Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[bhamill]

How can you not like this kid....gets the shaft all year, finally gets some proper ice time and instead of basking in it he does the team guy answer and says he'll play with anyone. People complain about him a lot but he's still gonna be an awesome player, hopefully they don't move him.

AGREED.

Not sayin I'm not really happy w his game or his answer to the question, but these guys are media coached. I doubt he or any other player would go into an interview and say:

"It's about f***ing time... the coaches the past 3 seasons are morons and if it weren't for that plug Kreider or that pond hockey playin Bread w/his dipsy do crap, I'd be tearing up the league right now."

ahahaha. That would be priceless though.

 

[RangerLifer]

I think it's safe to say now that he doesn't suck.

 

[IceColdOx]

I think it's safe to say now that he doesn't suck.

Don't think he ever did. He just had he's development jerked with thanks to COVID.

 

[Row I Goon]

Every other coach - “we’re starting our top picks on our first line…”

Every Rangers coach ever - “hold my beer….”

 

[IceColdOx]

Note to self: Stay out of the main NHL chat. They think Laffy is worst than Alexandre Daigle.

 

[ThirdEye]

He's 9th in the league in EVP for players with <16 minutes of ice time per game. 32nd if you include all players with 18 min or less per game. If this is his "low" I'll gladly take it

If you give him Trochek's 10 power play points, who has managed to accumulate that while being probably the weakest link on there, that puts him at 23 points in 28 games.

The people on the main board have zero concept of context.

 

[IceColdOx]

He's 9th in the league in EVP for players with <16 minutes of ice time per game. 32nd if you include all players with 18 min or less per game. If this is his "low" I'll gladly take it

If you give him Trochek's 10 power play points, who has managed to accumulate that while being probably the weakest link on there, that puts him at 23 points in 28 games.

The people on the main board have zero concept of context.

They think a guy that's a top pick is going to put up Matthews or McDavid numbers. News flash... that's why they are generational talents. Laffy has great hockey sense. It's not always goals, but it shows.

 

[duhmetreE]

How can you not like this kid....gets the shaft all year, finally gets some proper ice time and instead of basking in it he does the team guy answer and says he'll play with anyone. People complain about him a lot but he's still gonna be an awesome player, hopefully they don't move him.

any other org in normal circumstances would have given him the Captaincy already

all in due time

 

[IceColdOx]

any other org in normal circumstances would have given him the Captaincy already

all in due time

He's honestly one of my favorite players on the team.

 

[IronBloodedLion]

He's 9th in the league in EVP for players with <16 minutes of ice time per game. 32nd if you include all players with 18 min or less per game. If this is his "low" I'll gladly take it

If you give him Trochek's 10 power play points, who has managed to accumulate that while being probably the weakest link on there, that puts him at 23 points in 28 games.

The people on the main board have zero concept of context.

That was last year too. If he got PP time he’s have 50+ points and we’re not having the conversation of whether he’s a bust or not.

 

[RangerLifer]

Note to self: Stay out of the main NHL chat. They think Laffy is worst than Alexandre Daigle.

Oh, to go there is a form of self-immolation as Ranger fans.

 

[Levitate]

Yeah again PP time is killing these kids production numbers

I've taken up beating the drum of how they have not been put in the same roles that other top picks have and how that has affected their development and scoring. There's some value in learning more of a two way game etc but when you're at d+3 or so and the coach hasn't seen fit to give you the responsibility of playing as a top player then you're being blocked from developing

 

[ReddestRum]

Lol. It's hilarious that the Laf boot lickers are talking shit about the main boards. I guess this thread is your safe space. No one is saying that Laf overall sucks, but most people realize that Laf is literally just an average NHL player. There's nothing special about him right now, and he's being outworked by his linemates that prop him up. Without decent linemates, Laf is below average and this in indicative in the request of his diehards to give him even more time, top line minutes, and PP1 time where it's Kakko who has deserved that kind of praise if you're going to go by the metric of the last two games.

Two games. In two games it seems like you guys have rolled out the victory party, "I guess Laf doesn't suck now..". In two games, you guys are talking about a Lafreniere captaincy after one interview?? LMAO. You can't point your finger at the mains when, in this echo chamber, some of you sound equally as absurd.

 

[Shadowtron]

Lol. It's hilarious that the Laf boot lickers are talking shit about the main boards. I guess this thread is your safe space. No one is saying that Laf overall sucks, but most people realize that Laf is literally just an average NHL player. There's nothing special about him right now, and he's being outworked by his linemates that prop him up. Without decent linemates, Laf is below average and this in indicative in the request of his diehards to give him even more time, top line minutes, and PP1 time where it's Kakko who has deserved that kind of praise if you're going to go by the metric of the last two games.

Two games. In two games it seems like you guys have rolled out the victory party, "I guess Laf doesn't suck now..". In two games, you guys are talking about a Lafreniere captaincy after one interview?? LMAO. You can't point your finger at the mains when, in this echo chamber, some of you sound equally as absurd.

I always say, cream rises to the top. Does being on a 3rd line and no PP time affect his stat line? Sure, no doubt. But this kid is almost never the best player on the ice. You would think that a supremely talented player destined for stardom would far more noticeable on the ice far more often than Laff has been. I think blaming the coaches is a useful tool to eleviate some of the burn knowing we finally won top lottery picks...in back to back average drafts lol. Hell Jack Hughes is outscoring the next 3 players picked after him, combined. shrugs.

