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

[SnowblindNYR]

And as I've stated, if he lands somewhere in the 50-60 point range he will be matching or out producing many of the leagues top players 5on5, because they all get top PP1 time scoring 30-50 PP points

So I'm sure everyone will be talking about how he "broke out" this season, but will dismiss him as a top tier player who is in the 80-100 point range when in actuality he is.

For example, Malkin broke 100 points last season but 40% of those points are on the PP. Take those away and he's a 60 point player. There are dozens of named players in that category and people would laugh at you if you suggest Laf is right there with them.

But its gonna happen if he continues to play this way

I think lack of PP1 time is something is ignored but PP1 time doesn't guarantee all those points. You still have to produce.

 

[chosen]

By far our best player this year IMO

He looks like Junior Laffy.... or Panarin Jr with a North American twist.

If he can improve his shot as he improved his pace, we're reaaaaaally cooking

Better than Panarin?

 

[haveandare]

Quinn was trying to micromanage the hell out of him without really even knowing what he was doing. That’s tough and even well informed micromanagement doesn’t work for a lot of people. Once he finally gets free of that, he gets Gallant who is totally hands off and doesn’t do the work to help him get his confidence going.

Laviolette is a good coach, which is helping for sure, but just getting someone willing to work with him in an actually helpful way is a huge difference imo.

 

[LORDE]

By far our best player this year IMO

He looks like Junior Laffy.... or Panarin Jr with a North American twist.

If he can improve his shot as he improved his pace, we're reaaaaaally cooking

WOULD absolutely LOVE to see this somehow.

On the Vesey goal he made a nice cut to get a shot off & through the D...

If there's any way he can start to snipe those... we'd be cooking with napalm

 

[aufheben]

WOULD absolutely LOVE to see this somehow.

On the Vesey goal he made a nice cut to get a shot off & through the D...

If there's any way he can start to snipe those... we'd be cooking with napalm

His career shooting percentage is 15.3% so he’s already a good finisher. He’s taking way more shots than past year; already at 92 attempts.

 

[huerter]

And as I've stated, if he lands somewhere in the 50-60 point range he will be matching or out producing many of the leagues top players 5on5, because they all get top PP1 time scoring 30-50 PP points

So I'm sure everyone will be talking about how he "broke out" this season, but will dismiss him as a top tier player who is in the 80-100 point range when in actuality he is.

For example, Malkin broke 100 points last season but 40% of those points are on the PP. Take those away and he's a 60 point player. There are dozens of named players in that category and people would laugh at you if you suggest Laf is right there with them.

But its gonna happen if he continues to play this way

Moral of the story - points schmoints.

 

[IDvsEGO]

His career shooting percentage is 15.3% so he’s already a good finisher. He’s taking way more shots than past year; already at 92 attempts.

Hes got a high shooting % because he typically scores from in close

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Hes got a high shooting % because he typically scores from in close

Main boards:

His shooting percentage is too high to be sustaible.

Also main boards:

His shooting percentage is so high in his career because he only scores on Panarin tip ins.

 

[JCProdigy]

Better than Panarin?

No, but closer than most people think at 5 on 5. They've been like 1a and 1b in best of category for the Rangers.

Corsi for % relative to the rest of the team Laf is best at 15.3 with Bread close behind at 13.5
Both are pretty much equal in xG% at +56%, which makes sense. Oh and that %, if stays the same by season end, would be the highest for BOTH of their careers.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

How's everyone's crow?

 

[LeetchisGod]

How's everyone's crow?

In fairness, he stunk up the joint in the playoffs and the preseason. People had reason for scepticism

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Those of you saying Laf busted his ass and improved on a bunch of stuff over the summer and Kakko didn’t clearly have no idea how confidence works. You were probably the same ones saying Laf sat around playing softball and eating hot dogs this summer after he didn’t light it up in the pre season.

Newsflash, the rest of the NHL also busts their ass in the summer! Laf didn’t just gain two steps over everyone else in the span of three months. He’s motivated, has linemates that he understands and is actively seeking the puck because he is confident in his abilities. He was never a burner, but his skating has always been fine. That is, again, why he was the only player other than Crosby to win back to back CHL MVPs awards before he was drafted. We’re so used to watching our young forwards fail miserably that we inherently set a low bar.

Kakko would be doing the exact same thing if he was feeling it - when you don’t trust your own abilities why would you seek out the puck? Derek Stepan was a slow skater. Kakko isn’t slow, Kakko didn’t get weaker over the summer. Kakko doesn’t have his mojo.

It’s partially up to the coaching staff to get these players back to the level they’re used to.

 

[mas0764]

Those of you saying Laf busted his ass and improved on a bunch of stuff over the summer and Kakko didn’t clearly have no idea how confidence works. You were probably the same ones saying Laf sat around playing softball and eating hot dogs this summer after he didn’t light it up in the pre season.

Newsflash, the rest of the NHL also busts their ass in the summer! Laf didn’t just gain two steps over everyone else in the span of three months. He’s motivated, has linemates that he understands and is actively seeking the puck because he is confident in his abilities. He was never a burner, but his skating has always been fine. That is, again, why he was the only player other than Crosby to win back to back CHL MVPs awards before he was drafted. We’re so used to watching our young forwards fail miserably that we inherently set a low bar.

