Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[Shesterkybomb]

We can all see how much better Chytil and Kakko are this year, Lafreniere should be afforded the same time frame i guess given our circumstance of them not getting the ice time other kids do.

 

[OthmannOut]

I want to see more of that Laf high rising shot.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He desperately needs to find another gear. When he comes into the offensive zone with the puck, he doesn't have pull away speed so he curls towards the boards and minimizes his options. I think what's holding him back is he can't physically do what his mind wants to do.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

The talent is in there.

 

[ReddestRum]

For those claiming “we never even see flashes from Lafrenière”, please save this Toronto tape

Flashes.

Pay the man his 5x5.

 

[haveandare]

make sure he gets a skating coach this off-season and he’ll be alright imo

 

[duhmetreE]

We just live in a world where it’s a “what have you done for me lately” attitude.

I get talking shit in the moment but I don’t get why people are truly “gloom and doomy” long term outlook.

Maybe my brain is too big and it affords me the capability to calculate the future

 

[bl02]

Not saying his skating/speed doesn't need work but he sure looked a lot faster and on his toes last night

 

[Daves a mess]

The talent is in there.

I recall some of my buddies in Tampa saying that about Jonathan Drouin lol.

He played well last night. Time to build on that.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

something must have clicked in the last 10 days or so. i'm noticing him more on the tv screen doing meaningful positive things. also that doofus look on his day seems to have disappeared.

whatever it is that appeared to have clicked let us all hope that continues more often from this point onward and that it's not just flashes like we've seen before from time to time.

 

[duhmetreE]

Not saying his skating/speed doesn't need work but he sure looked a lot faster and on his toes last night

It’s a problem for sure but it’s not just isolated to him. The entire team struggles with it.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

The last couple of games, he’s been much better handling the puck and passing. Not anything to get excited about but compare to a couple weeks ago he couldn’t even do that. It’s all confidence. Of course GG doing all he can to not try and help in that regard.

 

[bhamill]

Not saying his skating/speed doesn't need work but he sure looked a lot faster and on his toes last night

Uncertainty makes you slow down. It's not that he doesn't have skating ability, it's that he doesn't have confidence. YET.

 

[Mugless]

He desperately needs to find another gear. When he comes into the offensive zone with the puck, he doesn't have pull away speed so he curls towards the boards and minimizes his options. I think what's holding him back is he can't physically do what his mind wants to do.

Yup, he does the Laf button hook every time.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Uncertainty makes you slow down. It's not that he doesn't have skating ability, it's that he doesn't have confidence. YET.

He's not a great skater in the mold of Crosby or Hughes. I mean, everyone is complaining he isn't one of those guys yet, I think skating is the biggest reason why. He's not a terrible skater by any stretch, but if he's going to be the guy we all hope he is, he needs to get a bit quicker. That little extra can make a big difference at this level. I don't think I've seen him win a foot race and blow by anyone.

 

[IDvsEGO]

He's not a great skater in the mold of Crosby or Hughes. I mean, everyone is complaining he isn't one of those guys yet, I think skating is the biggest reason why. He's not a terrible skater by any stretch, but if he's going to be the guy we all hope he is, he needs to get a bit quicker. That little extra can make a big difference at this level. I don't think I've seen him win a foot race and blow by anyone.

I mean he’s not slow, it just takes him longer to accelerate. That’s the reason why he often starts in the defensive zone as opposed to the offensive zone

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I mean he’s not slow, it just takes him longer to accelerate. That’s the reason why he often starts in the defensive zone as opposed to the offensive zone

Definitely not slow but not elite. And it's something totally in his control to improve upon. An extra step or quicker acceleration could be the difference between taking the puck to the net for a great scoring opportunity or having to curl along the boards and having the play die because defenseman cut you off or caught up.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I don't see a lack of skating ability hindering Lafreniere and it's never gonne be a big asset for him.

I'm not sure why the skating narraitve is so common or what improvements people expect. You can refine or improve minor things, but you don't transform average skaters into great ones.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I don't see a lack of skating ability hindering Lafreniere and it's never gonne be a big asset for him.

I'm not sure why the skating narraitve is so common or what improvements people expect. You can refine or improve minor things, but you don't transform average skaters into great ones.

Because he has no separation speed and he's constantly being cut off by defenders skating into the offensive zone. He's often late to pucks in the corners, effectively ending a possession. He can definitely get quicker. Kakko did.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Because he has no separation speed and he's constantly being cut off by defenders skating into the offensive zone. He's often late to pucks in the corners, effectively ending a possession. He can definitely get quicker. Kakko did.

I’ve seen this before and don’t agree with it. Kakko didn’t really get faster, he got more assertive /decisive with his movements. He lacks a lot of the hesitation he had. He’s willing to risk being out of position to cut off a puck carrier.

Laf is faster than Kakko. He just doesn’t have the same edges that Kakko does.
Laf does need to get a little more explosive and not be able to be caught on a 1-0

 

[EdJovanovski]

Because he has no separation speed and he's constantly being cut off by defenders skating into the offensive zone. He's often late to pucks in the corners, effectively ending a possession. He can definitely get quicker. Kakko did.

I don’t think Kakko got much faster at all he’s still quite slow. Everyone on our team is except Kravtsov Kreider Chytil & Gauthier

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I’ve seen this before and don’t agree with it. Kakko didn’t really get faster, he got more assertive /decisive with his movements. He lacks a lot of the hesitation he had. He’s willing to risk being out of position to cut off a puck carrier.

Laf is faster than Kakko. He just doesn’t have the same edges that Kakko does.
Laf does need to get a little more explosive and not be able to be caught on a 1-0

I've been to a bunch of games this season, at MSG and on the road, and Kakko looks faster. Not just decision making but he backs up and turns defenders much more than Laff does. Laff seems very easy to defend on the rush. But I definitely agree with the bolded, which is all I was trying to say.

 

[will1066]

He has been making some very nice anticipation plays in the last couple of games, showing some smarts and vision.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I don’t think Kakko got much faster at all he’s still quite slow. Everyone on our team is except Kravtsov Kreider Chytil & Gauthier

Kravtsov is a beautiful skater. I openly wept the first time I saw him on the Garden ice. Couldn't even make out the name or number it was so blurry. All I saw was a halo of light shining upon him as he effortlessly glided up and down the ice.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Have the Kid line there, DO NOT change it. Our best lineup has this line because each player, and most of all Laf plays better on that line. I feel like Laf acts like you and I would on the first week at a job where we defer to people that have been there for a while when he plays with the vets.