Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[bleedblue94]

Nope. I just said I could see Wheeler thinking he can win here. I didn’t say it’s definitely what he’s thinking. Again I don’t read minds. I didn’t say you said he was a scrub… where’s that coming from? Maybe someone else did that? He’s a RW who scored 55 points last year and we are thin on RW and scoring from RW… I said its a good value deal. I suggested that we don’t KNOW how the coach will use him yet… What is outrageous about any of that? You’re getting worked up over me refusing to get worked up. Hahaha. You may even end up being right, but I’m not going to get upset over anything that may not happen.
if I made you feel like I was jumping on you, or dog piling on, I did a poor job of expressing myself, and you have my apology.

The post you quoted literally said that it was not solely directed at all. I was sharing where my frustration has come from bc of some of the other comments.

Person A says some and your reply to it and then person B jumps in and replies to the reply but the original comment, and so one. I'm not worked up at you at all. Your generally a very level headed poster and respectful. Sorry if you thought I was tossing darts at you but that was not my intention!!

 

[bhamill]

I get where you are coming from, no worries. I have zero problem with you bud. Also I’ve had a few so if I seemed to gloss over something or miss something, that’s on me.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Sigh, what high end contender is handing him a top 6 role right now as a player bought out bc no one wanted him at 4m? What high end contender has a gaping hole at rw in their top 6 to hand him a spot. Are you really so dense you don't think this is a move to build value for a final contract? Come on. What the hell did you expect him to say? Every player compliments their new team and says what people want to hear, hell troy stetcher just spoke about how great the coyotes are when he signed there. I can't believe how derailed this is getting. If wheeler isnt signing to rebuild his value and it's all about winning in nyr then it isn't a 1 year deal. This is a show me deal.

And you bring up Wheeler and trouba knowing each other like they were buddies, Wheeler actually publicly questioned trouba when he held out while I'm Winnipeg. There were plenty of comments that they weren't always seeing eye to eye. Who knows how that has evolved but it isn't like they loved each other and it's hard playing with straka again

You are overestimating the other "contenders". You think they are all stacked? I got news for you, they aren't. Everybody is basically in the same boat of trying to add good players and get better in a flat cap era. You think he would be playing on their 4th lines? LOL. It's absolutely preposterous to think he's coming to the Rangers purely to build up his value so he can sign this big fantasy contract with somebody else at the age of 38, and like he is somehow going to score more than the 60 points or so that he has put up the last 4 years. Utter nonsense. The guy thinks he can win here(God forbid) and maybe he wants to play under the bright lights of NYC just like so many others. He has already said he loved playing at MSG. There are also reports that the relationship between Wheeler and Trouba is just fine and Wheeler called Trouba to ask some questions prior to the deal.

 

[JHS]

Why did this thread become about Blake Wheeler?

 

[ajdj10]

Blake Wheeler

 

[haohmaru]

Jones isn't 5 11

Fair enough with Tampa, but even so it's not comparable. Did I miss three straight years of long runs by nyr prior to the flame out last year? Or was there just a single run prior? I can't believe someone is trying to compare nyr today to the Tampa teams of the last 7 years. Holy just looking to argue batman...

I'm not looking to argue at all, merely that your take that the Rangers won't be successful in the playoffs moving forward, based on a single year, is quite a hot take.

Let's let thing play out before we judge, shall we? The Rangers window is pretty much right now with this group for better or worse. I'd like to see if this epic failure motivated them to take the next step or if wwsiwwg.

 

[chosen]

He should demand a trade to a team that knows how to properly develop 1st overall picks.

You're operating on a faulty assumption that all #1s are created equal.

The notion that guys like McDavid, Hughes, Crosby etc,. could have been prevented from being great by a team makes zero sense.

 

[Shadowtron]

You're operating on a faulty assumption that all #1s are created equal.

The notion that guys like McDavid, Hughes, Crosby etc,. could have been prevented from being great by a team makes zero sense.

This is an Excellent point. Cream rises to the top. He should be the best player regardless of what line he’s on. But he’s not.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

This is an Excellent point. Cream rises to the top. He should be the best player regardless of what line he’s on. But he’s not.

The guys mentioned are some of the absolute elite of the elite prospects of all time. No one ever thought Laf was that caliber. Other great prospects took time and patience to get to their star form. That is still what I expect.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

The guys mentioned are some of the absolute elite of the elite prospects of all time. No one ever thought Laf was that caliber. Other great prospects took time and patience to get to their star form. That is still what I expect.

Zibanejad is kind of an example. He’s now a 90 point player but before NY at 18-22 his career high was 51 points. Now he wasn’t a 1st OA but I believe 5th iirc?

 

[Synergy27]

We also need to just stop with the 1OA appeal. It’s becoming pretty clear that that draft was just not that good. It’s strange to me how that happens, but it does, regularly.

The hype on Laf pre draft was simply incorrect. He can still become a good player but he is just not the player he was hyped to be as a junior.

