Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[bbny]

Even if that’s what you want, Laf should be here for it. It’s Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, Trouba and Goodrow who should move.

Here's a hot take: sign him to a 6-8 year deal now. It probably costs you in the $6M range. Dump Goodrow to make the extra space. Stabs at the Cup with the current core were taken 2 years in a row and failed. This past stab left no optimism that the guys at the top can be the lead guys of a Cup winning team. Continuing to double down on this philosophy will be far more crippling to the franchise than being "stuck" with Lafreniere if he turns out to be nothing more than a decent mid-6er. He already is a decent mid-6er so I find it hard to believe he's topped out at 21 years old.

We can all argue until we are blue in the face how he doesn't look the part of a franchise player, and I've shredded him plenty for not looking that part, but he's at worst a decent mid-6 player. Take the chance. A low ball bridge followed up with no elevation in premium ice time, purposely stunting production and contract earnings growth, is a recipe for disaster. Look at Kakko getting boned on his bridge deal and now pleading for more PP time in exit interviews. He knows if he doesn't get it and he's only a 35-40 point player, which is pretty good for mostly 5v5 production, his next contract is shit too. These guys were put in a unique position to be a part of a competitive team, but they are paying severely in contract earnings and growth for it.

 

[LaffyTaffyNYR]

“I played left wing my whole life so obviously I was more comfortable there, but I’m ready to adjust and change to right wing and try to play the best hockey I can,” Lafreniere said. “It’s obviously a little bit different coming back into your own end, and it might take a couple of games, but I’m comfortable with it.”

You can’t just say try to switch for a few games and then just move him back to LW behind 2 all stars..

 

[duhmetreE]

Gallant did not like Laffy imo

Maybe it was how he carried himself or his percieved lack of dedication.... but I always thought it was obvious Gallant had it out for him.

It's do or die time. If Muse, Peca and Lavi can't reach him, it's a 'lets pray for a decent return' time. I hold the copium that Cooley refuses to sign in AZ and they look to move him next offseason.

 

[mas0764]

Know what's funny? Goodrow and Trouba were less than 10 points in matching Laf for the season. That's it for funny.

You want to give #1, #2, and #5 in team scoring the boot? Okay. Who are we replacing them with? When the core of vets are off this team, who do you want stepping up? The kids who struggle to make ends meet against bottom 6'ers in the NHL? More rentals?

I want change more than anything on this team, but once the vet core goes then we will be officially in a rebuild and simultaneously ruining years of Shesty's potential. This year we will try to make a cup run with an entirely new staff, little team cohesion, and rentals aplenty. I'm expecting nothing this year and even less afterwards.

The person I was responding to said they wanted to enter a second rebuild so that was my premise.

But yeah I’ve never expected a Cup with this core and have always said we need to stay at the bottom like the Devils till we have our stars in plenty and in youth. We never did that. We cut off too early.

Here's a hot take: sign him to a 6-8 year deal now. It probably costs you in the $6M range. Dump Goodrow to make the extra space. Stabs at the Cup with the current core were taken 2 years in a row and failed. This past stab left no optimism that the guys at the top can be the lead guys of a Cup winning team. Continuing to double down on this philosophy will be far more crippling to the franchise than being "stuck" with Lafreniere if he turns out to be nothing more than a decent mid-6er. He already is a decent mid-6er so I find it hard to believe he's topped out at 21 years old.

We can all argue until we are blue in the face how he doesn't look the part of a franchise player, and I've shredded him plenty for not looking that part, but he's at worst a decent mid-6 player. Take the chance. A low ball bridge followed up with no elevation in premium ice time, purposely stunting production and contract earnings growth, is a recipe for disaster. Look at Kakko getting boned on his bridge deal and now pleading for more PP time in exit interviews. He knows if he doesn't get it and he's only a 35-40 point player, which is pretty good for mostly 5v5 production, his next contract is shit too. These guys were put in a unique position to be a part of a competitive team, but they are paying severely in contract earnings and growth for it.

I’d like to know what that number is. It’s worth exploring. If you have to buy out you buy out. But if that ends up having to be the case you are staring at another rebuild anyway.

The upside of securing him long term for below potential market value is alluring. It’s now you win Cups, multiple. Getting great young players on below market deals.

 

[Levitate]

Player has to agree to the term though...if Lafreniere believes that he can do better and earn a bigger contract he may not want to sign a long term deal now for less than what he thinks he can get.

But it's academic really since there's no way the Rangers are going to do that

 

[bbny]

The person I was responding to said they wanted to enter a second rebuild so that was my premise.

