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

[Pawnee Rangers]

I agree. But the reason Laf and KK HAVE developed at a slower pace IS the way they were handled and the opportunities they were or were not given. I've said many time I don't blame the NYR for bringing them along they way we did while trying to win. It's just that the people wanting to win AND have them break out on the accelerated timeline that other top picks have, while those top picks were getting 20mins a game stapled to top lines and PP1 and their teams were putting up with the growing pains and losing, was just flat out RIDICULOUS. I've said the same thing about Laf and Kakko right from their first seasons: PATIENCE. They are going to take a while. They are 22 and 23. NEITHER is close to done developing yet.

No, the reason they developed slowly is because they're not great skaters at this level. They were gifted spots in the lineup and in the top 9 the day they were drafted. Their spots were never in jeopardy. How many 18 year olds get the leeway regardelss of how awful they looked at times? If you don't believe me, listen to the dude training him:

"The biggest leap in that department occurred this past offseason. Part of that was natural maturation for an athlete who only turned 22 in October, but there was also a concerted effort to hone specific parts of his lower body that affect his skating."

"We analyzed every aspect of his skating abilities," Dubé explained. "We have videos from lots of angles on that, and so we could see where Laffy could improve. The one thing that we knew he had to improve was to have a full stride, and he was limited in his full stride because his hips were not mobile enough."

He's playing with more confidence now because he has the wheels to do what his brain is telling him to do. Just one extra step at this level is huge, especially for a guy like Laff. Just my opinion, but he got to where he was on natural ability not the work he did in the offseason and it caught up to him when he got to the NHL. And I'd bet money that the reason he sucked in the preseason is because he was uptight, had a lot to prove, and put a ton of pressure on himself.

 

[bhamill]

No, the reason they developed slowly is because they're not great skaters at this level. They were gifted spots in the lineup and in the top 9 the day they were drafted. Their spots were never in jeopardy. How many 18 year olds get the leeway regardelss of how awful they looked at times? If you don't believe me, listen to the dude training him:

"The biggest leap in that department occurred this past offseason. Part of that was natural maturation for an athlete who only turned 22 in October, but there was also a concerted effort to hone specific parts of his lower body that affect his skating."

"We analyzed every aspect of his skating abilities," Dubé explained. "We have videos from lots of angles on that, and so we could see where Laffy could improve. The one thing that we knew he had to improve was to have a full stride, and he was limited in his full stride because his hips were not mobile enough."

He's playing with more confidence now because he has the wheels to do what his brain is telling him to do. Just one extra step at this level is huge, especially for a guy like Laff. Just my opinion, but he got to where he was on natural ability not the work he did in the offseason and it caught up to him when he got to the NHL.

He's playing with confidence now because he was put on a top line and left there, despite hiccups. The coaching staff instilled confidence in him.
I'm not discounting his hard work, or physical maturation, but its his confidence, his mindset, that has unlocked all that hard work and is translating to his play.
Again, what physical maturation and skating improvement occurred between pre season and regular season? Still waiting.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

They could have done that while also putting him on PP1.

There's absolutely no reason he couldn't on PP1 and also play the 5v5 minutes.

They also could have put him on the PK.

Deliberately holding him back from developing in every situation didn't do anything for him. They finally put him in the top 6 with better players and his confidence grew and he's been able to use his skills. But they're still holding him back. He's near a 60pt player just playing 5v5. They robbed him of being an 80 point plays-in-all-situations player. While he has to watch Zibanejad maybe feel like doing something.

Same with Kakko. If they don't want him playing PP or in the top 6 they need to get him on the PK so he can get special teams time and not sit prolonged periods of time on the bench waiting for his next shift. Kakko can't do what Vesey does?

There is no excuse for how the Rangers mishandled Laf and Kakko other than "earn it rook". They had Hunt, Blais, and an assortment of other scrubs playing over Laf and Kakko. Inexcusable.

I credit Laf for not imploding internally and keep working hoping management/coaching will come to their senses. They still haven't fully yet. And last night was a perfect example. With 4 players ejected from the game within the first few seconds, Laf should have cracked 20+ minutes of ice time like any other 1 overall pick would have... Rangers couldn't bring themselves to do it and he put up 2 points in spite of that while Zibanejad loafed around for 21:01 including 3:29 on the PP and all he had to show for it was a -1 and he jumped over a stick as his highlight.

