Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part III

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Laf also outproduced Drai in their rookie year. However drai is currently outproducing him in their age 20 year, but drai also got meaningful pp time

Drai didnt break into the league as a superstar.

Drai is outproducing everyone not named Connor. Guy is a freakin machine

 

[mas0764]

If Lafreniere is Drai and Kakko is Barkov we are in pretty good shape.

 

[EdJovanovski]

They are listed at the same height, Draisaitl looks taller though, interesting.

Draisaitl is probably taller if he weren’t a hunchback with terrible posture lol

 

[Ruggs225]

Drai is outproducing everyone not named Connor. Guy is a freakin machine

yes he is. My point was that its still early in Lafs career, and CoVid certainly didnt help him his first year. I am really looking to see how Laf plays later this year. Especially after Olympic break. I expect a big jump from him then.

 

[The Sweetness]

Hand on your heart - does anyone feel Laf shows flashes of game breaking skill?

And if so, in what way is he flashing that skill?

 

[The Sweetness]

It’s like he skipped his prime and went straight to late stage Brad Richards.

This is an incredibly accurate description of how I see his play so far.

Incredibly underwhelming even if it hurts to admit.

 

[The Sweetness]

We're in the midst of a Kakko explosion. So if Laf needs this year to marinate a little more, get up to NHL pace, grow a little more physically and get even fitter, then explode in his Year 3, so be it. The long-term will be worth the wait.

The difference IMO is that Kakko has looked like a 12 year old and it’s been clear he has a lot of physical maturing to do to grow into his frame and play his game while Lafreniere already looks quite physically mature (he looks 30 years old tbh) and I don’t think he will grow into his frame as much.

 

[CLW]

Hand on your heart - does anyone feel Laf shows flashes of game breaking skill?

And if so, in what way is he flashing that skill?

Laf has best in class hand eye coordination, with natural instincts, in short he is naturally talented on a level that no amount of training can reach. He needs more leg strength, get comfortable with the NHL 200-foot game and play on a line that suits his game. Laf is "suffering" now partly because the Rangers have all the setup guys and playmakers playing on the same line (PSK). He is not a 'burner' that creates his own space so he will need help from his linemates to do that.

At this stage I'm not looking for "flashy skills" (I know many are) I'm looking for more involvement, chasing pucks down, takeaways, fast transitions, intensity, hard work and good puck management. I'm not worried at all, Gallant saw the issue and put him on the right track.

 

[will1066]

Draisaitl is probably taller if he weren’t a hunchback with terrible posture lol

That's the key to his production. His eyes are closer to the ice.

 

[will1066]

Laf has best-of-breed hand eye coordination, with natural instincts, in short he is naturally talented on a level that no amount of training can reach. He needs more leg strength, get comfortable with the NHL 200-foot game and play on a line that suits his game. Laf is "suffering" now partly because the Rangers have all the setup guys and playmakers playing on the same line (PSK). He is not a 'burner' that creates his own space so he will need help from his linemates to do that.

At this stage I'm not looking for "flashy skills" (I know many are) I'm looking for more involvement, chasing pucks down, takeaways, fast transitions, intensity, hard work and good puck management. I'm not worried at all, Gallant saw the issue and put him on the right track.

Fixed it for you. I f***ing hate that overused business description.

 

[CLW]

Fixed it for you. I f***ing hate that overused business description.

I should have gone with a horse metaphor lol

 

[will1066]

I should have gone with a horse metaphor lol

Laf has the hoof-snout-eye coordination of an appalooosa?

 

[ThirdEye]

The difference IMO is that Kakko has looked like a 12 year old and it’s been clear he has a lot of physical maturing to do to grow into his frame and play his game while Lafreniere already looks quite physically mature (he looks 30 years old tbh) and I don’t think he will grow into his frame as much.

Just because he looks physically mature doesn't necessarily mean he is. I still think he's got a ways to go

 

[will1066]

The difference IMO is that Kakko has looked like a 12 year old and it’s been clear he has a lot of physical maturing to do to grow into his frame and play his game while Lafreniere already looks quite physically mature (he looks 30 years old tbh) and I don’t think he will grow into his frame as much.

I'll tell you a secret. Laf wears padded pads to look bigger.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Just leave him on the 3rd line stapled to Chytil. The team is winning games, other guys are producing, they don't need Laf just yet. He's in the perfect situation to find his game.

 

[Amazinmets73]

Drai is outproducing everyone not named Connor. Guy is a freakin machine

He's outproduced Mcdavid this season.

 

[Sayba]

Hand on your heart - does anyone feel Laf shows flashes of game breaking skill?

And if so, in what way is he flashing that skill?

He flashes being a solid player, good vision and good overall skills but nothing game breaking, nothing that will wow you.

 

[Synergy27]

I’ve see several flashes tonight. He’s been coming on a bit as of late. This line with Chytil and Gauthier is good for all of them.

 

[Miamipuck]

I wish he could stay on his feet tonight. Other than that he's not looking bad. I guess that's a win.

 

[Trueblue30]

He has been more physical lately which is a aspect of his game that was highlighted in the draft but has been largely missing till now. Still want to see more of those flashes but I think he is getting better

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Laffy out there hitting everything tonight and ended his evening in a scrap defending his teammate. That's how you get involved. Atta boy Laf!

 

[Row I Goon]

I get the impression tonight was a turnaround for Laf - to me he’s been quite emotionless of late EXCEPT for some obvious negativity (dropped shoulders, sullen face). To see him actually break out of that and wrestle Pageau was bloody brilliant - it’s as if he’s just snapped and said to himself “hey, I’m gonna do what I can for this team…” Dunno if that makes sense but I skated with a few quiet guys in my youth who’d just “snap” out of nowhere and tool up guys who were bigger and meaner…..Laf reminded me of them quiet guys.

 

[will1066]

I get the impression tonight was a turnaround for Laf - to me he’s been quite emotionless of late EXCEPT for some obvious negativity (dropped shoulders, sullen face). To see him actually break out of that and wrestle Pageau was bloody brilliant - it’s as if he’s just snapped and said to himself “hey, I’m gonna do what I can for this team…” Dunno if that makes sense but I skated with a few quiet guys in my youth who’d just “snap” out of nowhere and tool up guys who were bigger and meaner…..Laf reminded me of them quiet guys.

I loved the "what is this bullshit?" look to the sky he gave when Chytil got called on a Mickey Mouse tripping call. He's showing his emotion and playing with snarl

 

[Gr8CornHolio]

Was Laf ever a wow you type player in CHL? I didn’t watch him that much but from all accounts wasn’t he best in close quarters?

 

[Synergy27]

Was Laf ever a wow you type player in CHL? I didn’t watch him that much but from all accounts wasn’t he best in close quarters?

I mean, individual “wow” moments? Not that much. But he was a 100+ point player before being eligible to be drafted and a guy that impacted the game in all zones. Depends on your definition of “wow” I suppose.