Player Discussion Alexis Lafreniere

[Synergy27]

We beat this kid up because he doesn’t look special. We make jokes about his fitness and his “ladida” attitude on the ice.

But seriously, I do not think he has the commitment required to be a great player. Why do we not see puff pieces that show us how hard he works and how badly he wants to improve and win? We dismiss the criticisms as unfounded, but at what point does a lack of content become evidence in an of itself?

This kid didn’t go from a near generational talent to a near useless plug because of how he was handled here. He does not have the drive and desire to improve himself. He is content just being here.

 

[will1066]

I'm hearing on the wire that Laf wanted to be interviewed on the couch and Gingras declined.

 

[will1066]

Kakko is probably the better fit on the top line and Laf on the third line.

He's "bad" because of the grading curve. Throw out preconceived notions and he's actually been mid, nothing stood out but nothing terribad.

 

[CasusBelli]

We beat this kid up because he doesn’t look special. We make jokes about his fitness and his “ladida” attitude on the ice.

But seriously, I do not think he has the commitment required to be a great player. Why do we not see puff pieces that show us how hard he works and how badly he wants to improve and win? We dismiss the criticisms as unfounded, but at what point does a lack of content become evidence in an of itself?

This kid didn’t go from a near generational talent to a near useless plug because of how he was handled here. He does not have the drive and desire to improve himself. He is content just being here.

Alex. Daigle.

 

[will1066]

A Gordon Ramsay-style lecture full of yells and insults should kick him in the parts to get going

 

[ReleasO The KakkO]

A Gordon Ramsay-style lecture full of yells and insults should kick him in the parts to get going

“For sure.”*

*Laf’s go-to phrase, for those who don’t know.

 

[Greg02]

If only Steve Kerr told Lafreniere that he wouldn't pick him first overall.

 

[nyr2k2]

Kakko is probably the better fit on the top line and Laf on the third line.

He's "bad" because of the grading curve. Throw out preconceived notions and he's actually been mid, nothing stood out but nothing terribad.

Yeah, he's pretty aggressively mediocre. If he was a guy taken in the fourth everyone would be happy and talking about how much upside he still has given that he's only 21. But given his draft position, he's a huge disappointment. And I get calling him a disappointment, but he is pretty objectively not a "bad" player.

 

[Jim Ramsay]

My biggest question with Laf since he's been a Ranger is that a still dont know what kind of player he is molding to be. Any other forward on the team I look at and at least know what style they play with (board play/net front/2 way/checking/'pot stirrer 4th liner).

Whatever he is, I just would have just hoped to see more of it consistely by now

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

Who knows what is going to happen with this guy at this point

All I’ll say is, it’s just the Rangers luck to fall ass backwards into the 1st overall pick and have it be a guy that looks like he peaked in juniors lmao

 

[Graves97]

Was at the game and I saw more from Alex Belzile and Henrikssom than Laf. He’s constantly out of position which is made even worse by his lack of skating ability.

I know this will be a very unpopular opinion but maybe it’s time to send him down and see if he can figure it out. Maybe that kick in the ass will make him commit or maybe it won’t. But I’d rather see Cuylle, who does more in a handful of shifts, than Laf does most games.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Was at the game and I saw more from Alex Belzile and Henrikssom than Laf. He’s constantly out of position which is made even worse by his lack of skating ability.

I know this will be a very unpopular opinion but maybe it’s time to send him down and see if he can figure it out. Maybe that kick in the ass will make him commit or maybe it won’t. But I’d rather see Cuylle, who does more in a handful of shifts, than Laf does most games.

And lose him to waivers. Yea that's smart. I rather them trade him at this point.

 

[RangersFan1994]

 

[ReddestRum]

Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes Othmann to pass Laf on the depth charts?

 

[RangersFan1994]

Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes Othmann to pass Laf on the depth charts?

I rather see Othmann get a chance on the line with Mika. It might work. He does things that Lafy does not do, get involved

 

[Graves97]

And lose him to waivers. Yea that's smart. I rather them trade him at this point.

That’s my mistake. Didn’t realize waiver exemption ended at 150 games played. Thought it was automatic through the first 5 years.

 

[JHS]

It’s shocking but at the same time not, that through 2 preseason games Laf has looked absolutely the same as where he left off last year— under a new coach where he should be trying to prove his worth. The issue is not even that he clearly did not do much to come back this year in anyway better than he was last year, it’s not even that he’s displayed nothing in these games that leads me to believe this won’t be another 30-45 point season, it’s that his game on the ice has displayed 0 sense of “prove it.” He skates around the ice like he’s going to be gifted minutes and is so uninvolved most shifts. It’s really awful to watch and I’m not really sure anymore if he’s got enough internal drive to actually amount to anything. If, during a coaching change year— one in which you were given one of the worst paying contracts for a first overall pick in 20 something years, he still has this “lost in a fog, 0 intensity” look most shifts I’m sort of now concluding that maybe this is “his best.”

