Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[bobbop]

So Lindgren's development is due to Minnesota and how many games in Hartford? Miller's play is all due to his coaching in Wisconsin???? Seriously?

Fox is all 100% Harvard. Chytil's is all due to his less than 20 games in Hartford? Seriously? Howden is all due to Moose Jaw?

And yeah, Buchnevich under AV was exactly the same player he has been under Quinn.

Lindgren's development was going nowhere in a hurry at Minnesota. Don Lucia had a horrible reputation for poor player development. The Rangers got him out of there as soon as they could and he had a productive year and a month at Hartford before becoming a mainstay with the Rangers.

 

[True Blue]

All I am saying is that they are different. But I am happy everyone is crediting the head coach now after years of "AV cannot develop players"

I'm sorry, but from the current group that we are naming, whom are you giving AV credit for developing?

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

What has been terrible about Kakko or Lafreniere? What has been terrible with Fox? Miller? Lindgren? Has Howden been terrible this year? Has Lemieux been terrible?

I mean, Lemieux was pretty terrible until the last two games.

 

[dangsLITE]

He's been fine to good generally, but I just want to see him play with a bit more energy and grit... he and KK (moreso last year) are almost never willing to be F1. Right now he can't count on Mika to set him up and Kreider is inconsistent with his playmaking so really think he's gotta go get the puck himself more often if he wants impact offensively like we know he can. Think he'll find that he can win a lot of battles and start to take control more.

I feel like one of the themes with the kids that have struggled more than others (Kakko, Lias, Laf) is that they have been passive with their o-zone play 90% of the time... no idea if this is Quinn's doing or just their natural style that doesn't work in a better league at their age/w their particular linemates, but if PDG can go win a battle and make a play so can Laf. Hard to score if you rarely have the puck.

 

[NYSPORTS]

(Kakko, Lias, Laf) is that they have been passive with their o-zone play 90% of the time... no idea if this is Quinn's doing or just their natural style . . . .

we’ve seen rookies/youth come into this league and skate 100mph. Chytil did this. He may not have done much but he was flying. Kakko and Laf? Can we crank it up a bit?

I envisioned Kakko having a little Jagr in him. Aggressive pursuit of the puck and both heavy on the puck and boards. Hmm, not yet.

Too early on Laf. It’s not even 10 games

 

[Chytilmania]

I feel like one of the themes with the kids that have struggled more than others (Kakko, Lias, Laf) is that they have been passive with their o-zone play 90% of the time... no idea if this is Quinn's doing or just their natural style that doesn't work in a better league at their age/w their particular linemates, but if PDG can go win a battle and make a play so can Laf. Hard to score if you rarely have the puck.

I think it has to be Quinn and them being afraid to play their games. Kakko and Laf seemed like the two most alpha/aggressive guys in their class and they look completely different on the Rangers. I know he's still young but I thought Kakko would take over in the O zone or bang one timers left and right and the only thing we see is good board play and looking to pass the puck.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

we’ve seen rookies/youth come into this league and skate 100mph. Chytil did this. He may not have done much but he was flying. Kakko and Laf? Can we crank it up a bit?

I envisioned Kakko having a little Jagr in him. Aggressive pursuit of the puck and both heavy on the puck and boards. Hmm, not yet.

Too early on Laf. It’s not even 10 games

Were these rookies you speak of consistent in any way? Were they all teenagers? Were any of them teenagers trying to develop in the best league in the world during a year long pandemic where minimal hockey has been played? Maybe asking a 19 year old to show you flashes of Jaromir Jagr is a little much, eh?

 

[will1066]

He's been fine to good generally, but I just want to see him play with a bit more energy and grit... he and KK (moreso last year) are almost never willing to be F1. Right now he can't count on Mika to set him up and Kreider is inconsistent with his playmaking so really think he's gotta go get the puck himself more often if he wants impact offensively like we know he can. Think he'll find that he can win a lot of battles and start to take control more.

I feel like one of the themes with the kids that have struggled more than others (Kakko, Lias, Laf) is that they have been passive with their o-zone play 90% of the time... no idea if this is Quinn's doing or just their natural style that doesn't work in a better league at their age/w their particular linemates, but if PDG can go win a battle and make a play so can Laf. Hard to score if you rarely have the puck.

I actually think Laf and Kakko might fare better playing within the bottom 6, with grinders who can win some 50/50 battles and get the puck to them. Even if they don't produce much with bottom 6 linemates, they will at least lay down some good habits for boardwork, hustle, and playing 200 feet. But playing them in the bottom 6 would mean flippign bottom 6 spotters up to the top 6, and also people will complain about the indignity of them playing with bottom 6 jabronies because of their perceived, natural top-6 pedigree. Right now, Laf and Kakko are seeing lots of one-and-dones in the o zone because Mika, Kreider, Strome, and Panarin all have been inconsistent.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Were these rookies you speak of consistent in any way? Were they all teenagers? Were any of them teenagers trying to develop in the best league in the world during a year long pandemic where minimal hockey has been played? Maybe asking a 19 year old to show you flashes of Jaromir Jagr is a little much, eh?

consistent? No. They skated like hell and made mistakes.

