA YA
Sockosensei
Registered User
Thank you.
Laf was making plays and working around the net. It was one of the first times I felt I was seeing the Laf we expected on draft day. The confidence is slowly returning.
He does still watch the play too much. He made a short pass moving up ice and then watched it, stopped skating, and put himself a step behind as it developed. Got to work on that.
Re: Zegras.
I saw a dynamic player who doesn't have David Quinn as head coach. He has the confidence to try anything without fear of consequence. He attempted risky plays again and again. A few of them worked. One became an awful turnover at the offensive blueline. He would have ridden the bench for the whole third period under Quinn.
- Apr 16, 2012
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It means “potato.” It’s hissyfit nonsense meant to try to get a reaction from people who happen to read it while actually discussing hockey. If we stop addressing these types they will get tired of the lack of attention. Or just throw bigger desperate hissy fits to to get everyone to “look at them.” Hahaha. I don’t bother to address them nor even put them on ignore. Who cares? Hahaha.
Whoot Whoot
Biased Rangers Fan
lmao every time he had the puck he was doing something - a much more creative player
Yup, Laf was really engaged, controlling play, and flashed a ton of creativity. I understand panarin gets his spot back, but Laf should be in the top 6 with that level of play.
Larrybiv
We're CLEAN, we PROMISE!
how many of those 10, may have told a little white lie?
1. A huge ego could say "no problem"
(even though it may be, in fear of losing ice time)
2. A lesser confident or more spoiled player could have said; "they prefer their strong side, because they simply want what they want and simply want what they're used to. Comfort zone, per se'
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
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I usually go a bit deeper into it than just flatout asking "Can you play both sides?"
I think it's interesting to hear different approaches to this, and the various challenges players experience when playing on the opposite wing. In most cases where players say they don't mind, they usually follow it up with their experience playing there.
Laf is a tough one to get a hold of, and I probably won't be able to interview him with how strict the Rangers control media-related content (especially blogs where you don't have any press credentials). Who knows... Maybe one day.
Glen Sathers Cigar
Sather 4 Ever
They also interview Fox all the time. Thinking Lafreniere being interviewed has anything to do with his (un)importance on the team has to be about the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
NYRFANMANI
Department of Rempe Safety Management
Things are just different here, with the NYR. Shit goes down differently.
Not worried about points and such, as there is a logjam in front of Laf. Not much PP or top-6 time. He's getting eased into the league, if you will.
Whether that's good or bad, idk. We're not the Senators or any other depleted team, that has top-6 openings for rookies.
Laf's Skating has been better these past games. He's got a great shot and doesn't seem to make mistakes when a certain opportunities present themselves.
He's got a nose in the offensive zone, more of a finisher though imo. Nowhere near a finished product.
It sucks we didn't win the lotteries in years where there is a Matthews+ type player around, but Laf is fine for the moment. He lacks a playmaker imo.
If Chytil was a (better) playmaker, we'd have way less discussion around Laf.
Not worried about points and such, as there is a logjam in front of Laf. Not much PP or top-6 time. He's getting eased into the league, if you will.
Whether that's good or bad, idk. We're not the Senators or any other depleted team, that has top-6 openings for rookies.
Laf's Skating has been better these past games. He's got a great shot and doesn't seem to make mistakes when a certain opportunities present themselves.
He's got a nose in the offensive zone, more of a finisher though imo. Nowhere near a finished product.
It sucks we didn't win the lotteries in years where there is a Matthews+ type player around, but Laf is fine for the moment. He lacks a playmaker imo.
If Chytil was a (better) playmaker, we'd have way less discussion around Laf.
HockeyBasedNYC
Feeling it
Its evident, like you said, that he reads the play well and is a finisher. Which is great to see, but I'd like to see more playmaking ability from Laf, as he was scouted as a play driver.
He's slowly getting better at it. On rushes we've seen enough to suggest he will be fine in this regard. He's had several really nice primary assists. On the PP we've seen him be creative and that will come as well. The common denominator here is he has time and space to make a play.
It's with entries and in-zone play 5 on 5 where he needs to figure out the pace and timing with his feet and stickhandling. Its a much faster pace with world class skates and sticks trying to stop him.