 

[Slaydagnar]

Hopefully LAF will not be signed
Love to see that
Time for rebuild #2 in earnest

 

[Filip Chytil]

Thought his shirt said heroin

$10 that Laf got rejected by the blonde chick. Shot his shot and missed. Story of his NHL career thus far too. How ironic.

 

[NickyFotiu]

We also need to just stop with the 1OA appeal. It’s becoming pretty clear that that draft was just not that good. It’s strange to me how that happens, but it does, regularly.

The hype on Laf pre draft was simply incorrect. He can still become a good player but he is just not the player he was hyped to be as a junior.

It is also kind of unfair to Laf to compare him to other year #1 picks. Its not his fault he was drafted that high in a mediocre draft year. I just want Laf to give 100% this offseason. Skate 4 hours a day. Come in to camp in the best shape of anyone. If he does that then I will have no complaints regardless of points.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Zibanejad is kind of an example. He’s now a 90 point player but before NY at 18-22 his career high was 51 points. Now he wasn’t a 1st OA but I believe 5th iirc?

6th. Right behind Ryan strome.

 

[LORDE]

If Laffy doesn't come into camp in shape, it may be time to move on.

Did you see his latest insta?

Unimpressive if anyone is hoping to see a beast in Sept

I'm sure the post isn't indicative of his entire summer... don't mistake my point.

If i were him I'd be putting in the work WHILE making it look like I am.

I have my doubts about the first part but that may be my bias

 

[ReddestRum]

We also need to just stop with the 1OA appeal. It’s becoming pretty clear that that draft was just not that good. It’s strange to me how that happens, but it does, regularly.

The hype on Laf pre draft was simply incorrect. He can still become a good player but he is just not the player he was hyped to be as a junior.

This is probably one of the best, most level takes in this thread. Doesn't lean too much on the pro/anti side of Laf.

If we're going to keep him then that's all we can hope for at this point, given his 216 game sample size. It's just depressing that there are kids his age and younger that have made immediate differences on their teams. Some of those kids are actually on decent teams as well, but out of his draft class, Laf has the most experience of his peers in NHL games played but has been eclipsed by #3, #4, and #18. #12, and #13 are catching up in point production but have played about a season or more less games.

It is what it is. He might've dominated juniors, but like we've seen in many players making the jump to the NHL, the adjusted time for a higher paced game varies.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Did you see his latest insta?

Unimpressive if anyone is hoping to see a beast in Sept

I'm sure the post isn't indicative of his entire summer... don't mistake my point.

If i were him I'd be putting in the work WHILE making it look like I am.

I have my doubts about the first part but that may be my bias

If he isn't skating 4 hours a day 5 days a week this offseason he is cheating himself. Just showing up expecting to be a better skater would be preparing to fail imo.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Hopefully LAF will not be signed
Love to see that
Time for rebuild #2 in earnest

Cool

 

[Synergy27]

I don’t want to put any stock at all into social media but you’d think someone like Laf, who has been a disappointment in multiple ways, would be going out of his way to at least try to build a “brand” in an attempt to rehab his value. Even if you’re not putting in the work, make it look like you are so that people stop thinking you’re an immature, non serious person.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I don’t want to put any stock at all into social media but you’d think someone like Laf, who has been a disappointment in multiple ways, would be going out of his way to at least try to build a “brand” in an attempt to rehab his value. Even if you’re not putting in the work, make it look like you are so that people stop thinking you’re an immature, non serious person.

The kids that really want to get better are working their butts off most the offseason. Is Laf doing that? I have no idea but we should know in a few months.

 

[AirGut]

I don’t want to put any stock at all into social media but you’d think someone like Laf, who has been a disappointment in multiple ways, would be going out of his way to at least try to build a “brand” in an attempt to rehab his value. Even if you’re not putting in the work, make it look like you are so that people stop thinking you’re an immature, non serious person.

he's probably not ever going to do that until he gets on a Canadian team. If Laf ever pulls a Dubois with us I am not going to be shocked in the slightest

 

[MysticLeviathan]

The guys mentioned are some of the absolute elite of the elite prospects of all time. No one ever thought Laf was that caliber. Other great prospects took time and patience to get to their star form. That is still what I expect.

bullshit. many thought laf had all time great winger conversation potential

 

[IDvsEGO]

bullshit. many thought laf had all time great winger conversation potential

I dont think it was ever that high, but he was mentioned in the matthews, mackinnon tier before his draft.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

bullshit. many thought laf had all time great winger conversation potential

I dont think it was ever that high, but he was mentioned in the matthews, mackinnon tier before his draft.

Disagree that he was thought of to have all time great potential, at least anywhere I saw including on these boards. I agree and specifically remember Mathews/McKinnon tier. Thats still a high tier but its not godlike - as in Crosby/Mcdavid ect.

Speaking of Mckinnon, he was a player who needed a a few seasons to get his shit together. Not saying Laf will ever be that good, just saying it is not uncommon for even a high tier of prospect to need a few seasons of adjustment/seasoning to really hit.