Player Discussion Alexis Lafreniere

[Rongomania]

Mollie, on the podcast, said the same thing; Laffy is really popular in the room. Good thing this game repelled a lot of bad vibes that had been building up. Onwards and upwards.

He turned 22 this week. Our fan base never should have provided the aforementioned 'bad vibes'.

On to game #2 , let's f*ckin' get this rollin' early here.

 

[rangersfansince08]

yea lets just hope he can keep it up. if he, kakko, chytil can become 60 pt players that changes the outlook of our teams even more when considering Sykora, Othmann, Culleye and Perrault is a pretty decent group to look forward to.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Our fan base never should have provided the aforementioned 'bad vibes'.

I feel like I’m in a parallel dimension every time I read the lafreniere takes. The longest they’ve ever kept the guy in the top 6 was the 12ish game stretch to begin last year. I genuinely have no idea where NYR fans expect the points to come from when you’re playing bottom 6 with virtually no power play, especially for a team who has had zero 5v5 offense when Fox steps off the ice. Kids have had a steady dose of Schneider/Harpur/Nemeth/Trouba (transition stifling anchors) for years and still produced well on a per 60 basis. If by some miracle they actually keep this top 6 together all year I look forward to the shocked Pikachu faces when NYR finally are a top team at controlling play

 

[Rongomania]

I feel like I’m in a parallel dimension every time I read the lafreniere takes. The longest they’ve ever kept the guy in the top 6 was the 12ish game stretch to begin last year. I genuinely have no idea where NYR fans expect the points to come from when you’re playing bottom 6 with virtually no power play, especially for a team who has had zero 5v5 offense when Fox steps off the ice. Kids have had a steady dose of Schneider/Harpur/Nemeth/Trouba (transition stifling anchors) for years and still produced well on a per 60 basis. If by some miracle they actually keep this top 6 together all year I look forward to the shocked Pikachu faces when NYR finally are a top team at controlling play

GET UMMM

 

[GAGLine]

yea lets just hope he can keep it up. if he, kakko, chytil can become 60 pt players that changes the outlook of our teams even more when considering Sykora, Othmann, Culleye and Perrault is a pretty decent group to look forward to.

60 points for all 3 will be very difficult. Panarin led the team last year with 56 points at even strength. A more realistic target would be the 47 points that Trocheck put up at even strength. That means that they'll need to get another 13+ points on the PP.

Last year, Fil had 40 EVP points, Kakko had 37 and Laf had 35. As long as they are getting top 6 minutes, they should be able to up those totals. The question will be the PP time. Last year, Fil had 5 points on the PP, Kakko 3 and Laf 4.

If they all break 50 points, depending on usage/health, I'll be happy. If any of them get significant PP time, then I'd hope for 60.

 

[rangersfansince08]

60 points for all 3 will be very difficult. Panarin led the team last year with 56 points at even strength. A more realistic target would be the 47 points that Trocheck put up at even strength. That means that they'll need to get another 13+ points on the PP.

Last year, Fil had 40 EVP points, Kakko had 37 and Laf had 35. As long as they are getting top 6 minutes, they should be able to up those totals. The question will be the PP time. Last year, Fil had 5 points on the PP, Kakko 3 and Laf 4.

If they all break 50 points, depending on usage/health, I'll be happy. If any of them get significant PP time, then I'd hope for 60.

Yea 50 pts is a good target then. Unless we really do split PP between the two units equally.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I feel like I’m in a parallel dimension every time I read the lafreniere takes. The longest they’ve ever kept the guy in the top 6 was the 12ish game stretch to begin last year. I genuinely have no idea where NYR fans expect the points to come from when you’re playing bottom 6 with virtually no power play, especially for a team who has had zero 5v5 offense when Fox steps off the ice. Kids have had a steady dose of Schneider/Harpur/Nemeth/Trouba (transition stifling anchors) for years and still produced well on a per 60 basis. If by some miracle they actually keep this top 6 together all year I look forward to the shocked Pikachu faces when NYR finally are a top team at controlling play

I’ve been banging this drum all off season, amid all the Laf hate.
A lot of the positive comments are also tinged with let’s see him maintain this, but one positive that was really encouraging was his pace of play, he looked like he was moving significantly faster than he ever did last season.

