Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière: Part III

[Paulie Walnutz]

I'm convinced Zegras and Lundell would be struggling here too...there is something off about this club's forward development.

Tanner Glass + Jed Ortmeyer, #GetEmOut

 

[EdJovanovski]

I'm convinced Zegras and Lundell would be struggling here too...there is something off about this club's forward development.

Doubt. Zegras has the cajones to pull off Michigan passes. Kakko gets nervous just taking a pic with female fans. It’s a lack of alpha dog mentality. Kakko & Laf were both billed as the most NHL-ready mature prospects imaginable. “Room for Improvement: None” as the draft broadcast said. They shouldn’t need major development here, they were supposed to step in and put up 70pts as rookies. Kakko’s about to put up 25pts in his third season. Alarms need to go off yesterday

 

[DanielBrassard]

Doubt. Zegras has the cajones to pull off Michigan passes. Kakko gets nervous just taking a pic with female fans. It’s a lack of alpha dog mentality. Kakko & Laf were both billed as the most NHL-ready mature prospects imaginable. “Room for Improvement: None” as the draft broadcast said. They shouldn’t need major development here, they were supposed to step in and put up 70pts as rookies. Kakko’s about to put up 25pts in his third season. Alarms need to go off yesterday

Zegras is a different breed. Guy reminds me of Fox but at center in the way he thinks and reads the game, and even the way he skates and stickhandles. Lafreniere and Kakko never have shown anything close to what Zegras has shown.

 

[RangersFan1994]

The thing that is noticeable with Lafreniere is that he is scoring key goals 3 out of 6 are GWG. Hopefully this will get better as he scores more goals, but he needs to do the little things and not rely on his skill. That is his big issue in my opinion. Needs to battle and play more a complete engaged type of game. More physical on the forecheck

 

[Thirty One]

Tanner Glass + Jed Ortmeyer, #GetEmOut

I not going to sit here and let you trash #TheTanner

 

[duhmetreE]

He needs a good Center at the moment. Strome is the only option at the moment.

Either learn to play RW or have more of the same.

I don't know anymore...

 

[Crease]

The thing that is noticeable with Lafreniere is that he is scoring key goals 3 out of 6 are GWG. Hopefully this will get better as he scores more goals, but he needs to do the little things and not rely on his skill. That is his big issue in my opinion. Needs to battle and play more a complete engaged type of game. More physical on the forecheck

I see the opposite. He’s doing all the third line grinder stuff and not showing off his skill. I suspect the NHL game is simply too fast for him right now. He needs to work on quicker skating and decision making.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

I see the opposite. He’s doing all the third line grinder stuff and not showing off his skill. I suspect the NHL game is simply too fast for him right now. He needs to work on quicker skating and decision making.

Part of that is confidence too. He makes bone headed decisions with his passes that he simply didnt make in junior. The type of guy he is, I don't see this consuming him, he will take steps forward. We just have to wait to see where he tops out.

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

He is too slow for this level. Plain and simple. Still see a bright future.

 

[RangersFan1994]

He is too soft for this level. Needs to play with an edge. Only way he will succeed.

 

[EdJovanovski]

He is too unskilled for this level, hasn’t flashed any of the vision, hands, creativity that he was supposed to have.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

He is too soft for this level. Needs to play with an edge. Only way he will succeed.

Im not so sure he's "soft" in general terms. He's finishing checks all over the place. He's actually laying out some older vets with good hard checks. He fought against the Islanders... and showed some balls there.

I don't think thats his issue at all.

If you mean playing with more of an aggressive, confident style with the puck then I'd say yeah, I'd agree with you.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

He is too unskilled for this level, hasn’t flashed any of the vision, hands, creativity that he was supposed to have.

Thats the puzzling part for me, because those were some of his best traits coming into the draft.

