Player Discussion Alexis Lafrenière

[Chalfdiggity3]

People on NHL network and all over the place are making this a much bigger deal than it really is. Laf will be fine, he needed a rest. He looked gassed and his played did slip after being taken off the 1st line. Its good to get an above perspective of the ice during a game to see what he can do or not do on plays. Its a learning experience. Shit Noah Dobson sat every other game basically before becoming a top defender for the Piles. Everyone is different. This kid just like Kakko are under 21yo. They will develop. It is a long season and so is adding in the playoffs. Lets all just take a min, relax and understand that things take time.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That's never stopped him before. I remember Laf having that amazing game a few weeks back, forgot who, maybe against the Caps? Literally looked like a beast every shift, and next game he barely played. No reward at all. I don't think Gallant is a bad coach by any means, but I'm always in the boat to reward players after good games, ESPECIALLY the young players who need that type of confidence boost.

Gallant is a pretty experienced player and coach. It is quote possible that his thinking is different than ours as fans.

 

[will1066]

Gallant is a pretty experienced player and coach. It is quote possible that his thinking is different than ours as fans.

I don't believe you!

 

[Rangers in 7]

Man if you people think laf has looked tired then what the hell does that make the ply of fox look like? He’s been a dead man walking for 2 weeks

 

[bhamill]

Dear lawd. Trade him for Chychrun? Ahahaha. no GM in the universe would make that trade. Except Arizona’s, in a half a heartbeat. Hahaha.

I can just imagine the panic and frustration if this wasn’t a team already in the playoffs and vying for first… holy shit. Armageddon.

 

[RGY]

I am thoroughly enjoying the extreme overreaction from this fan base because Gallant is resting a 20 year old kid playing in his first full NHL schedule

 

[Doctyl]

Dear lawd. Trade him for Chychrun? Ahahaha. no GM in the universe would make that trade. Except Arizona’s, in a half a heartbeat. Hahaha.

I can just imagine the panic and frustration if this wasn’t a team already in the playoffs and vying for first… holy shit. Armageddon.

Would you rather have a top pair caliber dman to replace Lindgren who is on a great contract or a healthy scratch that is being benched for Ryan Reaves? If this is what we are doing with Laf, then f*** it get something of value for him because he has no value while Reaves and Rooney are playing over him

 

[Doctyl]

I am thoroughly enjoying the extreme overreaction from this fan base because Gallant is resting a 20 year old kid playing in his first full NHL schedule

If you bench him at least 1 game a year then every season will technically be his first full schedule and this excuse will continue to work on simpletons. This is so obviously a benching.

 

[RGY]

If you bench him at least 1 game a year then every season will technically be his first full schedule and this excuse will continue to work on simpletons. This is so obviously a benching.

Wait what? Lmao. Some of you need serious help.

As I said…I am enjoying the OVERREACTION. This is great content.

 

[Doctyl]

Wait what? Lmao. Some of you need serious help.

As I said…I am enjoying the OVERREACTION. This is great content.

Okay he got a game off as a reward for playing well and got promoted to the Rooney line

 

[The Crypto Guy]

And JT is now going to be a 100-point player. It works.

Too bad half the fan base will run him out of town before that happens.

 

[Doctyl]

And JT is now going to be a 100-point player. It works.

I don’t feel better that we used a 100 point player as a throw in to a deal we already would’ve lost value on

 

[ReddestRum]

Wait what? Lmao. Some of you need serious help.

As I said…I am enjoying the OVERREACTION. This is great content.

Here's to hoping our new 4th liner's game will overract.

 

[RGY]

Here's to hoping our new 4th liner's game will overract.

Here’s to hoping some of you drama queens come back to down to earth and stop bitching when the team has 102 points with 7 games left in the season.

 

[egelband]

I don't understand why people are so concerned with Laf being a ppg player right now. The only ones that seem to be so concerned are fans of teams that hate us. He can just play his game and not worry about being the guy for now. We've got our stars right now. Maybe become worried 2 or 3 years from now if he hasn't developed.

I’m not worrying too much but there is a bit to be concerned about. But I agree, in general. Context is important and Lafreniere and Kakko have had different assignments from most top picks.
Hopefully next season the roster is tweaked a bit to get these two guys more prime time minutes. Maybe they take Lafreniere-as-RW-or-C more seriously. Hopefully Kakko is healthier. Would love to see the PP include more Kakko and Lafreniere, as well. All that becomes more feasible as the team beds-in a successful system and banks some confidence and success. As the FO has been saying, it’s a process. And I won’t sweat it for now.

 

[ReddestRum]

Here’s to hoping some of you drama queens come back to down to earth and stop bitching when the team has 102 points with 7 games left in the season.