But yeah I’ve never expected a Cup with this core and have always said we need to stay at the bottom like the Devils till we have our stars in plenty and in youth. We never did that. We cut off too early.



I’d like to know what that number is. It’s worth exploring. If you have to buy out you buy out. But if that ends up having to be the case you are staring at another rebuild anyway.

The upside of securing him long term for below potential market value is alluring. It’s now you win Cups, multiple. Getting great young players on below market deals.

Correct. Like MacKinnon's 2nd contract, and you don't get those without accepting risk. The Rangers being competitive enough has now turned them into fool's gold Cup contenders, and it will now spoil taking risks like this.

I blame Drury for a healthy portion of stuff, but I never blamed him for taking stabs at it. I know some fans wanted to build at all costs, but I thought it was worth trying under one big caveat. That caveat being it was a shorter "first window". You take a couple of swings and move on. They did. It's done. Nice try, but move on. This offseason represented a pivotal moment for the franchise to either double down on the current core, or take a year to start re-dedicating towards the next, hopefully much larger, window. I've been disappointed by the decisions which clearly indicate the former.

 

[will1066]

Player has to agree to the term though...if Lafreniere believes that he can do better and earn a bigger contract he may not want to sign a long term deal now for less than what he thinks he can get.

But it's academic really since there's no way the Rangers are going to do that

Seriously doubtful that the team is looking long term with him right now. I believe in "when there's smoke, there's fire" with the trade rumors, despite Drury proclaiming that was never happening. He's not untouchable but he's going to be bridged and needs to show a jump in development before he gets handed a long-term deal.

He can conceivably choose to sit out -- to his detriment. No arbiration rights for him.

 

[NickyFotiu]

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/07/05/je-ne-men-fais-pas-avec-les-rumeurs----alexis-lafreniere

JEAN FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

Wednesday, July 5, 2023 1:45 p.m.
UPDATE Wednesday, July 5, 2023 1:45 p.m.

Alexis Lafrenière is still sleeping peacefully. The 2020 draft class leader expects to continue his career with the New York Rangers.

“I don't worry about rumours, said the 21-year-old winger in an interview with the Journal. There are often rumors. I can't stress myself out about this. I remain very happy with the Rangers.

“Yes, I spoke with Chris (Drury) our general manager, he told. I know the negotiations are going well. I remain confident. I keep a day-to-day mentality.”

“I have confidence that we will find an agreement, he replied without going into details. I don't control this portion too much. We'll see."

"I would like to have my best season next year," he replied. I have confidence in my abilities and my abilities.”

"Yes, I think it will be good for me," he said. I don't know Peter personally yet, but I hear good things about him. I have a feeling he will be a good coach for us. We are very excited to start a new season with him.”

"We will still have a good team in New York," he predicted. We will work hard to achieve the main objective, to make it to the Stanley Cup final.”

 

[Filip Chytil]

Expecting nothing ?!? It’ll be 30 years without a cup next summer! I’m sure MSG will put together something nice to commemorate the futility.

Perhaps they'll have a fellow named Brett Howden come in as a guest speaker to the team before training camp to give a 1 hour presentation on how to win the Cup.

 

[Shadowtron]

Perhaps they'll have a fellow named Brett Howden come in as a guest speaker to the team before training camp to give a 1 hour presentation on how to win the Cup.

Too soon. Too soon! Hahaha!!

 

[haohmaru]

The upside of securing him long term for below potential market value is alluring. It’s now you win Cups, multiple. Getting great young players on below market deals.

The downside is if he remains what he is, or worse, takes a step backward. He's certainly not at the "great young player" level.

I mean, I'm pretty much all for it anyway. The Rangers need the sauce to marinate longer and, if he pops, it's a bonus for them too.

 

[IDvsEGO]

The downside is if he remains what he is, or worse, takes a step backward. He's certainly not at the "great young player" level.

I mean, I'm pretty much all for it anyway. The Rangers need the sauce to marinate longer and, if he pops, it's a bonus for them too.

I mean he put up close to 40 pts with almost no pp time, that’s a 50-60 pt player with power play time.
Assume 50 points. That’s about 5 million a year right now.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I have alot of patience as long as I see the effort. I saw KK raise his effort last season.

Laf will be the same age as kakko next season so maybe he should be given the same rope at this point. This wasn't the best situation for high draft picks to walk into, especially with coaches who were focused on wins to keep their jobs instead of developing players.

 

[haohmaru]

I mean he put up close to 40 pts with almost no pp time, that’s a 50-60 pt player with power play time.
Assume 50 points. That’s about 5 million a year right now.