Kappo heavy on the puck i anticipated so don’t feel that’s a little much. I don’t expect him to be flying up and down the ice. Jagr and others were heavy in the puck so based on his body type, i think that’s ok.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I really feel Chytil kakko and Laf should play together when everyone returns, i think it might be a good mix really and they can all push each other without having to feel like they need to feed the vets.

 

[chosen]

I'm a tiny bit concerned about Kakko.

I have near zero concern about Laf. He looks far better than Kakko last year, and better than Kakko this year.

 

[NYSPORTS]

I really feel Chytil kakko and Laf should play together when everyone returns, i think it might be a good mix really and they can all push each other without having to feel like they need to feed the vets.

would love a kid line . . . although i’m thinking defense would be a problem.

 

[Overcast]

I think it has to be Quinn and them being afraid to play their games. Kakko and Laf seemed like the two most alpha/aggressive guys in their class and they look completely different on the Rangers. I know he's still young but I thought Kakko would take over in the O zone or bang one timers left and right and the only thing we see is good board play and looking to pass the puck.

Maybe the exit interviews after this year will ring a little differently to the FO. I think that's when we'll start to see Quinn's seat get a little hotter based on results instead of things being viewed as "developmental."

 

[yada]

I'm a tiny bit concerned about Kakko.

I have near zero concern about Laf. He looks far better than Kakko last year, and better than Kakko this year.

I feel similar however kakkos play in the play in round and so far have made me feel much better. The one consistent quality kakko has shown has been stick handling and control of the puck in the o zone so i feel i see glimpses that give me hope. I am still concerned about his skating

 

[Unpredictable1]

we’ve seen rookies/youth come into this league and skate 100mph. Chytil did this. He may not have done much but he was flying. Kakko and Laf? Can we crank it up a bit?

I envisioned Kakko having a little Jagr in him. Aggressive pursuit of the puck and both heavy on the puck and boards. Hmm, not yet.

Too early on Laf. It’s not even 10 games

Funny you say that because for the last while now I've been seeing what I think is Jagr-style in Chytil's game. How he board battles and protects the puck with his body, rangey with soft hands.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I'm a tiny bit concerned about Kakko.

I have near zero concern about Laf. He looks far better than Kakko last year, and better than Kakko this year.

I would agree, but keep telling myself we're dealing with a teenager from Europe trying to adjust to the NA game during a pandemic. When I watch him play, however, I do worry about his skating - seems to lack that burst necessary in today's game. Hopefully it's just a conditioning thing.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Funny you say that because for the last while now I've been seeing what I think is Jagr-style in Chytil's game. How he board battles and protects the puck with his body, rangey with soft hands.

The funny thing is that wasn't always Jagr's style. He was a thoroughbred when he first came into the league - an open ice nightmare. He adjusted his game as time went on. I liken it to how high-flying Michael Jordan perfected that fadeaway jumper later in his career.

Anyway, my point is, for reasons like this (and many more), I find it pretty pointless to pigeon-hole a young player into someone else's shoes.

 

[Trxjw]

He's been fine to good generally, but I just want to see him play with a bit more energy and grit... he and KK (moreso last year) are almost never willing to be F1. Right now he can't count on Mika to set him up and Kreider is inconsistent with his playmaking so really think he's gotta go get the puck himself more often if he wants impact offensively like we know he can. Think he'll find that he can win a lot of battles and start to take control more.

I feel like one of the themes with the kids that have struggled more than others (Kakko, Lias, Laf) is that they have been passive with their o-zone play 90% of the time... no idea if this is Quinn's doing or just their natural style that doesn't work in a better league at their age/w their particular linemates, but if PDG can go win a battle and make a play so can Laf. Hard to score if you rarely have the puck.

The last few pages of this thread were so OT that I started reading this post and was like "who the hell are they talking about?"

 

[chosen]

I would agree, but keep telling myself we're dealing with a teenager from Europe trying to adjust to the NA game during a pandemic. When I watch him play, however, I do worry about his skating - seems to lack that burst necessary in today's game. Hopefully it's just a conditioning thing.

In a second season, there are zero excuses for a conditioning issue.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

I had a feeling we should have taken the almost year younger 6'5" center instead.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I had a feeling we should have taken the almost year younger 6'5" center instead.

Yeah, we should've taken the worse player

 

[The New Russian Five]

I had a feeling we should have taken the almost year younger 6'5" center instead.

If you were going to pick someone else, it would have been Stutzle. But I still see Laf figuring it out soon.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Yeah, we should've taken the worse player

higher ceiling player and you can't teach size and center is more valuable position and always in demand.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

If you were going to pick someone else, it would have been Stutzle. But I still see Laf figuring it out soon.

you pick Stutzle, I pick Byfield

 

[The New Russian Five]

higher ceiling player and you can't teach size and center is more valuable position and always in demand.

Byfield looked terrible during WJC. Size isn't everything cough Hugh Jessiman cough cough Dylan McIlrath cough.