LMAO. No one is bitching. I'm perfectly content with Laf where he is, LOL.

 

[egelband]

It’s definitely getting to the point where the concerns are valid about ALL of our young forwards. Several drafts, two coaches, 2, 3, 4 seasons… Laf, Kakko, Chytil (Lias)… not one has really ever flashed a Hughes, Zegras, Svechnikov, etc. level of “high end talent” let alone MacKinnon type, let alone the unmentionable elite from day 1 type of top picks.

Flash isn’t all there is, but it’s not like they’re overcoming their lack of flash by being full of substance either. Was Beniers considered anywhere near the type of prospect Laf was? Jarvis, Mercer, etc.

We can talk about usage and linemates and blah, blah but it’s not like Laf didn’t play with 50 goal Kreider and Zib. It’s not like Kakko didn’t play with Panarin. Those other kids have been up and down their lineups and play with the guys they do BECAUSE they show something when given the chance. Our kids really have never looked any different than if you threw Hunt or Brodzinski on those lines. It’s the big downer amidst the otherwise exciting year and time in our team development.

I think it’s safe to say the rangers suck the flash out of young prospects. They clearly demand young players focus on defense first. Personally I think that with a 1OA and a 2OA, that’s not the best approach.
But on the other hand I don’t think the Rangers approach will kill offensive skill, just delay its appearance. Or, I should say, I’m still hopeful they’ll figure out that part.
That first goal Kakko scored against Philly was pure filth. So we know he has it.
I know we don’t see a ton of flash from Lafreniere but I think he has an amazing nose for the puck, good hands, and strong passing. I appreciate we havent seen a ton of that but when he was playing with more confidence he was showing those things.

 

[egelband]

I have the same advice for the people that yell he should be on the 1st line as the people who think he is a bust. Give it time. It is too soon. He is not physically nor mentally at his peak. He should take a step next season. Now if he is not around 40-50 points next season then some concern is warranted. I do think he has looked better but he is shut down physically on those left boards. Teach him to use the middle of the ice by playing RW.

Totally agree. So much change for this organization the past few years. Not to mention Covid. Everyone has been challenged and spun around. Some have dealt with it better than others. But I am hoping things are a little more amenable for Kakko and Lafreniere to show out next year. I would reserve any judgment ‘til next year, at the very earliest.

 

[RGY]

LMAO. No one is bitching. I'm perfectly content with Laf where he is, LOL.

You just liked someone else’s post who is bitching. So yeah not easy to tell where you stand

 

[Hockey Gamer]

Similar to how you can buy likes, comments, subscribers and followers on all of the social media platforms nowadays, people are now selling "likes" on HFBoards where one poster will sell a "like" click to another for different forms of payment and gratuity.

 

[Crease]

Similar to how you can buy likes, comments, subscribers and followers on all of the social media platforms nowadays, people are now selling "likes" on HFBoards where one poster will sell a "like" click to another for different forms of payment and gratuity.

All of my likes are organic grass-fed.

 

[egelband]

I would not look at other number 1's. It does not help. I would look at other top 5 picks that took 2-3 years to find their games but then became very good.

Or high picks who joined non-awful teams. Though that’s probably a pretty small group of players. Maybe even have to look back to O6. Those teams were hard to break into. Even the bottom rung teams.

 

[egelband]

Well. You've all convinced me: there's no hope. The outcome is determined. It's over for these guys. We have three top ten picks that have failed to make an impact yet in the NHL, at ages 20, 21, and 22, we should take them all out in the field and put them down. Laf, Kakko and Krav (sorry Jovo, but we want him to get the same treatment as the other top picks, right?). They're garbage and will never ever be real NHLers. I would OF COURSE include Lias, but that's LA's problem.

I don’t think they should be killed. But maybe jailed for a very long time. They’ve failed us irreparably!

 

[egelband]

imagine scratching Alexis Lafreniere so you can play Ryan Reaves. I don't get this team sometimes.

Sure. In a vacuum. But we all realllllly over analyze these things. Not everything is worth scrutinizing. Could be a million reasons Lafreniere sat for Reaves.
I know it’s dumb of me to say this on a fan message board, but sometimes the basic fan’s view is ok. It’s a long season. These guys have long and winding careers. I try not to focus too much on one spot. Just my two cents.

 

[egelband]

Sometimes it is very helpful to watch the game from a different view. On the ice it often feels like you have no room. When you watch from another vantage point it can help.

Very true. I was saying this a lot last season re Miller, specifically. But with all young players, I think an occasional game in the press box is extremely helpful. It’s not a punishment. Just part of the big development picture.