I hope you're not talking about me apologizing because I've never said Laf can't become a star. I've said I'm concerned, but never that he can't get there.
And yes if he becomes a star, along with Kakko, then we probably do have enough, if everyone else stays at their current level of production, to win a Cup.
The issue is that if that takes 3 more years for Lafreniere and Kakko to become all-star caliber players, then Panarin, Kreider and Zibanejad will all have fallen off, perhaps dramatically so, and we are in the same boat. Always a good team never a great one.
I'm not talking about you specifically, I'm generally referring to posters who are stating affirmatively that Lafreniere will not be a star, or that Lafreniere should be traded, giving up on his potential based on the record before us so far. Whether that includes you or not I don't know, I haven't studied your posts closely enough. But just generally to everyone who is expressing that view.
My point is it is very easy to be NEGATIVE or conservative with predictions. In my experience, those types of predictions are usually correct, mainly because odds are less. For example, if you were to say "there's no way the Rangers win the Cup this year" versus "The Rangers will definitely win the Cup this year," the latter is a MUCH more bold prediction. It's easier to say the former, and fall back on "I was right."
Likewise, in the event Laffy does bust, there will be a herd of posters claiming victory on their assessment, and saying the Rangers should have traded him in 2023, and look at my post back then, I knew it. Even if he doesn't bust and becomes a 50 pt player, posters will do that. However, if the team is patient and he breaks out and becomes a star, all of those posters will be able to hide behind the joy of being a Rangers fan and him being successful, by saying "I was always rooting for him" or "we're all Rangers fans and want the same things." There will be no accountability for their child-like reactions right now, when not a single person knows how this story will be written.
It is one thing to be frustrated with the player's development, or the team's usage of the player. But knocking people for preaching patience on a player, and again I'm not saying this is you but generally throughout this thread others have done it, is beyond the pale. Patience is a huge requirement as a fan in drafting young players. From what I've seen in your posts, you know that as well as anyone. I understand how he was billed and he has not lived up to those expectations yet and I do understand that as a fan it is frustrating. I too am frustrated - mostly in the team's usage of him, but also in his lack of dynamic playmaking which I expected to turn up here and there.
He has played 175 games and has 70 even strength points. His average TOI has always been sub 15 minutes per game. He has received 0 PP time. Every time he as promoted, he was given very little rope to settle in and get going before being demoted. Yes, he has played some in the top 6, but not really for long stretches. The players he is being compared to do not have those limitations. It's pretty simple stuff.
It is pretty obvious to me that Lafreniere needs to do some work in the offseason, but also, that he lacks confidence in his game right now. Confidence is such a huge part of success. There's an old quote my dad used to tell me, I'm not sure who it is attributed to, but it goes "if you think you can or think you can't, you're right." He seems to be falling in the "you think you can't" area.
He knows if he makes a mistake he can be out of the lineup. He is being taught to play a simple game, a safe game. If he plays that way, you are going to get the version of him you see now, and not the one in his highlight reels. It is time to preach to the kid to go be a thoroughbred, within reason, pick your spots and make some plays. Go do the things that got you drafted 1st overall and just play your game. If it fails, you will not be benched. The guidance should come in learning when those plays were poorly timed, i.e. game management type guidance. Situational awareness type guidance. If he's being told to be a dump and chase player, this team is mismanaging him and killing his development.
