Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part III

[B17 Apricots]

Well, Kreider and Bread blocking Laf is unfortunate. However, DQ playing Blackwell over Kakko is, well, fireable lol. Gorton and Davidson allowing it while also, at the end of the year, endorsing another year of Quinn is another reason they all got canned. People were so quick to act like Gorton was always right and that Dolan was a psycho in this situation, which I do not believe he was.

I'd like to see Kreider at RW long term. Last night on that pass to Gauthier you see the type of vision and playmaking Laf has from that left side.. that's not really CK game. With Kreider you're not really gonna see him thread passes like that or undress a defenceman, you'll see a more straight foward game using his speed and strength, driving the net, getting the puck on goal, strong on the boards, be around the crease... I think if you slot him on that right side you can open up some of those aspects a bit. Him being able to cut toward the middle on his forehand off the right side to get that big shot off rather than be on his backhand at LW is a huge advantage (how Panarin scored yesterday).

During that time period if we were a big playoff threat than I completely understand. Put your players in the best position to win games. If they think pairing a gritty player to do the dirty work on Panarins line gives them the best chance to win, ok that's fine. But that wasn't the case, it was a rebuild. The Senators are better served by getting Stutzle minutes/experience rather than going with the known quantity in someone like Chris Tierney who's a fairly established middle 6 guy who they could've easily just said stay in the 2 spot for us keep playing 17 minutes a night over the kid

 

[Overcast]

If this was 2019, I would agree with you but this has happened too many times for it to be a coincidence. This organization is doing something wrong when it comes to developing players at a young age. The last one to actually his ceiling when joining the org at age 18 or 19 was Alexei Kovalev. That's sad. And just too much for it to not be an organizational thing. This isn't bad luck, or karma. This is incompetence.

How can it be accounted for across multiple FO regimes and 3 decades? Dolan's ownership dates to around 1999 and I don't think he is putting forth any developmental mantras other than "Don't touch that bag of white stuff in my office." It's been common knowledge that he has basically left the Rangers alone aside from ~2014 when he said whatever about them winning the Cup and all the shit from last season. The only other heavy-hitting constant in this organization across a majority of that time is Sather who got here in 2000.

 

[TheDirtyH]

I think more than whether the prospect is a blue chipper, the age that these players have joined the NHL has been unique in the Rangers history , especially relative to other franchises. Before Kakko who was the last 18 year old, newly drafted player to join the team? Manny Malhotra?

Anyone roughly familiar with the brain, but especially anyone with a good memory, can say with confidence that the degree of plasticity--the amount of change the mind and body are wired to allow for and adapt to-- is exponentially higher when going from 18 to 19, 19 to 20 than 22 to 23, etc.

It's not so much that a 1oa needs to be treated differently than any other player, and more so that if you plan to bring an 18 year old onto your roster (in what is certainly not a development league) you have to do so with a plan for how they specifically need to be handled, and with careful attention to what they need to be successful.

A kids confidence is much more fragile than an adults, generally. A kid may need more touches in higher leverage situations to hone their skills at this level. A kid may need specific mentorship and support both on the ice and off of it. All of that is very likely.

At the same time, until Kakko and Lafreniere are either getting bigger minutes in offensive situations, or begin to lag behind their teammates' performance in similar roles, I don't see any reason to worry about them or come to a conclusion about them or the organization.

 

[mas0764]

Aren't you always saying that we need to draft more prospects so we will be better down the road? This with an org that doesn't do "prospects down the road" very well. The Rangers are far too big to handle patience well, impatience and making the playoffs for the spectacle will always take priority - especially for the Owner and his Consultant. Even fans cannot handle two seasons of prospects without flying off the handle with talk of 'bUsTs'.

They need to change the culture too. Otherwise no hope.

 

[ReddestRum]

Laf finally has more penalty minutes than points for his career.

NHL Player Class: Enforcer

 

[Rangeri]

Laf finally has more penalty minutes than points for his career.

NHL Player Class: Enforcer

Enforcereniere with the class A intangibles

 

[Filthy Dangles]

NHL Stats

Here's the 2017 draft last year. Rangers really did a great job developing Chytil. They kept him in a third line role so he could feast on lesser competition. It's no surprise he was able to take control in that spot and had the 2nd best pts/60 of any 2017 draftee last year.

Hmmmm. It's almost like you can make a story to fit your preconceived notions.

But yes it's the organizations fault. Neil Smith, Glen Sather, Jeff Gorton, and Chris Drury all don't know how to draft prospects.

Trottier, Sather, Renney, Torts, AV, and Quinn all don't know how to develop them in the lineup.