I'm curious if we could re-do the 2020 draft, would some of these guys still pick Laff, knowing exactly what they know now?

 

[Levitate]

I think he's played far better at times, including even his rookie year, late last year, earlier this year...he's struggling to find his role on this team and that's on the coaches

 

[I Eat Crow]

I couldn't be happier if he continues to get top 6 ES minutes and drops 40 points the rest of the year. I just have no faith in this organization to be patient with him and Kakko and to keep them stapled to the top 6 where they can produce if they're not going to get a second of PP time.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I always say, cream rises to the top. Does being on a 3rd line and no PP time affect his stat line? Sure, no doubt. But this kid is almost never the best player on the ice. You would think that a supremely talented player destined for stardom would far more noticeable on the ice far more often than Laff has been. I think blaming the coaches is a useful tool to eleviate some of the burn knowing we finally won top lottery picks...in back to back average drafts lol. Hell Jack Hughes is outscoring the next 3 players picked after him, combined. shrugs.

I'm curious if we could re-do the 2020 draft, would some of these guys still pick Laff, knowing exactly what they know now?

I think it would be difficult to make the argument that he would be the pick at #1 again.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Would love to see him get a couple primaries tonight for Kakko and Mika.

Seeing him set up either of those two (especially Mika) will go a long way in keeping him up on that top line

 

[ReddestRum]

Would love to see him get a couple primaries tonight for Kakko and Mika.

Seeing him set up either of those two (especially Mika) will go a long way in keeping him up on that top line

This. 100%. I want to see Laf lead. I want him to be the guy that, no matter what line we put him on, he's going to be the guy that pushes people to elevate their own game around him. You don't draft #1 and #2 to be support players, you draft that kind of talent to be future franchise faces. As much shit as I give Laf, I really do want him to succeed because he, Kakko, and the rest of the youngins are who we build around in the future. I keep my hopes in check because, you know, we're the f***ing Rangers and constantly have identity issues.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

He's 9th in the league in EVP for players with <16 minutes of ice time per game. 32nd if you include all players with 18 min or less per game. If this is his "low" I'll gladly take it

If you give him Trochek's 10 power play points, who has managed to accumulate that while being probably the weakest link on there, that puts him at 23 points in 28 games.

The people on the main board have zero concept of context.

100%.

While Trocheck does have a role on the team and is useful for his puck carries, he is a fifth wheel on that powerplay and it shows. He serves no purpose from that spot which I will derisively call the "half point" at the very high slot. He's not going to score from there, he doesn't take checking pressure off anyone, and the team would be a hell of a lot stronger with someone left handed who can shoot off the pass from the RW half boards instead.

If Laffy got Tro's PP time and Trocheck moved to center the 2nd PP (with Chytil moving to RW, Kakko moving to the slot/LW, and Trouba being the one-time option from the left point), both units would be stronger IMO.

 

[ReddestRum]

Here's a question. Some of you are saying put Laf in Trocheck's spot on #1, however, do you see anything in Laf's physical play that warrants him in that spot? Laf doesn't really fight for lose pucks, and the half-boards are kind of his enemy. If you put him in Trocheck's spot, he's going to get bullied to death. Honestly, I think Kakko is eons stronger than Laf. Anyone see KK take that hit in the middle of the ice in the O-zone and a Vegas player bounce right off of him?

 

[SA16]

100%.

While Trocheck does have a role on the team and is useful for his puck carries, he is a fifth wheel on that powerplay and it shows. He serves no purpose from that spot which I will derisively call the "half point" at the very high slot. He's not going to score from there, he doesn't take checking pressure off anyone, and the team would be a hell of a lot stronger with someone left handed who can shoot off the pass from the RW half boards instead.

If Laffy got Tro's PP time and Trocheck moved to center the 2nd PP (with Chytil moving to RW, Kakko moving to the slot/LW, and Trouba being the one-time option from the left point), both units would be stronger IMO.

You say he doesn't score from there and yet he's second on the team and T-19 in the league in PPGs.

 

[Kennerback]

Headline on NHL.com right now.

Lafreniere's confidence grows as role with Rangers increases | NHL.com

Forward has scored twice in two games after being moved to top line

www.nhl.com

 

[DanielBrassard]

Give it up with Lafreniere on the top PP unit, it's not happening.

 

[RangerLifer]

I always say, cream rises to the top. Does being on a 3rd line and no PP time affect his stat line? Sure, no doubt. But this kid is almost never the best player on the ice. You would think that a supremely talented player destined for stardom would far more noticeable on the ice far more often than Laff has been. I think blaming the coaches is a useful tool to eleviate some of the burn knowing we finally won top lottery picks...in back to back average drafts lol. Hell Jack Hughes is outscoring the next 3 players picked after him, combined. shrugs.

I'm curious if we could re-do the 2020 draft, would some of these guys still pick Laff, knowing exactly what they know now?

He wasn't the best player on the ice often because his confidence was shot. If his confidence grows, you'll see him become the player he was supposed to be. I believe in him.