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

[Psycho for Perreault]

2023-2024 5v5 numbers:
Alexis Lafreniere g/60 .7 a/60 1.2
Jack Hughes g/60 .8 a/60 1.2

Hughes is elite. 5v5 this year? He's Laf. I don't care where PP1 is. He should be on it. Develop guys who are not only the future of the team, but also earning it.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Oh, left handed shots wouldn't need to be covered. Now i understand.

Why are you being obtuse. Of course having the threat of Zibanejad's one timer from that side of the ice offers more of a challenge for PKs than would having Lafreniere on his strong side where he has to catch and shoot the puck. It's just common sense.

 

[Machinehead]

It's only confirming Laviolette's bias, not mine.

Well, of course. I assumed that you're not at practice every day.

 

[Machinehead]

At the end of the day, the powerplay is still #2 in the league. Powerplays ebb and flow and you can't always make changes when it hits a cold snap.

I'm not interested in changing a powerplay that has been somewhere in the top 10 basically every day of Panarin and Fox's Rangers tenure.

Laf's time will come when there's a legitimate opening and in the meantime, you know he's performing well at even strength. We don't need to impress anybody on the main boards.

 

[will1066]

Well, of course. I assumed that you're not at practice every day.

This gives me an idea that every NHL team should have 1 open-house day that lets their fans go in and run a practice, see how their personal line combinations would actually look and give advice to players on what they could do better.

 

[Machinehead]

This gives me an idea that every NHL team should have 1 open-house day that lets their fans go in and run a practice, see how their personal line combinations would actually look and give advice to players on what they could do better.

They could trial it with the Coyotes. Seems like a win-win.

 

[Machinehead]

You know what I would have given up for this same time last year?

A guy that's been replacement level his whole career turned into a top six forward overnight. Just enjoy it.

 

[DanielBrassard]

This gives me an idea that every NHL team should have 1 open-house day that lets their fans go in and run a practice, see how their personal line combinations would actually look and give advice to players on what they could do better.

I too want to see Ed and Tob run a rangers practice for a day.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Why are you being obtuse. Of course having the threat of Zibanejad's one timer from that side of the ice offers more of a challenge for PKs than would having Lafreniere on his strong side where he has to catch and shoot the puck. It's just common sense.

Yes I know that, but the PK unit is still going to be set up the same. Teams don't change their PK unit for one player unless his name happens to be AO that scored 30 PP goals a year like that haha.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Yes I know that, but the PK unit is still going to be set up the same. Teams don't change their PK unit for one player unless his name happens to be AO that scored 30 PP goals a year like that haha.

They would be able to shift the PK towards certain players who are more of a threat than they would with the threat of a guy like Zibanejad who can fire a puck off a cross ice pass from Panarin or from Fox up top or Kreider across the crease. Not to mention it would change the complexion of how the Rangers PP operates which is a bigger problem.

 

[will1066]

I too want to see Ed and Tob run a rangers practice for a day.

Ed would find a reason to bag skate them and belittle their VO2 maxes

 

[bhamill]

If you think the reason we lost to NJD last year was PP I don't know what to tell you.

By the way do you also support separate Lafreniere from Panarin for just in case?

If you don't think the power play going cold after Game 2 contributed to the playoff loss to the Devs, I don't know what to tell you. 4 PP goals in the first two games 1 in the following 5. Game three if we had gone even 1 for 4 we win the game in regulation and the series in 6 games. The three games that we won were the three where we scored on the PP...
Sure, If they want to experiment with line combos late in games we have a comfortable lead I think that's a great idea. Why wouldn't I?

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

If you don't think the power play going cold after Game 2 contributed to the playoff loss to the Devs, I don't know what to tell you. 4 PP goals in the first two games 1 in the following 5. Game three if we had gone even 1 for 4 we win the game in regulation and the series in 6 games. The three games that we won were the three where we scored on the PP...
Sure, If they want to experiment with line combos late in games we have a comfortable lead I think that's a great idea. Why wouldn't I?

They should definitely experiment with other looks, I’d like to see a tampa/avs style 1-3-1 with Laf on the right wall and Panarin back in his usual spot. All I care about is that Panarin and Fox are out there and it will always be good.

If they’re determined to get Zib that stinky point -> half wall one timer then this action on the opposite side of the ice with two lefties would open it up. Caufield ends up shooting but if you watch, the bumper slides over to the Zib spot and the half wall player sneaks back door. NYR could easily have Laf/Kakko run that same exchange followed by a pass to Fox and then Zib. Bang

 

[JCProdigy]

Well, of course. I assumed that you're not at practice every day.

@will1066 is Allen Iverson, confirmed.

 

[Machinehead]

@will1066 is Allen Iverson, confirmed.

I was at a game last year where during warmups they would play player's choice songs and Fox's song was White Iverson by Post Malone.

I was just like "short, crafty, point guard, white, it tracks."

 

[romba]

Yes I know that, but the PK unit is still going to be set up the same. Teams don't change their PK unit for one player unless his name happens to be AO that scored 30 PP goals a year like that haha.