Once he finds the combination that works for him I think we will see a more confident player with the puck making plays and maintaining possession. Right now, like Kakko's recent struggles, he pulls up, doesnt take the extra stride through players with and without the puck.
To me, that's all mental and about gaining confidence and gumption as a player. Has very little to do with physical skills or lack thereof. You see him in the defensive zone taking extra strides through players, finishing checks and diving to get pucks out of the zone. Its just about finding that on the other side of the rink with the puck.
Larrybiv
We're CLEAN, we PROMISE!
thanks for that. hope for your sake (and everyone here) that u get that interview someday soon. maybe by then he'll be full fledged off wing and hell, maybe even a center! i know many here wonder about that.....too early to attempt that road, he's too busy deferring (kidding), which actually serves well as Center, and he is getting better in his 200 ft. game.
so, who knows? all I know is, I am still hoping Filip starts lighting the lamp, he's very stagnant and even taking steps backwards. last game was better, more noticeable.
What type of numbers do you see him putting up in a few years with PP1 time?
HockeyBasedNYC
Feeling it
I would think he would be a 60-70 point guy with consistent PP1 time, but we are talking 23-25 years old.
That will be in his 5th-7th season.
Which drives home the point of how young he is right now. Fox is only 23.
Synergy27
F-A-C-G-C-E
This may or may not be right. The thing is, if that’s where he ends up, this pick is a complete failure, and the in no way in line with the player that was hyped pre draft to provide that level of production on day one.
We just traded Buchnevich, who is exactly that player. Buch is a home run third rounder, and would have been a very good mid first rounder. This would be unacceptable for a 1OA who was billed to be a tier below generational.
I did not want to be the one to day it but yea I agree. Anything short of an 80-90 pt player will be disappointing imo.
HockeyBasedNYC
Feeling it
I mean you can't say the pick itself is a failure when he was the only one every single team in the league would've taken at 1.
But I don't necessarily disagree that it would be a disappointment if that's how he pans long term... However 70 points in your 5-7th season is pretty damn good.
Let's not forget how young he is. If you look at Mika for a minute, he was drafted 6th in a very deep draft. Def not touted as highly as Laf was, but he didn't break 51 points until his 6-7th season, when he was 25. That seems to be the age where a lot of forwards take the next step, if they arent some generational talent like you mentioned.
Laf was not billed as a generational talent. He was never a McDavid/Matthews level type of pick. There was a hope he would be. I did remember several scouts predicting 60 points from the start so yeah, that definitely screwed with the expectations. And yes. He carries the 1OA tag. I get it.
Maybe not generation talent, but I still have high hopes for him.
It is only 1 Crosby or Mc David for every (5-6) years
It is soccer but Haaland is really high talented too from our small country in that sport.
Right. But we were expecting Huberdeau not McDavid/Matthews
I really don’t think he’s far off. Another 1-2 offseasons working on his skating/play without the puck and he’ll be a beast.
Skating/confidence is the main issue right now. But getting him the opportunity ( 1PP time, minutes with talented line mates) also has to happen in the near future.
He was billed as NHL ready because he’s strength/shot/size/maturity etc are all already there.
On a bad team, getting a lot of minutes with a lot of PP time and a playmaking center, his stats would obviously be higher.
The best thing I like about him is that he’s a bonafide finisher. When he gets an open opportunity or a clear shot, he buries it. Prior to Zibby really, we haven’t had one in a very long time. Certainly not homegrown from our system.
That’s an important quality that needs to stay with him...
Skating/confidence is the main issue right now. But getting him the opportunity ( 1PP time, minutes with talented line mates) also has to happen in the near future.
He was billed as NHL ready because he’s strength/shot/size/maturity etc are all already there.
On a bad team, getting a lot of minutes with a lot of PP time and a playmaking center, his stats would obviously be higher.
The best thing I like about him is that he’s a bonafide finisher. When he gets an open opportunity or a clear shot, he buries it. Prior to Zibby really, we haven’t had one in a very long time. Certainly not homegrown from our system.
That’s an important quality that needs to stay with him...
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bbny
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Jauffre
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mrmovies779
The Greatest Teacher,Failure is.
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Had a beautiful rush and set up Strome for a dunk,but Strome blew it
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