Laf should be on the ice in all situations.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He's playing with confidence now because he was put on a top line and left there, despite hiccups. The coaching staff instilled confidence in him.
I'm not discounting his hard work, or physical maturation, but its his confidence, his mindset, that has unlocked all that hard work and is translating to his play.
Again, what physical maturation and skating improvement occurred between pre season and regular season? Still waiting.

Just read the damn article man. It's all right there for you. Also, the move to RW (which i've been begging for since the day he got drafted) has helped a lot.

 

[mas0764]

Well Zib isn't the guy he should be replacing then. Makes zero sense. One's a right handed shot, one's a lefty. You'd have to rearrange the entire PP for this move to work.

Panarin to Zib's spot, Laf to Panarin's

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Panarin to Zib's spot, Laf to Panarin's

Why are you minimizing Panarin's effectiveness by making him the trigger man?

 

[mas0764]

Just read the damn article man. It's all right there for you.

Did YOU read the article?

"He's playing with a whole lot of confidence right now," Trouba said. "You can just tell he’s having fun. I think that's the biggest part for a lot of us in this game. That's when players are at their best – when you're not really thinking or overdoing too much.

and

The result has been a dangerous, decisive player who's oozing aforementioned confidence, rather than pressing or overthinking.

"Everyone knows how gifted he is with the puck and what he can do, but I think he hasn't really let a mistake get to him as much," Mika Zibanejad said. "When you're first getting into the league, you're maybe sometimes scared to make mistakes, and obviously there’s pressure and the talk about you as No. 1 pick. But I think he's been great at just thinking, next time he gets the chance, he'll try to do something."​

Why are you minimizing Panarin's effectiveness by making him the trigger man?

I'm not.

 

[bhamill]

Just read the damn article man. It's all right there for you. Also, the move to RW (which i've been begging for since the day he got drafted) has helped a lot.

I read it. Even your article references the difference in opportunity this year: in other words being stapled to Pan's line. Exactly what I said. Now please tell me what occurred BETWEEN pre season and regular season since he since looked the same in pre season as he did the season before. I know it's an inconvenient fact that belies your post, but that is life.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Did YOU read the article?

"He's playing with a whole lot of confidence right now," Trouba said. "You can just tell he’s having fun. I think that's the biggest part for a lot of us in this game. That's when players are at their best – when you're not really thinking or overdoing too much.

and

The result has been a dangerous, decisive player who's oozing aforementioned confidence, rather than pressing or overthinking.

"Everyone knows how gifted he is with the puck and what he can do, but I think he hasn't really let a mistake get to him as much," Mika Zibanejad said. "When you're first getting into the league, you're maybe sometimes scared to make mistakes, and obviously there’s pressure and the talk about you as No. 1 pick. But I think he's been great at just thinking, next time he gets the chance, he'll try to do something."​

I'm not.

Yeah I read it, I posted the stupid thing. And if your biggest takeaway from it is those two paragraphs from teammates saying nice things and not the guy training him, describing in great detail what they did, I don't know what to tell you. How do you watch this guy this season and not say, jesus he looks so much faster than he did at any point the last three years. It's like not even close.

 

[mas0764]

Yeah I read it, I posted the stupid thing. And if your biggest takeaway from it is those two paragraphs from teammates saying nice things and not the guy training him, describing in great detail what they did, I don't know what to tell you. How do you watch this guy this season and not say, jesus he looks so much faster than he did at any point the last three years. It's like not even close.

He does look faster and I'm sure the training helps a lot but it's definitely also confidence.

 

[bhamill]

Did YOU read the article?

"He's playing with a whole lot of confidence right now," Trouba said. "You can just tell he’s having fun. I think that's the biggest part for a lot of us in this game. That's when players are at their best – when you're not really thinking or overdoing too much.

and

The result has been a dangerous, decisive player who's oozing aforementioned confidence, rather than pressing or overthinking.

"Everyone knows how gifted he is with the puck and what he can do, but I think he hasn't really let a mistake get to him as much," Mika Zibanejad said. "When you're first getting into the league, you're maybe sometimes scared to make mistakes, and obviously there’s pressure and the talk about you as No. 1 pick. But I think he's been great at just thinking, next time he gets the chance, he'll try to do something."​

I'm not.