Unless you're saying somehow Jim Dolan is so involved that he singlehandedly ruins the development of all forward prospects?

I don't know if this good or bad and if it's just me, but I straight up can't tell if you are being sarcastic or sincere in the majority of your posts, including this one

 

[ORRFForever]

Finally.

 

[ORRFForever]

IF he can get 20 goals this season, having next to no PP time, that would be a nice launching point for next season.

 

[rangersfansince08]

another tap in though. whatever. I'll take it.

 

[ORRFForever]

another tap in though. whatever. I'll take it.

Beggars cannot be choosers. If nothing else, perhaps it proves he can be productive with a solid cast around him.

 

[duhmetreE]

IF he can get 20 goals this season, having next to no PP time, that would be a nice launching point for next season.

bruh. 20goals at even strength would be a strong finish.

It's doable, if that line catches fire and Gallant keeps him in the top6 where he belongs

 

[Chaels Arms]

Lafreniere as RW.

This is the way.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I don't know about you but it excites me more than anything seeing him always be in the area to get these slam dunks...if it was so easy how come everyone doesn't score so many goals like that? He's got a knack for knowing where to be. The best goal scorers in the league do.

Makes me wonder how many goals he is going to pop in once he really gets stronger, faster, and more adjusted to the league.

 

[ORRFForever]

bruh. 20goals at even strength would be a strong finish.

It's doable, if that line catches fire and Gallant keeps him in the top6 where he belongs

We are on the same page and basically saying the same thing.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

All the tap ins would concern me more If he has never shown a good shot at the NHL level, he has a few times. Also it does show good Iq always getting to those areas. Only place he really has to work on is the playmaking. Hopefully that will come with more icetime in the top 6

 

[mike14]

He's still getting tied up/pushed off the puck in the corners, but that's due to age and lack of strength. As he develops more muscle he'll be able to come away from those battles with the puck. He's been a lot more assertive with the puck in the last 3-4 games which has been good.

Not sure how this board can complain about not having players go to the net and then also complain about Laf only scoring around the net...

 

[IDvsEGO]

He's still getting tied up/pushed off the puck in the corners, but that's due to age and lack of strength. As he develops more muscle he'll be able to come away from those battles with the puck. He's been a lot more assertive with the puck in the last 3-4 games which has been good.

Not sure how this board can complain about not having players go to the net and then also complain about Laf only scoring around the net...

Laf also has a really good shot, makes really creative passes at times, and has an infectiously fun personality on the ice.

The board legitimiately expects every first round pick to be an immediate star.

 

[mike14]

Laf also has a really good shot, makes really creative passes at times, and has an infectiously fun personality on the ice.

The board legitimiately expects every first round pick to be an immediate star.

He does need to find a way to get his shot off more (should come with increased strength and confidence). It looks like he a good wrister but it isn't used nearly enough

 

[will1066]

All the tap ins would concern me more If he has never shown a good shot at the NHL level, he has a few times. Also it does show good Iq always getting to those areas. Only place he really has to work on is the playmaking. Hopefully that will come with more icetime in the top 6

He's made good passes. He's been unlucky in that the guy who gets his passes can't finish or can't string second passes for the finisher

 

[Synergy27]

Laf also has a really good shot, makes really creative passes at times, and has an infectiously fun personality on the ice.

The board legitimiately expects every first round pick to be an immediate star.

This is disingenuous and over simplified. People weren’t breathing down Chytil’s neck in his second year. Lundkvist is in the AHL and very few are complaining.

Laf was a 1OA pick. It’s still hard to believe that happened to us, I know. Like it or not, the standards are different. They just are.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

He's made good passes. He's been unlucky in that the guy who gets his passes can't finish or can't string second passes for the finisher

True, hopefully something that will be fixed with actual time in the top 6 and godforbid the power play

 

[DanielBrassard]

Laf also has a really good shot, makes really creative passes at times, and has an infectiously fun personality on the ice.

The board legitimiately expects every first round pick to be an immediate star.

Definitely not every 1st rounder, but 1st overall, yeah kinda. That was the expectation of every fan, scout and analyst as well.

 

[smoneil]

Before Kakko who was the last 18 year old, newly drafted player to join the team? Manny Malhotra?

They weren't here for the full season, but both Lias and Chytil were with the NHL team the year they were drafted (Lias I think had just turned 19, while Chytil had just turned 18). Del Zotto and JT Miller were both on the roster one year after their draft years. Dan Blackburn played with the NHL team in his draft year.

 

[duhmetreE]

I think a lot of the kid hate is misguided. The org/management should be getting the brunt of it.