Kakko would be doing the exact same thing if he was feeling it - when you don’t trust your own abilities why would you seek out the puck? Derek Stepan was a slow skater. Kakko isn’t slow, Kakko didn’t get weaker over the summer. Kakko doesn’t have his mojo.

It’s partially up to the coaching staff to get these players back to the level they’re used to.

Especially given that just a few weeks ago the same people were saying that Laf had clearly done nothing and that Kakko was ready to break out.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I think lack of PP1 time is something is ignored but PP1 time doesn't guarantee all those points. You still have to produce.

Agree - but with the way Laf has been playing and the way this PP has had success, you put him in any spot up front and he likely has 4-6 more PPP putting him at 18-20 points on pace for 70-80 for the year.

Trocheck has 6 PPP and is 3rd on the team in scoring. Laf would be right there.

 

[SA16]

At least it's looking like the slow approach taken by Quinn and Gallant with regards to Lafreniere is paying off. You have to give them credit for recognizing he wasn't ready to handle bigger minutes and putting him in a role he would drown it.

 

[hella rights]

Those of you saying Laf busted his ass and improved on a bunch of stuff over the summer and Kakko didn’t clearly have no idea how confidence works. You were probably the same ones saying Laf sat around playing softball and eating hot dogs this summer after he didn’t light it up in the pre season.

Newsflash, the rest of the NHL also busts their ass in the summer! Laf didn’t just gain two steps over everyone else in the span of three months. He’s motivated, has linemates that he understands and is actively seeking the puck because he is confident in his abilities. He was never a burner, but his skating has always been fine. That is, again, why he was the only player other than Crosby to win back to back CHL MVPs awards before he was drafted. We’re so used to watching our young forwards fail miserably that we inherently set a low bar.

Kakko would be doing the exact same thing if he was feeling it - when you don’t trust your own abilities why would you seek out the puck? Derek Stepan was a slow skater. Kakko isn’t slow, Kakko didn’t get weaker over the summer. Kakko doesn’t have his mojo.

It’s partially up to the coaching staff to get these players back to the level they’re used to.

Doesn’t help that Kakko didn’t appear to be clicking with any of his linemates this season either. Possible it wouldn’t have mattered either way, but the same was true for Laf the past few seasons until he started gelling with Panarin.

 

[Rangers in 7]

Doesn’t help that Kakko didn’t appear to be clicking with any of his linemates this season either. Possible it wouldn’t have mattered either way, but the same was true for Laf the past few seasons until he started gelling with Panarin.

to be fair zib and kreider have been atrocious 5 on 5, that definitely didnt help kakko

 

[LORDE]

How's everyone's crow?

Yummy so far

Will it still be in season in the spring???

I want it to be the gift that keeps on giving

 

[IDvsEGO]

How's everyone's crow?

Considering I’ve been preaching patience and got ripped all summer for it. Watching everyone eat has been very fun.

 

[bhamill]

At least it's looking like the slow approach taken by Quinn and Gallant with regards to Lafreniere is paying off. You have to give them credit for recognizing he wasn't ready to handle bigger minutes and putting him in a role he would drown it.

I hope this is sarcasm. Hahahaha.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

Especially given that just a few weeks ago the same people were saying that Laf had clearly done nothing and that Kakko was ready to break out.

Watching Laf, Kakko and Quick this year I'm ready to never pay serious attention to another second of preseason hockey unless it's a fight, a cool goal or the guys in a camp battle for the last spot or two on the roster

 

[Levitate]

Watching Laf, Kakko and Quick this year I'm ready to never pay serious attention to another second of preseason hockey unless it's a fight, a cool goal or the guys in a camp battle for the last spot or two on the roster

and yet every year without fail people panic over preseason

 

[Row I Goon]

How's everyone's crow?

Aged to perfection.

Pissed that it took this long to eat it. But worth it now.

 

[Ail]

and yet every year without fail people panic over preseason

I for one, will continue to panic and overreact to preseason.

 

[Unpredictable1]

Those of you saying Laf busted his ass and improved on a bunch of stuff over the summer and Kakko didn’t clearly have no idea how confidence works. You were probably the same ones saying Laf sat around playing softball and eating hot dogs this summer after he didn’t light it up in the pre season.

Newsflash, the rest of the NHL also busts their ass in the summer! Laf didn’t just gain two steps over everyone else in the span of three months. He’s motivated, has linemates that he understands and is actively seeking the puck because he is confident in his abilities. He was never a burner, but his skating has always been fine. That is, again, why he was the only player other than Crosby to win back to back CHL MVPs awards before he was drafted. We’re so used to watching our young forwards fail miserably that we inherently set a low bar.

Kakko would be doing the exact same thing if he was feeling it - when you don’t trust your own abilities why would you seek out the puck? Derek Stepan was a slow skater. Kakko isn’t slow, Kakko didn’t get weaker over the summer. Kakko doesn’t have his mojo.

It’s partially up to the coaching staff to get these players back to the level they’re used to.

Finally - great post. I also think this coaching staff has played a heavy hand this season in Laf regaining his mojo (IMO). Laviolette stapled Laf to the top 6, sure he's made some mistakes here and there and guess what - Laf kept getting sent back over the boards, his spot in the top 6 protected, to get back out there and figure it out kid.

Does wonders when you play not frightened to death that if you even so much as fart, your minutes will be cut back/limited.