Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[bhamill]

Where are you getting this?

He is speculating.

The bottom line is Kakko and Laf are literally still kids. They got ice time last year, mostly with Chytil, so what you had was three young players all trying to find their NHL game together on the same line. Yes, they had chemistry, but its not the same as having a veteran presence or veteran support. Playing important minutes, including power play time, with established pros who know what they are doing makes a difference in development. Getting real responsibility matters. Maybe they get that this year, maybe they don't. But they will round into impact players quicker with BETTER usage, with MORE responsibility. Quality and quantity are not the same thing...

 

[Byron Bitz]

3 years in how are people feeling about this kid? Personally I am shocked at his development, I thought he was a can’t miss pick and a safe bet to be a big time star by this point in his career. What are your thoughts?

 

[McRanger92]

3 years in how are people feeling about this kid? Personally I am shocked at his development, I thought he was a can’t miss pick and a safe bet to be a big time star by this point in his career. What are your thoughts?

You must be new here

 

[Byron Bitz]

You must be new here

That’s why I said 3 years in, it’s a good time reevaluate

 

[McRanger92]

That’s why I said 3 years in, it’s a good time reevaluate

296 pages in the thread. It's complicated to say the least.

 

[haveandare]

3 years in how are people feeling about this kid? Personally I am shocked at his development, I thought he was a can’t miss pick and a safe bet to be a big time star by this point in his career. What are your thoughts?

He’s been good, great in spurts, not really a game breaker at all yet. 5v5 he’s sneakily productive, hasn’t had much consistent PP time but he’d surely have gaudier point totals if he did. I don’t think a coaching carousel has helped him, and I don’t think he’s had a coach yet who really knew how to connect with his more competitive side and push him to embrace it instead of being a good cog. Hoping the new staff takes that approach with him.

 

[bhamill]

That’s why I said 3 years in, it’s a good time reevaluate

I think pretty much everyone is disappointed in his development relative to draft position/expectations.
Maybe a vocal 5 or so think he's worthless and should be dumped for whatever we can get.
Most think, despite his disappointing development, that he's already a good NHLer after his D+3: since he is physical and scoring about 0.5ppg.
Of those, some believe he is finished developing at 21 years old and a borderline 3rd/2nd liner is all he will ever be; some believe he will be a serviceable top six; some, including myself, think he will still be an impact 1st liner: and some of those, again including myself, aren't convinced he can't still be a franchise foundational player.

IMO, it would be foolish to sell low on him. at worst, IMO he will be a physical 2nd line winger, and he could still end up being much more. I think since we would not get value for him, he is not going to be moved any time soon, and if he blossoms there would be no desire to move him...

 

[bleedblue94]

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.

Preposterous you say...

He said he loves playing in msg, everyone says that. My God, that's what you're going with.

It's funny you tell me he and trouba are buds and after I point out that isn't the case you switch to other their relationship is fine now. You can love the move and I can be skeptical of it. Let's move on

 

[bleedblue94]

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.

I'm not saying "they won't be successful I'm the playoffs moving forward based on a single year"

They have had one successful playoff year in the last 6 years. Obvious a couple of those years were teardown time but people are acting like this is the 2012-2017 group we are working off.

To me this group and their script started in 2019 when panarin got here, so in that time they have:

Lost in bubble qualifying round, ei missed the playoffs

Missed the playoffs

Had their one run

Imploded in the first round (yes imploded bc they essentially no showed in game 6 after losing 3 in a row).

To me that isn't a group that has earned any part of expectations to make a run or win this year. The thing that could change that is if lavy has the secret sauce for this group and get them pulling the same rope but that is far for a guarantee

 

[2014nyr]

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.

i wish kreider took on this kinda role...if there was ever an offseason that would leave the team with a motivation to have a really dialed in offseason plan it would be after this springs humiliating exit.

appears panarin is changing some things up in an attempt to come back better than ever, would hope he's not the only one. mika is a who needs to be doing that if this team is going to be elite, he's been awesome but he's never really gotten back to that covid season level with 75 pts in 57 games including 41 goals. he's gonna have to drive the bus if this team is gonna have a chance. also goes without saying laf and kakko need to come in at an entirely different level physically...it's time for them to start demanding leading roles with their play.

