Confirmed with Link: Alexis Lafreniere Signs Extension [7Y/7.45M AAV]

[IDvsEGO]

I cant help but notice how much his skating has improved from last year to this year. He can really move with the puck when bringing it into the offensive zone when he has momentum.

He’s not moving that much faster. He still doesn’t have the best first step, but he’s coming through the zone with more deliberate speed, and he’s able to get a head start at moving more often.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Stars fans (or at least one fan) were giving him props about how much he's improved. I still want to see him improve his shot. He's great at finishing around the net but he doesn't seem to score all that much with his shot.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Stars fans (or at least one fan) were giving him props about how much he's improved. I still want to see him improve his shot. He's great at finishing around the net but he doesn't seem to score all that much with his shot.

I've noticed this for awhile. It's the weakest part of his offensive game.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

That was a beauty of a pass on his backhand to Panarin in the slot. Couldve had an assist there.

And thats all the more reason why RW has worked.

Not only is he coming in on his forehand off that wing, he has an exceptional backhand option of shot or pass.

Just keep doing your thing Laffy

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I've noticed this for awhile. It's the weakest part of his offensive game.

I thought it was the weakest shot of Buchnevich's game too and he's now a PPG player.

 

[E-Train]

He’s not moving that much faster. He still doesn’t have the best first step, but he’s coming through the zone with more deliberate speed, and he’s able to get a head start at moving more often.

His first step is better but can still improve. His overall game is much improved though. He’s driving plays like I haven’t seen his first three seasons. Even with an elite player like Panarin, he’s not a passenger.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Stars fans (or at least one fan) were giving him props about how much he's improved. I still want to see him improve his shot. He's great at finishing around the net but he doesn't seem to score all that much with his shot.

we have exactly one player with an above average shot at the moment

 

[NickyFotiu]

He’s not moving that much faster. He still doesn’t have the best first step, but he’s coming through the zone with more deliberate speed, and he’s able to get a head start at moving more often.

His starts are still a bit awkward but it looks like he is pushing harder in his skating strides in general. Once he gets going with speed his confidence builds. Next summer I would love for Laf to work 3 days a week with some guys that have short quick efficient starts. If he could refine that part of his game look out. Then he could really open some eyes.

 

[huerter]

His turnovers changed the game. Lav knows it too. I get cised for Lav seeing eye to eye with me.

 

[NickyFotiu]

His turnovers changed the game. Lav knows it too. I get cised for Lav seeing eye to eye with me.

Sometimes these things happen. That lines should put it behind them and make sure it does not happen next game.

 

[huerter]

Sometimes these things happen. That lines should put it behind them and make sure it does not happen next game.

Demoting the whole line would send a message.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Demoting the whole line would send a message.

A bad message. It was 1 game. It is a long season.

 

[huerter]

A bad message. It was 1 game. It is a long season.

Bring them into your office, show them the new lineup with them demoted. Then wink at them repeatedly until they nod along and chuckle. Then address the team and tell them those mistakes aren't gonna be tolerated. The rest of the team gets the message and no feelings are hurt.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Bring them into your office, show them the new lineup with them demoted. Then wink at them repeatedly until they nod along and chuckle. Then address the team and tell them those mistakes aren't gonna be tolerated. The rest of the team gets the message and no feelings are hurt.

You can address it but these things happen in hockey. Sometimes everything you touch goes right. Sometimes its just a really bad night. You can address but don't want to make it in to too big a deal for our best line this season. Id pass on the demotion joke though.

 

[duhmetreE]

Wtf are we talking about

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

A bad message. It was 1 game. It is a long season.

This.

The punish Lafreniere for defensive mistakes is especially rich coming from someone who thinks Mika and his 9 goal pace don't deserve a demotion from 21 minutes a night.

Let Laf make mistakes and learn from them, and keep riding him and the Panarin line as much as possible right now.

 

[NickyFotiu]

This.

The punish Lafreniere for defensive mistakes is especially rich coming from someone who thinks Mika and his 9 goal pace don't deserve a demotion from 21 minutes a night.

Let Laf make mistakes and learn from them, and keep riding him and the Panarin line as much as possible right now.

Its not about learning from them for me. I just know sometimes all player lines have nights like that. You don't overreact to 1 game out of 15. If it keeps happening that is a different story but that line has been our best all season. They earned some slack.

 

[bhamill]

He might have been our best forward yesterday. Yes, better than Panarin.

Agreed.

