As far as predictions on Lafreniere: I haven't said, and I haven't seen anyone else say, that he WILL be a star or WILL be a point per game player. Just that the door hasn't closed on that possibility. Numerous recent examples of other players (Tage, Mika, Huberdeau) who had similar careers through their D+3 and later broke out were given. I'm not sure how any rational person just ignores the fact that this is a thing that DOES happen.
It's basically dishonesty to sit here and say "
Well I can identify traits X and Y that Mika had.... ten years ago when he was playing for the Senators when I definitely wasn't paying attention to him.... and Lafreniere doesn't have any of those traits because he does nothing well. No one can name one single thing he does well."
That analysis is tinged with "I've already made up my mind that he sucks at everything."
Well that's just patently absurd. While admitting he's disappointing as a 1OA, it's simply not true that he's THAT far behind, or not on par with, the skill set at age 21 of other top 5-10 picks who have gone on to be stars. The dude has scored 19 goals one year, 39 points another. If he has "no" skills then he couldn't have done those things. Improvement is definitely caked into any projection.
Sure, someone who isn't actually an NHL player can't be assumed to "keep improving till they are an All Star," but that's because that person never had NHL skills to begin with and Lafreniere did. He had the passing skill, the shooting skill, the knack for making plays, all those things existed.
The reason those things aren't standing out at this level is his decision making and his speed. It's holding all those things back. Like it did many other players who were 21 and not showing out in the NHL but eventually put it together and who we've named a handful. Oh, I guess because Mika showed off a powerful slapshot those two or three times in highlight reels, that's what meant Mika was going to get better, that "ONE" skill I could name.... a skill which DIDN'T translate for hundreds of other prospects who had great slapshots but couldn't become NHL regulars.
The entire "name one skill he's good at," is a complete misdirection and red herring. It's borderline dishonesty. It's not good faith arguing.
Lafreniere has lots of skills. That's not his problem.
His problem is his skating and decision making. He doesn't think the game at an NHL level/speed yet. He doesn't position himself in the right spots in the offensive zone. To an extent I'd also believe it's his conditioning and possibly dedication to improvement. If those things improve the player will take off. If they don't improve he probably tops out as a 20-20 type guy, third liner. That's eminently possible.
Miss me with this "he sucks at everything" baloney. Agenda city. I'm not getting sucked into a debate where someone with their mind made up on fiction can try to tear down every analysis of his wrist shot or deking ability.
theathletic.com