A gifted and versatile scoring winger with outstanding hockey sense and the ability to elevate his game when the situation calls for it, Lafreniere possesses many traits that scream elite and potential NHL superstar. From his deadly wrist shot to his superior playmaking and vision, the St. Eustache native checks every block imaginable when it comes to possessing the puck. What makes Lafreniere unique, however, is his insanely high compete level, tenacity on the puck, physicality, and selflessness. Play him on a line with equally heralded or accomplished prospects, and he’ll make it a point to tap into their strengths rather than make himself the center of attention.

Lafreniere can be used in every situation, and his ability to dominate the puck no matter the in-game environment creates swaths of open ice for his mates. Lafreniere is an incredibly unselfish player, and his youthful exuberance when coupled with his physicality reveal a player of the throwback variety. Lafreniere seems to understand and execute set-plays on or off the puck, and he can be counted on as a reliable and tenacious forechecker who creates turnovers in the neutral zone. Although the volume of high-end prospects being developed out of the QMJHL has slowed down, Lafreniere is at the very top of an elite crop of Quebec Leaguers poised to garner the attention of scouts from all over North American and Europe. The top slot among 2020 draft hopefuls was Lafreniere’s to lose for several years, and never once did he relinquish it.

 

[jay from jersey]

Im not so sure he's "soft" in general terms. He's finishing checks all over the place. He's actually laying out some older vets with good hard checks. He fought against the Islanders... and showed some balls there.

I don't think thats his issue at all.

If you mean playing with more of an aggressive, confident style with the puck then I'd say yeah, I'd agree with you.

I maintain it’s mainly a skating issue. He’s certainly strong enough upper body wise. He’s more mature then most kids his age in that area. His poor footwork has made him a spot shooter. He’ll only shoot the puck when he’s wide open and has a lane, otherwise he passes the puck off his stick like it’s on fire.
He has no confidence in his feet to try to take a D- man 1v1 to the net, or cut in and make a move with the puck on his stick.
I think he also stays a bit higher then he should instead of around the crease because he knows he has a tough time skating back to get on D.
That’s the 2-fold problem. Skates like he’s in mud, and it’s hurting an already fragile confidence.
They games where he scores or makes an impact are looking fewer and far between.
I really can’t believe that both kakko and LaF have had such trouble putting up points. That’s certainly ranger luck for our unanimous 1 and 2OVA picks.

 

[McRanger92]

I maintain it’s mainly a skating issue. He’s certainly strong enough upper body wise. He’s more mature then most kids his age in that area. His poor footwork has made him a spot shooter. He’ll only shoot the puck when he’s wide open and has a lane, otherwise he passes the puck off his stick like it’s on fire.
He has no confidence in his feet to try to take a D- man 1v1 to the net, or cut in and make a move with the puck on his stick.
I think he also stays a bit higher then he should instead of around the crease because he knows he has a tough time skating back to get on D.

Last year, Laf absolutely sniped a wrister past NJ's goalie at Prudential and i remember thinking "holy crap, he needs to do that more often"... i have yet to see him even attempt it again.

 

[jay from jersey]

Last year, Laf absolutely sniped a wrister past NJ's goalie at Prudential and i remember thinking "holy crap, he needs to do that more often"... i have yet to see him even attempt it again.

Yea, he’s mostly an afterthought on the rush, I mean he has to know that he’s too slow. I’m not expecting him to be a speedster, but he has trouble and isn’t even an average skater at this level. Similar to year 1 kakko when it comes to footwork imo.
Just more physically mature in about every other aspect. He’s not afraid to hit or get hit, which is good, and he absolutely has a nasty wrister. But he’s just too slow to be dangerous. Even compared with average NHLers speed.
It’s tough reading that scouting report and seeing have the same struggles in his 2nd year that he did in his 1st.
If he’s as ultra competitive as they make him out to be, he’s got to work on his legs more this coming offseason.
There’s almost not explosiveness or any change of pace in his skating. He’s got 1 speed- slow

 

[mas0764]

In his time in the NHL the one ability he has definitely shown is being able to shoot the puck and score if he's put in good position. That's never going to happen playing with Chytil and Gauthier.