We will know pretty quickly into the season if he’s got anything more to give but if not it’s time to make some serious trade offers and cut the losses with this guy as his on ice play is looking historically bad for a first overall pick.

 

[haohmaru]

Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes Othmann to pass Laf on the depth charts?

Exactly what I said after his last game.

 

[Gordon Bombay]

I'm hearing on the wire that Laf wanted to be interviewed on the couch and Gingras declined.

Clear sign he needs to start using his body parts more on the ice

 

[Rongomania]

"All hope was lost after pre-season game 2 of 21 year old Alexis Lafrenière's career.."

So silly.

 

[RangerBoy]

We beat this kid up because he doesn’t look special. We make jokes about his fitness and his “ladida” attitude on the ice.

But seriously, I do not think he has the commitment required to be a great player. Why do we not see puff pieces that show us how hard he works and how badly he wants to improve and win? We dismiss the criticisms as unfounded, but at what point does a lack of content become evidence in an of itself?

This kid didn’t go from a near generational talent to a near useless plug because of how he was handled here. He does not have the drive and desire to improve himself. He is content just being here.

When was Lafrenière considered a "near generational player"? Tell us. Huberdeau was his comparable coming out of the draft. Not McDavid or even Matthews. Huberdeau is not a "near generational" player. Good solid player. Huberdeau finished 5th in the Hart voting a couple of years ago.

How many "generational players" are playing in the game today?

How do you know he doesn’t have the commitment? You listen to Valiquette on a podcast question Lafreniere's commitment to training. How does he know? Steve is dizzy from all of the hair spray. That guy thought Kane would be the answer to the Rangers issues of getting inside the paint to score goals. Steve should go back and chart scoring chances.

 

[Profet]

"All hope was lost after pre-season game 2 of 21 year old Alexis Lafrenière's career.."

So silly.

"No new reasons for optimism after pre-season game 2 of 21 year old Alexis Lafreniere's career..."

Better?

 

[Unusual Suspect]

I don't write much, definitely don't care for hot takes and overreactions, and while injecting a bit of youth each year is obviously desirable don't appreciate posters much who continually chant "play the kids". Still...

It's real early, but I have not seen anything special in this guy in the years past and so far this preseason he looks... the exact same. Meanwhile, young players who... like Laf... need to be making an impression ARE finding themselves able to do so. Cuylle and Othmann are both showing more than I might have expected and I'm thinking are arguably better placed to help this team improve and win more games this year than Lafreniere is. Meanwhile, he (and Mr. Jones for that matter) likely still have enough value to bring back some nice high picks in trade, and MORE value than they probably will by season's end. I think Drury should make the bold, still a bit risky move and trade him now while some teams may have the idea he can still bloom.

I would love to roll these lines opening night, with two of Pitlick/Belzile/Brodzinski as extras:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Othmann
Cuylle-Trocheck-Wheeler
Goodrow-Bonino-Vesey

 

[NickyFotiu]

Give the guy 2-3 months under the new coach before writing him off. If he still looks the same after 2-3 months then you can draw some conclusions. I was hoping he would really wow people in camp but its still early. In the one drill vs Kreider I thought he looked stronger. Did he improve his skating this offseason? That is the key.

 

[LokiDog]

No point in comparing, but it does blow me away that Bedard (okay, he’s actually a truly special prospect, I get that part) turned 18 like 50ish days ago and in his first pre-season game immediately picks up two primary assists including a slick OT winner. Laf is definitely getting close to shit or get off the pot territory and is a veteran of 216 NHL games plus some solid playoff experience, yet even against rosters of half AHL and junior bound players, he still just can’t stand out. I know there’s no relation but there is frustration. For where he is in his career, I had just hoped he was showing up to camp looking as if it was the gold medal game at the WJC and he gave a damn again, but I just see a guy who continues to be content just being here. Meh.

It’s just that he should want to make an impression. He should want to have a statement season. He should want Lav to trust him and be impressed right out of the gate. Which means he should be approaching these games with some jump and gusto. And if this is what he looks like when playing with jump and gusto against non-NHL talent, that’s just hugely disappointing. We know Fox or McDavid or Mackinnon doesn’t have anything to prove, but I don’t think Laf should feel so comfortable/confident about his spot on the team. Yes, he’ll make the team and knows it, but I don’t think he should be floating around like a top 10 scoring finish is in the bag the way those guys can. He should be flying, looking to make this his big breakout year. He just looks SOOOOO pedestrian. Bedard has never played with or against NHLers and steps on the ice and already has a highlight reel after one game that’s about 1/5 the length of Laf’s entire NHL career. Just chaps my ass.