 

[2014nyr]

Our boy looking thicccc, 2 adays in the gym.

needs to be less thiccc boi and lean out....the horse blanket he's wearing makes it tough to see which way he's going

 

[duhmetreE]

i wish kreider took on this kinda role...if there was ever an offseason that would leave the team with a motivation to have a really dialed in offseason plan it would be after this springs humiliating exit.

appears panarin is changing some things up in an attempt to come back better than ever, would hope he's not the only one. mika is a who needs to be doing that if this team is going to be elite, he's been awesome but he's never really gotten back to that covid season level with 75 pts in 57 games including 41 goals. he's gonna have to drive the bus if this team is gonna have a chance. also goes without saying laf and kakko need to come in at an entirely different level physically...it's time for them to start demanding leading roles with their play.

Zibs took off when he actually started training with Kreider. I don't know how it's been since his wedding/covid.

What is Panarin doing? What did he change besides his hair?

Kakko seems to take his physical off-ice training serious. Now he needs to work on ice with his shot

Laffy.... lets hope he's 'serious' this summer.

 

[2014nyr]

Im one of the few that is not obsessed with stats. I just want to be able to say wow that guy is a really good player who is really impacting his shifts. I think Lafs season two was a step in the right direction while season three was a wasted season. Hopefully he is working hard this offseason so that season four becomes what we all hope for from Laf. Just showing up at training camp will not be enough imo.

i get it, i think we all want to see him be able to take over shifts and games at least here and there which he really has not done. he's flashed plays here and there that show high end skill but not the games where he's having shifts the puck is always finding his stick and he's repeatedly creating chances...i do think that comes with a little bit more explosiveness but much moreso the confidence that will come with production. i'm with you though he does need to have an offseason that gets him into the best shape he's ever been in by a longshot. i don't know if last season was a wasted season, i think he came in with higher expectations than ever and got off to a poor start and for the first time i think we saw things really weigh on him that he wasn't taking off into the player he expects to be. hopefully he recognizes a big part of that was, while im sure he puts in work in the summer, it's going to take alot more than just doing the average to be above average or elite.

 

[2014nyr]

Zibs took off when he actually started training with Kreider. I don't know how it's been since his wedding/covid.

What is Panarin doing? What did he change besides his hair?

Kakko seems to take his physical off-ice training serious. Now he needs to work on ice with his shot

Laffy.... lets hope he's 'serious' this summer.

i don't know exactly what panarin is doing, just the hair. given the frustration he voiced after another down playoffs it appears he's really committed to changing that. hair obviously isn't a change to his physical ability, but given it's sort of been his thing for his entire career...i'm confident there's a total investment in putting in the work in all areas of his life to be at his best this year.

kakko and laf really need to be going all out. both need to work on their shots, although thing is they can both snipe. the thing they need to work on is getting it off much quicker and with traffic etc...they both get so many shots blocked or wait so long the lane disappears. i think kakko has always been pretty invested in the work, while laf seems a bit casual about it which he got away with through juniors, but at this level doing just enough is not enough.

 

[NickyFotiu]

i get it, i think we all want to see him be able to take over shifts and games at least here and there which he really has not done. he's flashed plays here and there that show high end skill but not the games where he's having shifts the puck is always finding his stick and he's repeatedly creating chances...i do think that comes with a little bit more explosiveness but much moreso the confidence that will come with production. i'm with you though he does need to have an offseason that gets him into the best shape he's ever been in by a longshot. i don't know if last season was a wasted season, i think he came in with higher expectations than ever and got off to a poor start and for the first time i think we saw things really weigh on him that he wasn't taking off into the player he expects to be. hopefully he recognizes a big part of that was, while im sure he puts in work in the summer, it's going to take alot more than just doing the average to be above average or elite.

I do remember when Laf was given the game hat somebody (CK?) that gave it to him mentioned something about Laf being disappointed or worrying how the season had been going. I can't remember the exact speech.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

I do remember when Laf was given the game hat somebody (CK?) that gave it to him mentioned something about Laf being disappointed or worrying how the season had been going. I can't remember the exact speech.

I think that was Ben Harpur who gave him the hat unless it happened another time, the Harpur one was definitely one of the top Rangers Kremlinology moments from last year

 

[UnSandvich]

I do remember when Laf was given the game hat somebody (CK?) that gave it to him mentioned something about Laf being disappointed or worrying how the season had been going. I can't remember the exact speech.

Was that after Gallant scratched him for literally 0 reason? Or a different time

 

[NickyFotiu]

I think that was Ben Harpur who gave him the hat unless it happened another time, the Harpur one was definitely one of the top Rangers Kremlinology moments from last year

That could be. I do not trust my memory. Just surprised Ben would have known Laf that well so fast.