But yes if the kids maintain top 6 positions, and actually produce, I think the rangers are one of the deepest teams in the nhl and will actually be able to make a big run.

One huge positive is that we start with a schedule designed to ramp up.
Buffalo (young and talented but no results)
Cbj (young skilled but still tons of holes)
Arizona (young and skilled, but huge depth issues)
Nashville (could end up tanking hard this year)

Opening this way will let us work our way into the system more and more, while letting the talent help us produce.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

I’ve been banging this drum all off season, amid all the Laf hate.
A lot of the positive comments are also tinged with let’s see him maintain this, but one positive that was really encouraging was his pace of play, he looked like he was moving significantly faster than he ever did last season.

But yes if the kids maintain top 6 positions, and actually produce, I think the rangers are one of the deepest teams in the nhl and will actually be able to make a big run.

One huge positive is that we start with a schedule designed to ramp up.
Buffalo (young and talented but no results)
Cbj (young skilled but still tons of holes)
Arizona (young and skilled, but huge depth issues)
Nashville (could end up tanking hard this year)

Opening this way will let us work our way into the system more and more, while letting the talent help us produce.

arizona you may think have depth issues but they're no pushovers. they are a pain in the ass to play against.

nashville should make the playoffs if their young core starts figuring out and then proceeds to paly cohesively and consistently. i don't know how you got the impression that they may be in tank mode.

buffalo the rangers own before the last game so it's good to know that still continued. kudos to the coach for installing structure and even they guy i always blast at: 13, who looked like that guy we all saw 2 post seasons ago. he was suppose to build off of that last last season but hey it's a new season.

columbus defense suck ass. poor elvis.

 

[IDvsEGO]

arizona you may think have depth issues but they're no pushovers. they are a pain in the ass to play against.

nashville should make the playoffs if their young core starts figuring out and then proceeds to paly cohesively and consistently. i don't know how you got the impression that they may be in tank mode.

buffalo the rangers own before the last game so it's good to know that still continued. kudos to the coach for installing structure and even they guy i always blast at: 13, who looked like that guy we all saw 2 post seasons ago. he was suppose to build off of that last last season but hey it's a new season.

columbus defense suck ass. poor elvis.

Just using the athletic because I tend to agree with their model.

Nashville they gave an expected point total of 89.
Arizona they gave an expected point total of 82
Buffalo they gave an expected point total of 88

None of those point totals make the playoffs.

Nashville is going to be carried by its goaltending if they make the playoffs. They have O'reilly whos not a 1c anymore, and forsberg at forward. Josi on D. Thats it.

Arizona has alot of talent. It'll take a few years from them to go from talented to playoffs.

Also don't confuse the fact that the devils lost in OT to the coyotes to them actually being good.

 

[Profet]

Just as a couple of highlight reels doesn't make a career, one game doesn't either.

That said, I hope this is the start of a change in Laf's mindset and work ethic. As his previous three seasons showed none of what was shown in Buffalo.

I'm pulling for him, I really am.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

Just as a couple of highlight reels doesn't make a career, one game doesn't either.

That said, I hope this is the start of a change in Laf's mindset and work ethic. As his previous three seasons showed none of what was shown in Buffalo.

I'm pulling for him, I really am.

same here same here.

i just want way less ryan spooner types of appearances as it's been that way throughout his 3 years already. sure there were exceptions but those were rare. y'know yeah spooner played but you were lucky to see him on the ice, and that was usually at the end of a shift heading towards the bench.