I know, I told him I read it and he just keeps telling me to read it despite the fact it bolsters what I said. hahahaha.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

No, the reason they developed slowly is because they're not great skaters at this level. They were gifted spots in the lineup and in the top 9 the day they were drafted. Their spots were never in jeopardy. How many 18 year olds get the leeway regardelss of how awful they looked at times? If you don't believe me, listen to the dude training him:

"The biggest leap in that department occurred this past offseason. Part of that was natural maturation for an athlete who only turned 22 in October, but there was also a concerted effort to hone specific parts of his lower body that affect his skating."

"We analyzed every aspect of his skating abilities," Dubé explained. "We have videos from lots of angles on that, and so we could see where Laffy could improve. The one thing that we knew he had to improve was to have a full stride, and he was limited in his full stride because his hips were not mobile enough."

He's playing with more confidence now because he has the wheels to do what his brain is telling him to do. Just one extra step at this level is huge, especially for a guy like Laff. Just my opinion, but he got to where he was on natural ability not the work he did in the offseason and it caught up to him when he got to the NHL. And I'd bet money that the reason he sucked in the preseason is because he was uptight, had a lot to prove, and put a ton of pressure on himself.

Jack Hughes was small, weak, and stupid in his rookie season. He turned the puck over a lot. He got beat on 1v1 battles for the puck. They threw him on the ice for every situation and groomed him to be an elite player in the league. Rangers groomed Laf to be a middle six role player in his first several seasons. Laviolette to his and this staff's credit put him in the top 6 and kept him there. But he's still not getting the special teams time.

At one point this season Brodzinski was put on PP1 before Laf.

What other 1 overall in the last two decades got denied PP1 time in favor of a player of Brodzinski's caliber?

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

I read it. Even your article references the difference in opportunity this year: in other words being stapled to Pan's line. Exactly what I said. Now please tell me what occurred BETWEEN pre season and regular season since he since looked the same in pre season as he did the season before. I know it's an inconvenient fact that belies your post, but that is life.

He played with Pan last year, he played with Zib last year, he played with every possible combination and nothing worked. Why? He was out of shape and to slow. What is wrong with saying, this guy worked hard, improved his skating, and is now reaping the completely obvious benefits.

I get it, it's easier to blame the mean coach or subpar line mates than to be honest and say, maybe this kid needs to take control of his own career and just get better.

Jack Hughes was small, weak, and stupid in his rookie season. He turned the puck over a lot. He got beat on 1v1 battles for the puck. They threw him on the ice for every situation and groomed him to be an elite player in the league. Rangers groomed Laf to be a middle six role player in his first several seasons. Laviolette to his and this staff's credit put him in the top 6 and kept him there. But he's still not getting the special teams time.

At one point this season Brodzinski was put on PP1 before Laf.

What other 1 overall in the last two decades got denied PP1 time in favor of a player of Brodzinski's caliber?

lol, holy shit. Have you seen Jack Hughes skate? If Laff came into the league skating like Hughes, we wouldn't be having these conversations.

 

[noncents]

Jack Hughes was small, weak, and stupid in his rookie season. He turned the puck over a lot. He got beat on 1v1 battles for the puck. They threw him on the ice for every situation and groomed him to be an elite player in the league. Rangers groomed Laf to be a middle six role player in his first several seasons. Laviolette to his and this staff's credit put him in the top 6 and kept him there. But he's still not getting the special teams time.

At one point this season Brodzinski was put on PP1 before Laf.

What other 1 overall in the last two decades got denied PP1 time in favor of a player of Brodzinski's caliber?

fuggin earn it rook

 

[GENESISPuck94]

This year? Outside chance.

Next year? Even more.

He would be near 40g 80pt player this season if he was on PP1.

Next season if he's not on PP1 and this BS continues you have to wonder how long a player will wait around for that opportunity while all his peers have been afforded those opportunities from day 1.

Not saying he's the kind of person to do it, but there have been players that push to sign elsewhere because the opportunity is available elsewhere.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He does look faster and I'm sure the training helps a lot but it's definitely also confidence

Gee, I wonder if one is directly related to the other.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

He played with Pan last year, he played with Zib last year, he played with every possible combination and nothing worked. Why? He was out of shape and to slow. What is wrong with saying, this guy worked hard, improved his skating, and is now reaping the completely obvious benefits.

I get it, it's easier to blame the mean coach or subpar line mates than to be honest and say, maybe this kid needs to take control of his own career and just get better.


lol, holy shit. Have you seen Jack Hughes skate? If Laff came into the league skating like Hughes, we wouldn't be having these conversations.