The flipside is he's shown no vision and no ability to create his own shot or opportunities for others so I don't completely fault Gallant for not wanting to feed him a ton of minutes in the top 6 right now.

The team needs a center that can do stuff.

I just am dumbfounded with the people who just want to re-sign Strome and not trade anyone and roll.

Locking themselves into this team which is never going to get past the second round as currently constructed. All because they've been duped with this hot start mostly behind Shesterkin, Panarin, and Fox.

Outside the big guns this team has FOREVER to go. It needs, as you said, another center who can "do stuff," but really it needs like two of those types. It needs a young 1B center who can eventually replace Mika and it really could use another center as well who can eventually be a 2C. It should move Chytil to wing and bring back Kravtsov. Then we can trade or eventually move on from expensive pieces like Strome (sooner than later), Kreider, and Trouba.

 

[mas0764]

We don't even need him to be Matthews, McDavid, or Crosby good. Not even Tavares good. But f***ing at least be RNH or Hall good.

If Kakko and Laf are only Hall or RNH good there will be no Cups for us.

 

[mas0764]

He needs a good Center at the moment. Strome is the only option at the moment.

Either learn to play RW or have more of the same.

I don't know anymore...

This team is in desperate need of overhauling the center spot.

Strome is the best one yet he is in no way even close to a true 1C, and we basically can't afford to pay him. Zibanejad flat sucks right now and Chytil has stalled out completely.

The position is crying out for a top to bottom overhaul, moving Chytil to wing.

But we don't have the money or assets to do that because we locked in a core that isn't good enough to win it all too early.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Im not so sure he's "soft" in general terms. He's finishing checks all over the place. He's actually laying out some older vets with good hard checks. He fought against the Islanders... and showed some balls there.

I don't think thats his issue at all.

If you mean playing with more of an aggressive, confident style with the puck then I'd say yeah, I'd agree with you.

Didn't he play the pest role with skill in Juniors, if so he should get back to that style of game.

 

[jay from jersey]

I just am dumbfounded with the people who just want to re-sign Strome and not trade anyone and roll.

Locking themselves into this team which is never going to get past the second round as currently constructed. All because they've been duped with this hot start mostly behind Shesterkin, Panarin, and Fox.

Outside the big guns this team has FOREVER to go. It needs, as you said, another center who can "do stuff," but really it needs like two of those types. It needs a young 1B center who can eventually replace Mika and it really could use another center as well who can eventually be a 2C. It should move Chytil to wing and bring back Kravtsov. Then we can trade or eventually move on from expensive pieces like Strome (sooner than later), Kreider, and Trouba.

I agree to cut bait with strome this season. Both kreider and Trouba will be dealt earlier then their full deals, but that timeframe is gonna be more murky. A lot Is going to depend on Schneider and how fast/ well he develops to eventually take that role. Same with kreider. Hopefully some of Berard/Othmann/Cuylle are closer to 2 years to get here rather then 3

 

[DanielBrassard]

If Kakko and Laf are only Hall or RNH good there will be no Cups for us.

And both of those guys were way ahead of where Kakko and Lafreniere are. Hall was a legitimate star player, I'd be thrilled with a Hall level talent.

 

[rangersfansince08]

If Kakko and Laf are only Hall or RNH good there will be no Cups for us.

Imo the ship has sailed on them being superstars. If Kakko tops out as productive as RNH (60 pt player) and Laf as Hall (70 pt player) that should be enough assuming both are defensively responsible. Especially if Panarin, Fox and Shesterkin continue their level of play.

 

[huerter]

Sometimes you get AD, sometimes you get Nerlens, sometimes you get KAT, sometimes you get Skal.

 

[rangersfansince08]

Thats the puzzling part for me, because those were some of his best traits coming into the draft.

Never see him reaching this type of projection.