 

[OthmannOut]

The opener was the baseline for what we need consistently from Laf. For everyone who has brought up the criticism of "what does Laf even do right?", we can point to the season opener as why we still have faith he can develop into an all star. It's only one game, and I am sure there will be bumps in the road, but him developing chemistry with Panarin would be a huge deal, and he will easily eclipse last year's point totals if he doesn't get injured.

 

[DanielBrassard]

same here same here.

i just want way less ryan spooner types of appearances as it's been that way throughout his 3 years already. sure there were exceptions but those were rare. y'know yeah spooner played but you were lucky to see him on the ice, and that was usually at the end of a shift heading towards the bench.

The first couple of games last year he seemed like he might have been turning a bit of a corner, but then there was a reversion to his career norm up to this point. The consistency is going to be the difference.

 

[ORRFForever]

He was pointless, tonight. I didn't see the game.

How was he?

 

[ajdj10]

He was pointless, tonight. I didn't see the game.

How was he?

Had a pretty pointless game.

 

[DanielBrassard]

had a good start to the game but tailed off as it went on I thought.

 

[ORRFForever]

Had a pretty pointless game.

Oy.

had a good start to the game but tailed off as it went on I thought.

He just can't be consistent.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

He was pointless, tonight. I didn't see the game.

How was he?

He had a nice assist.

Then they called it back on some BS offsides.

 

[ORRFForever]

He had a nice assist.

Then they called it back on some BS offsides.

Fair enough. Thanks!

 

[Raspewtin]

even though he definitely petered out last night as the game went on i still thought he looked good. his effort and movement are more consistent and intentional. just keep it up please.

 

[Beniers10 Hughes86]

Like everyone said, he started out good, he and Panarin really have some tik tac passing chemistry, Panarin always seem to find Lafreniere for a pass. I just want Laffy to have a little more confidence and stickhandling with the puck once he receive it from Panarin as he seem to be looking for the pass most of the time.

 

[NickyFotiu]

even though he definitely petered out last night as the game went on i still thought he looked good. his effort and movement are more consistent and intentional. just keep it up please.

Interesting that you phrased it that way. I say that because for months I have been saying guys can produce and show their skills just as easily in their first 5-10 minutes of a game as they could in minutes 16-17-18. I would say that when people would imply that you have to play 18 minutes a game to show your skills.

 

[Daves a mess]

Drive Laugh to Ottawa in a Peugeot.

Drive home with a Pinto.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Just as a couple of highlight reels doesn't make a career, one game doesn't either.

That said, I hope this is the start of a change in Laf's mindset and work ethic. As his previous three seasons showed none of what was shown in Buffalo.

I'm pulling for him, I really am.

Again, where does this idea that Laf is lazy or has a poor work ethic come from? It seems like people question his work ethic based on nothing other than the fact that the team has yet to increase his role since entering the league. Yet that logic makes no sense given this organizations heinous track record with talent evaluation and development of drafted forwards.

Guys NYR have given more leash in the top 6 than Laf/Kakko since drafting them:
-Colin Blackwell
-Barclay Goodrow
-Jesper fast
-Dryden Hunt

All of these players :
-had zero track record of high end point production at any level
-were significantly older than age ~23 which is the statistical average peak for NHL forwards
-are no longer with the team or were rumored to be traded had they not had an albatross contract with a NMC.
-were not 20 years old with a 20 even strength goal season under their belt.

Instead of seeing all this shit and questioning wtf is going on with this team people would rather baselessly speculate about a players work ethic, even when said players production is extremely good relative to their TOI/deployment

 

[Profet]

Again, where does this idea that Laf is lazy or has a poor work ethic come from? It seems like people question his work ethic based on nothing other than the fact that the team has yet to increase his role since entering the league. Yet that logic makes no sense given this organizations track record with talent evaluation and development of drafted forwards.

We assume this because the alternative is that he is working his ass off and is a talentless player.

Dealer's choice.