Personally I think it's usage by the team AND it's also also on the player. Why does it have to be exclusionary?
I think it's exaggerated. Yes I want him to be Kreideresque in his off season regimen, and I SENSATIONALLY doubt he is. But he's also not just sitting around eating hot dogs and poutine. So yeah, I think the Fat Laf meme is funny.
I think it's on the player to force the teams hand. It's not like he hasn't been given ample time up and down the lineup these last three years. But when stories come out that he f***s around in the offseason and isn't taking his career seriously, what more do you want the team to do? Make the lineup worse just to accommodate him? Just stick him on the PP at the expense of the team and better players to pad his stats so he feels good about himself?
I don't think Kreiderman is lying though.
I always ask PP time aside, what can a player do in the 16th, 17th, or 18th minute that they can't do in minutes 0-15? Does Laf become a better skater, stickhandler, or better shooter in minutes 16-18? If we saw Hughes and Laf both play exactly 16 minutes against each other would Laf look nearly as good?
We simply disagree on his opportunities. He spent most of the last couple of seasons on a line with two other young players trying to find their games. That is not ideal for the development of any of the three, and 30 second shifts on PP2 is not much of an opportunity if any.
I get that people are mad/frustrated/upset that Laff isn't the player everyone thought we were getting and I guess Kakko to a lesser degree too. But they aren't finished products yet. I just don't buy the idea that the organization ruined him or see the need to mess the lineup up to cater to a kid that doesn't seem to take his career serious. Talent always finds a way. Every team wants talented guys in the lineup. It doesn't benefit the Rangers in the slightest to hamper his progress but it's on Laff to force the issue and so far he hasn't. He just seems happy to be here.
listen)) is a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. That line was probably the best line in the playoffs two seasons ago, everyone loved that line. But now it's not great for his development. He was playing with two fellow first round draft picks they were buzzing all over the ice. How perfect of a situation does a 1OA pick need to play to his potential? You know what he should have done at the end of last year? Go spend all summer playing RW. Guaranteed top 6 minutes.
Also I'm not sure who said the difference between Laf and Hughes is linemates, PP time and more minutes. What I have pointed out is that Hughes getting that opportunity to succeed helped him develop more quickly into the player thet HUGHES is. And contrasted it with Laf and Kakko NOT being put in that position to succeed has hindered their development into the players that LAF and KAKKO could be... not developing into Hughes. I'm talking about helping them reach THEIR own potentials. I'm not sure what is confusing about that.
Yeah, loved it when it was playing well. How is that counter to what I said though? I'd love to see Laf with Wheeler this year, because playing with vets can be extremely helpful.
Hughes was always going to be a superstar. Always. He just needed to fill out a bit. He does everything better than Laff, everything, and it's not because he got extra PP time. He's just better. His skating is lightyears better than Laffs. And it's not fair to lump Kakko into this Laff mess. I think Kakko will reach his potential.
You said he spent two seasons playing with two young guys trying to find their game and it wasn't ideal for development.
He's playing in the top 9 with good players. You make it sound like he was stapled to a line with Ryan Reeves. He was up at the top of the list for ev ice time last season, got more than Kreider. And the worst part was, when he wasn't scoring, he was invisible out there. You can still impact the game without scoring. Maybe start with that.
He’s been stapled to a line with goodrow. He’s had reeves as his winger before too.
I would think he's spent more time with guys like Mika and Chtyil than he did with Reeves. And is he that precious that he can't play well with Barclay Goodrow? Really? C'mon, man these excuses are so goddam lame.
Again, I'm not saying Laf will ever be anywhere near Hughes, why are you trying to make that the argument? I have NEVER said that... I'm saying if we want LAF to reach LAF's potential we will have to commit to development. It's absolutely fair to lump Kakko in, because he has also been a disappointment thus far relative to HIS draft position and we have not committed to HIS development either. It's not a coincidence to me.
And again, good players make their own breaks. Their play makes the coach's job easy. They don't need everything handed to them on a silver platter at the expense of the team or better players. You want those opportunities, go put the work in during the summer. Force the coaches hand. He was the 1OA pick his draft year. Grow a set and go get it.
I'm not adverse to lighting a fire under him, off season and on, hence wanting him with Wheeler, but again its more than one factor.
I agree. I'm just very anti having the entire team revolve around a kid who doesn't seem to be taking his career as seriously as he should be.
I was making a general comment. It was not targeted or personal to you. When I go to a rink and watch practice I take note of guys who have impressive skills. Its not about how many minutes they practice or linemates. You can see many skills while guys are doing drills. I have tried to explain previously that I could not care less about stats at this point. I want to see these guys improve their games. Show up to training camp and impress some teammates/coaches so that they say, wow Laf must have really worked hard this summer. He looks ready to kick butt this season. I do not think I'm asking that much in terms of summer work on his game. I did that myself and I was not paid. That is all I can ask of Laf. Put in the work. If he does that I promise you I will not bash him based on points.
That's fair. I mean we aren't a bottom dweller either we are a playoff team. Our sole focus isn't on developing young players. And certainly not at the expense of winning/making the playoffs, but maybe there is some balance to be had.
Make no mistake, I'd love that as well.
Honestly, I knew about Laf’s gut and penchant for gluttony before he was even drafted, but I thought it wouldn’t be an issue for us because Pommes Frites literally exploded in 2015:
nypost.com