 

[2014nyr]

I cant help but notice how much his skating has improved from last year to this year. He can really move with the puck when bringing it into the offensive zone when he has momentum.

honestly don't see much change in his skating. maybe slightly better burst, but really think he's just playing faster and more confident.

just as an example...i believe it was 2 years ago there was a play gauthier got by a dman at the point and took off and laf came flying down at the same pace to create a 2 on 1 that he finished off. and it was not gauthier throttling down that allowed the play to happen. if you go back to the playoffs 2 years ago you saw some pretty similar skating ability flash a lot as well carrying pucks through the nz and setting up offense on the rush. the ability has been there, though he has continued to incrementally improve his skating...but really other than his first year where he was really struggling it hasn't been a big issue. i do think he's improved his conditioning though this year, definitely a substantial difference in how much gas he has in the tank per shift.

wouldn't say it's his skating ability, just think having a system that creates controlled breakouts, rather than rimming pucks up the boards to a wing standing still on the wall, is getting him pucks in a much better position to do something with it. that, playing with panarin who sees the game very similar, and the confidence that's continuing to build from having success is also leading to him playing at a higher pace and keeping his feet moving. in my view it's part system, part environment, part confidence all coming together and it's made him much more noticeable.

 

[bhamill]

He’s not moving that much faster. He still doesn’t have the best first step, but he’s coming through the zone with more deliberate speed, and he’s able to get a head start at moving more often.

He’s not hesitant. Confidence makes you “faster.”

 

[2014nyr]

I've noticed this for awhile. It's the weakest part of his offensive game.

that's something that's always been hard to make sense of. like if you watch him in juniors he scores some goals firing absolute seeds from distance. yes it's a lower level but an elite shot is an elite shot, so part of me thinks he just needs to bury one or two with it and gain some confidence. i have no doubt he has the ability to beat goalies with his shot...it's in there. it's just weird to see that be something that doesn't translate more immediately....like the pace and physicality are what typically take time to adjust to in the nhl. shooting ability is something that can usually translate quickly. the one thing he needs to put some work in with is getting his shot off quicker, a lot of times he takes too long getting pucks off his stick on shots with possession. even on his quick releases though he either misses high or buries it right in a goalies logo...that to me is confidence. that's what gives me hope if he sees one ring the doorbell going in, it won't be long before it happens again.

it's crazy too with how good of a finisher he is off the pass. he's taken some rifled passes and had no trouble burying them off the pass. some of those can look easy given the amount of net that's typically open, but that is really hard to do. he and panarin are head and shoulders above anyone on the team in general when it comes to receiving pucks anywhere at any speed in flight and controlling them as well. if you have the hands, hand strength, and coordination to do that, you're more than capable of snapping a puck by goalies from the slot. there's no reason he shouldn't be every bit as good as panarin shooting the puck mid-slot.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

honestly don't see much change in his skating. maybe slightly better burst, but really think he's just playing faster and more confident.

just as an example...i believe it was 2 years ago there was a play gauthier got by a dman at the point and took off and laf came flying down at the same pace to create a 2 on 1 that he finished off. and it was not gauthier throttling down that allowed the play to happen. if you go back to the playoffs 2 years ago you saw some pretty similar skating ability flash a lot as well carrying pucks through the nz and setting up offense on the rush. the ability has been there, though he has continued to incrementally improve his skating...but really other than his first year where he was really struggling it hasn't been a big issue. i do think he's improved his conditioning though this year, definitely a substantial difference in how much gas he has in the tank per shift.

wouldn't say it's his skating ability, just think having a system that creates controlled breakouts, rather than rimming pucks up the boards to a wing standing still on the wall, is getting him pucks in a much better position to do something with it. that, playing with panarin who sees the game very similar, and the confidence that's continuing to build from having success is also leading to him playing at a higher pace and keeping his feet moving. in my view it's part system, part environment, part confidence all coming together and it's made him much more noticeable.

Eh we’ll have to agree to disagree. He absolutely looks quicker out there to me. He never won races to the puck previously, this year he gets in there first. And he is creating so much this season because he is faster when he has the puck on his stick.

He’s still a bit of an “ugly” skater, but he’s faster imo.

 

[2014nyr]

Eh we’ll have to agree to disagree. He absolutely looks quicker out there to me. He never won races to the puck previously, this year he gets in there first. And he is creating so much this season because he is faster when he has the puck on his stick.

He’s still a bit of an “ugly” skater, but he’s faster imo.

nothing wrong with that. agree he's added a bit of burst, just think the difference is marginal in what he's capable of. see it as much more a product of playing faster and having confidence. nothing wrong with differing opinions tho.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

There’s that backhand again.

Becoming a signature skill for him

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

There’s that backhand again.

Becoming a signature skill for him

becoming? that's his main bread and butter shot, and has been since he's entered the league. what's real good about that though is that goalies have a hard time defending it. they may even know it's coming beforehand and still can't stop it.