Was that after Gallant scratched him for literally 0 reason? Or a different time

I do not remember the schedule but I think Laf scored an OT winner on the night I'm thinking of. As far as being scratched Laf needed a wake up call after many games this season so one scratch was being easy on him imo.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Wait, were the Panarin shaved head pictures not photoshopped?

 

[NickyFotiu]

It may have been vs Calgary since he had the game winner in OT. He only had 2 GWG all season. I was surprised to see he only had 1 game with 2 goals all season.

 

[duhmetreE]

Wait, were the Panarin shaved head pictures not photoshopped?

 

[2014nyr]

I do remember when Laf was given the game hat somebody (CK?) that gave it to him mentioned something about Laf being disappointed or worrying how the season had been going. I can't remember the exact speech.

maybe after the calgary ot winner? i vaguely remember that kinda thing. also forget exactly what happened but remember the vibe being along the lines of things are gonna turn around. just in general like body language wise and the way he spoke...through the first two years he always seemed to be genuinely positive when he spoke and noticeably engaged and enthusiastic on the bench even in just convos or cellies and especially on the ice for anyone scoring or after wins. this year there were times you could visibly see in his body language and actions he was frustrated. even after some of his goals he barely lifted his arms....was more like "finally". wasn't all the time for sure, but you could see it creep in at times. you could still see why the team absolutely loves the kid often when he was running the convo on the bench or celebrating on the ice...def loves messing with kakko when they get to the bench after kakko misses an great chance and is about to go full snapshow. just think he came into the year really expecting to take on a more leading role and the extended periods without points finally began to wear on him. the first two years he was ok playing a secondary role and learning the league. probably didn't help seeing the year and media attention jack hughes was getting while he was getting labeled as a bust, and that's just local. so yea hopefully between the way last year went, especially the playoffs, and the way people are speaking about him, it'll be the fire he needed lit under him to come back ready to prove something.

 

[NickyFotiu]

maybe after the calgary ot winner? i vaguely remember that kinda thing. also forget exactly what happened but remember the vibe being along the lines of things are gonna turn around. just in general like body language wise and the way he spoke...through the first two years he always seemed to be genuinely positive when he spoke and noticeably engaged and enthusiastic on the bench even in just convos or cellies and especially on the ice for anyone scoring or after wins. this year there were times you could visibly see in his body language and actions he was frustrated. even after some of his goals he barely lifted his arms....was more like "finally". wasn't all the time for sure, but you could see it creep in at times. you could still see why the team absolutely loves the kid often when he was running the convo on the bench or celebrating on the ice...def loves messing with kakko when they get to the bench after kakko misses an great chance and is about to go full snapshow. just think he came into the year really expecting to take on a more leading role and the extended periods without points finally began to wear on him. the first two years he was ok playing a secondary role and learning the league. probably didn't help seeing the year and media attention jack hughes was getting while he was getting labeled as a bust, and that's just local. so yea hopefully between the way last year went, especially the playoffs, and the way people are speaking about him, it'll be the fire he needed lit under him to come back ready to prove something.

We had a long season in 2021-22. Laf played very well in those playoffs. Is it possible that from June 12th till training camp was enjoying life instead of training? Maybe he had a playoff hangover after playing over 100 games? Maybe he started behind last season and never caught up physically?

 

[Peltz]

3 years in how are people feeling about this kid? Personally I am shocked at his development, I thought he was a can’t miss pick and a safe bet to be a big time star by this point in his career. What are your thoughts?

I think I see someone who can finish opportunities on good scoring chances but can't drive play very well at the NHL level. He gets the puck and doesn't know where to go with it when entering the offensive zone.

It's a problem the entire team had though. I just hope Lav can work with him and fix the poor decision making.

 

[2014nyr]

We had a long season in 2021-22. Laf played very well in those playoffs. Is it possible that from June 12th till training camp was enjoying life instead of training? Maybe he had a playoff hangover after playing over 100 games? Maybe he started behind last season and never caught up physically?

short summer probably didn't help. maybe after the playoff he was inclined to think he had arrived and whether it was partying or just generally taking his foot off the gas a bit he didn't show up ready to take a big step. also agree that was a really long season, and considering his 2 prior years saw one season cut short and then his first nhl season be a shortened season with a weird schedule and protocols everything was just thrown out of whack. he's got a long summer now where there was time to recover and the experience of a long season, so he needs to show up looking like he took advantage of it.