Doesn't matter how well Hughes could skate. He was a awful by comparison as an NHL player and he was still given the opportunities. Unlike the Rangers who make their young forwards stew.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Doesn't matter how well Hughes could skate. He was a awful by comparison as an NHL player and he was still given the opportunities. Unlike the Rangers who make their young forwards stew.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Well Zib isn't the guy he should be replacing then. Makes zero sense. One's a right handed shot, one's a lefty. You'd have to rearrange the entire PP for this move to work.

Not really. Panarin can take Mika's spot, his onetimer is very good. And unlike Mika, Artemi can actually maintain control of the puck on the left wall.


Krieder
Panarin - Trocheck - Laf
Fox


Also gives the PP something its been missing for years: A left shot threat, which will open up the Panarin one timer.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Freddie Sjostrom says hi.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Not really. Panarin can take Mika's spot, his onetimer is very good. And unlike Mika, Artemi can actually maintain control of the puck on the left wall.


Krieder
Panarin - Trocheck - Laf
Fox


Also gives the PP something its been missing for years: A left shot threat, which will open up the Panarin one timer.

I think you're wasting Panarin as the trigger man. The guy is a goddam wizard with the puck and much shiftier in tight spaces finding teammates, creating little mini two on ones. If you want Laff in there so bad, put him in Trocheck's spot. I think he's a better Trocheck on the PP than Trocheck is.

 

[bhamill]

He played with Pan last year, he played with Zib last year, he played with every possible combination and nothing worked. Why? He was out of shape and to slow. What is wrong with saying, this guy worked hard, improved his skating, and is now reaping the completely obvious benefits.

I get it, it's easier to blame the mean coach or subpar line mates than to be honest and say, maybe this kid needs to take control of his own career and just get better.

He was not stapled to Pan's line last year and he was jerked around for every mistake. It's not the same. And it's obvious.

I didn't say it was a mean coach or subpar linemates. Where is that coming from? Maybe you should be arguing with someone else about that. I said it was largely CONFIDENCE, and also said I didn't fault them for prioritizing winning over development speed.

BTW, the article says Dube has been working with him all along, it's not like he just got serious this summer, he's been at it EVERY off season. They just said the biggest improvement happened this summer. And BTW you saying he's playing with more confidence because of his gains is still saying confidence is a key...

So AGAIN, what development occurred between PRE seasn and REGULAR season? I keep answering your questions, you should have the courtesy to do the same.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I think you're wasting Panarin as the trigger man. The guy is a goddam wizard with the puck and much shiftier in tight spaces finding teammates, creating little mini two on ones. If you want Laff in there so bad, put him in Trocheck's spot. I think he's a better Trocheck on the PP than Trocheck is.

Yeah Trocheck is usually a nonfactor on PPs except he's needed for the faceoffs.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

He does look faster and I'm sure the training helps a lot but it's definitely also confidence.

Laf's skating numbers don't really look a whole lot different than they did 2 years ago.

2021-22

2023-24

Last year is really the outlier (where they were down across the board) so maybe there was some truth to him not being in shape to start the year, but he's pretty much where he was at skating wise the year before that (the skating criticisms were always dumb.)

He certainly put in the work in the offseason to position himself to be ready, but him being "faster than ever" is really an illusion that comes along with him actually having the confidence to carry the puck up ice instead of relying on someone else to do it and waiting to get it back.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

He was not stapled to Pan's line last year and he was jerked around for every mistake. It's not the same. And it's obvious.

I didn't say it was a mean coach or subpar linemates. Where is that coming from? Maybe you should be arguing with someone else about that. I said it was largely CONFIDENCE, and also said I didn't fault them for prioritizing winning over development speed.

BTW, the article says Dube has been working with him all along, it's not like he just got serious this summer, he's been at it EVERY off season. They just said the biggest improvement happened this summer. And BTW you saying he's playing with more confidence because of his gains is still saying confidence is a key...

So AGAIN, what development occurred between PRE seasn and REGULAR season? I keep answering your questions, you should have the courtesy to do the same.

So, you say the biggest improvement happened this summer and then you ask what development happened between pre and regular season. You're not even making sense. Guys have bad camps all the time. Cuylle had an awful camp two seasons ago. Maybe it's a simple as, young guy with tons to prove get uptight and doesn't play well. That seems to make more sense than he made his biggest improvement this summer (your words) then that improvement suddenly left his body only to return at the start of the regular season.