Teams would play differently if it were a lefty on the left side versus a righty. Shot % is dramatically different so teams would not need to overplay the shooter, instead they would be expecting a follow up pass and staying in their lanes. I'm not happy with Mika either these days but replacing him with a lefty is not the way to go. Panarin on the left and a lefty on the right is better, but I still believe Mika's one timer is way more potent than Panarin's when Zibs is on, plus Panarin likes the right side on the PP so he can hold the puck and be a playmaker.

 

[Irishguy42]

I too want to see Ed and Tob run a rangers practice for a day.

This will happen before Tob deletes their account

 

[ArPanet]

This gives me an idea that every NHL team should have 1 open-house day that lets their fans go in and run a practice, see how their personal line combinations would actually look and give advice to players on what they could do better.

Raffle it on Garden of Dreams Night.

 

[2014nyr]

Why are you being obtuse. Of course having the threat of Zibanejad's one timer from that side of the ice offers more of a challenge for PKs than would having Lafreniere on his strong side where he has to catch and shoot the puck. It's just common sense.

i'm not arguing for or against on the matter per se...i mean realistically it's just not happening. you're not demoting mika granted he's been almost entirely ineffective this year in that spot. he's been there for years, he's one of the core players on the team, he has the ability to elevate, the pp overall has been elite, so even tho his shot and playmaking attempts in terms of directly generating goals have not added much, he's not going anywhere. that's his spot period.

all that said, that is actually where laf thrived pre nhl on the pp. in a perfect world he'd have a spot on pp1. he's shown he belongs on one. he's been one of the biggest chance creators on the roster. having the additional production that would come with pp1 time would help continue to build confidence in all situations more quickly. main thing is the handedness and how he'd handle it is not at all the reason he wouldn't play there - that's where he is most comfortable and put up prolific numbers pre nhl. besides, the 3 at the top all rotate and panarin could slide over to create a one time option in that spot. he'd be more than fine jumping on to pp1.

i'd have 2 main reasons it's not happening, only one he controls.
the first is the obvious i stated above. it's mika's spot, it just is. unless his play were to fall off an absolute cliff, he's not going anywhere.

the second is i'm not even considering it until laf demonstrates he can beat an nhl goalie clean with a shot from the slot. if an when he can have a free look in the middle of the ice and ring doorbells with some any kind of regularity where his shot had to be respected, the convo can be revisited. probably doesn't matter in the near future, but that's a non-negotiable. at this point he's purely a setup man or a finisher on backdoor feeds. the next step in his evolution needs to be a snapshot that isn't a muffin to a goalies logo. i'm as big of a laf fan as there is, i'm not hating on him, that's just a step he has to take now. he's still got a lot of room to grow and how much he does will be a significant factor in determining how far this team goes.

 

[rangersfansince08]

I was at a game last year where during warmups they would play player's choice songs and Fox's song was White Iverson by Post Malone.

I was just like "short, crafty, point guard, white, it tracks."

Not sure what is worse. That he picked a Post Malone song or a Post Malone song idolizing a Philly star.

"Who else? I would diss Post Malone but he don't even rap
f*** it, f*** Post Malone, just because
Let's see if he answers back
All that chain stitchin' from Chill Bill
And the cowboy boots and hats
Damn, Posty, can't we be friends?
Our clothes already match
Poser, biter, appropriation thief
Give a f*** how many records you sold
Every fan you made is a leaf off of my tree
Boy, you're my seed
Another mullet in the gang with the teeth icy
I just picked a bone with Post Malone
And did it all on a B-side beat"

-Yelawolf

 

[Machinehead]

Not sure what is worse. That he picked a Post Malone song or a Post Malone song idolizing a Philly star.

"Who else? I would diss Post Malone but he don't even rap
f*** it, f*** Post Malone, just because
Let's see if he answers back
All that chain stitchin' from Chill Bill
And the cowboy boots and hats
Damn, Posty, can't we be friends?
Our clothes already match
Poser, biter, appropriation thief
Give a f*** how many records you sold
Every fan you made is a leaf off of my tree
Boy, you're my seed
Another mullet in the gang with the teeth icy
I just picked a bone with Post Malone
And did it all on a B-side beat"

-Yelawolf

Idk, I think Post Malone is snazzy

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Why are you being obtuse. Of course having the threat of Zibanejad's one timer from that side of the ice offers more of a challenge for PKs than would having Lafreniere on his strong side where he has to catch and shoot the puck. It's just common sense.

Panarin take Zibs spot, Lafreniere takes Panarins.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

View attachment 805128

You know what I would have given up for this same time last year?

A guy that's been replacement level his whole career turned into a top six forward overnight. Just enjoy it.

Coincides with him being given a stable top 6 spot. Wake up sheeple.

 

[Machinehead]

Panarin take Zibs spot, Lafreniere takes Panarins.

 

[mas0764]

I don't think Laffy should supplant Zibs but I do think Zibs needs to change his game on the PP.

He needs to be moving a lot more and at least attempt to be more dynamic. IMO his wrist shot is his best goal scoring weapon but be stopped using it. Get to the high slot. He needs to get in position to use his best asset.

Laffy's day will come. If the PP is running at 30% you can't really fault it. Laffy needs to start converting more of his chances at 5v5. IMO until then, there's no reason to think he'd start converting on the PP. It most likely will be more of the same.... 'horrible puck luck/mediocre shot'.

Maybe some PP time and success will increase his conversion rate at 5v5.