Gustafsson scored 43 and got 825K lol.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Laf will be the same age as kakko next season so maybe he should be given the same rope at this point. This wasn't the best situation for high draft picks to walk into, especially with coaches who were focused on wins to keep their jobs instead of developing players.

If Laf puts in the effort I will be one of his biggest supporters. I would be thrilled to hear he is skating 5 days a week all summer.
Few NHL teams develop guys during NHL games. They usually play the games to win unless a ridiculous tank effort is in place.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Gustafsson scored 43 and got 825K lol.

Gustafson put up 43 with 14 assists on the pp.

 

[haohmaru]

Gustafson put up 43 with 14 assists on the pp.

It was humor.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Gustafsson scored 43 and got 825K lol.

How about of those points did Ovechkin not contribute on?

 

[haohmaru]

How about of those points did Ovechkin not contribute on?

See directly above.

 

[Zarao71]

Kakko and Laff have had more than enough ice time to make us all giddy.
It hasn't happened. 7 seasons between the two and we have less than a half dozen highlight reel goals. They deserve to be on the 3rd line and they know it. I give no F's about being picked 1,2.
Neither of these jokers have shown themselves to be top 6 material.
Hopefully, both of these guys realize they are gonna be paid like 3rd liners and sent to Winnepeg if they don't shape up.

 

[JHS]

Kakko and Laff have had more than enough ice time to make us all giddy.
It hasn't happened. 7 seasons between the two and we have less than a half dozen highlight reel goals. They deserve to be on the 3rd line and they know it. I give no F's about being picked 1,2.
Neither of these jokers have shown themselves to be top 6 material.
Hopefully, both of these guys realize they are gonna be paid like 3rd liners and sent to Winnepeg if they don't shape up.

Exactly right. These guys are still so oblivious to how much money they are losing out on by being pathetically mediocre that it’s pretty scary. Shows a real immaturity too. Laf easily is leaving 10-20 million on the table by being so mediocre in his early years that the best he is gonna get is a bridge deal. It’s really startling how these guys have done nothing to even possibly deserve any kind of real money.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Exactly right. These guys are still so oblivious to how much money they are losing out on by being pathetically mediocre that it’s pretty scary. Shows a real immaturity too. Laf easily is leaving 10-20 million on the table by being so mediocre in his early years that the best he is gonna get is a bridge deal. It’s really startling how these guys have done nothing to even possibly deserve any kind of real money.

Takes some guys time to realize how much work and conditioning is needed to excel at this level.

 

[JHS]

Takes some guys time to realize how much work and conditioning is needed to excel at this level.

Right I get it but most people are motivated by money if not fame. These two seem to think the world is just gonna give them everything they want without any actual deserving of anything. That’s problematic on every level.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Right I get it but most people are motivated by money if not fame. These two seem to think the world is just gonna give them everything they want without any actual deserving of anything. That’s problematic on every level.

I just wish they would find a really hard worker to spend the summer getting in to their best shape ala Gary Roberts used to do. Give themselves the best chance to excel. Hopefully skate 4 hours a day at least 5 days a week. Look at it as their job to be the best they can be.

Would be cool of the Rangers to hire Roberts to work with as many of our players as possible. From his wiki page.

Roberts entered his first NHL training camp with the Flames in 1984 believing his summer lacrosse schedule was enough to keep him in proper hockey game shape. Coach Bob Johnson disagreed and hauled him in front of his peers as an example of someone who had not committed to being a hockey player.[42] He was initially upset, but grew to realize that Johnson was correct, in that he was not particularly focused on his fitness.[52] The criticism inspired Roberts to dedicate himself to personal training,[42] and carried a reputation for being obsessed with nutrition and physical fitness throughout his career.[53] He credited his fitness and nutrition regimen with helping him extend his career another 13 years after his first retirement.[54]

As a player, Roberts helped train his peers during off-seasons. He was a member of the Dallas Stars' staff as the team's player development consultant during the 2010–11 NHL season.[55] One of Roberts' early disciples, Tampa's Steven Stamkos, developed into a 50-goal player in his first season after training with Roberts and led to numerous players seeking to train with him. His growing reputation as a personal trainer led to the creation of the Gary Roberts High Performance Centre and Fitness Institute in Toronto, Ontario where he trains junior and professional players, including several in the NHL.[56]

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Right I get it but most people are motivated by money if not fame. These two seem to think the world is just gonna give them everything they want without any actual deserving of anything. That’s problematic on every level.

Where are you getting this?