F Alexis Lafreniere (2020, 1st, NYR) part 3

[MBH]

10 months younger is pretty irrelevant at the top of the draft. The older guys actually usually end up better in the NHL at the high end of the draft. Lafreniere is the man because he does literally everything at a high level. I'm not sure what parts of his game I would consider elite, maybe hockey sense and motor but hes a great all around player in every aspect. Byfield has never really performed at a great level in best on best tourneys.

Byfields WJC was very disappointing whereas Lafreniere was the best player in the tourney as a draft eligible. Their Hlinkas were night and day different as well. A full season worth of games is more important obviously but Byfield has never really grabbed an international tournament by the balls and said I'm willing the team to victory like Lafreniere has multiple times now. Watch the world juniors again, Byfield had no ability to change his game when moved down the line up. It was a situation where if he wasnt scoring he provided literally nothing, he didnt look engaged at times. This is expected at his age even by a prospect his calibre, but hes being compared to an even better prospect. The Canada vs USA game is a good example of what Lafreniere can do. USA is winning, he goes out an throws two huge hits, helps change momentum and goes on to have a signature game where he scores a highlight reel game winner late. He impacts the game in every way imaginable already. Byfield doesnt do that yet, he might get there but Lafreniere is already there.

He has the potential to be a franchise type winger. A comparison I've seen is a winger version of Lecavalier which I dont hate. He couldbe god enough to win some individual hardware in his career but hes not the type that will win a bunch. But hes also a great leader and will play physical to get the team going/captain material

I don't agree that a 10 month difference isn't important. I think it's huge.
Even so, I appreciate this post. Thanks.

 

[Hfbsux]

Lafreniere just beat his personnal high in points in a game with 6 (1g 5a). Still 28mins left in the game.

Edit: 7pts

 

[TheYardMachine]

Would be fun to see a 10 point game but i guess he wont play much for the rest of the game

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

Would be fun to see a 10 point game but i guess he wont play much for the rest of the game

They clearly tried to reduce his minutes, by starting their 2nd unit on the PP. Didn't work, 1st unit got on, scored, Lafrenière with his 6th assist, which is a team record.

Rimouski record for points in a game is 8, by a few players (including Brad Richards, but not Crosby, surprisingly).

 

[nbwingsfan]

One more point to reach 100 points in only 44 games.

An incredible talent

 

[sukimono]

Seven pts night My poor remparts

 

[TimeZone]

Honestly he could've easily had 10+ points tonight.

Kid is incredible at both ends of the ice.

 

[Dominance]

Perfect timing to have an utterly dominant game on national television.

 

[Andy Lehoux]

 

[Michoulicious]

Kid is okay.

 

[Skate2Stick]

Hope he goes to Detroit

 

[Gold Standard]

dude had himself a game. nice.

really hope he's available for some games with the big boys when Team Canada jets off for Switzerland.

 

[Muffinalt]

Honestly he could've easily had 10+ points tonight.

Kid is incredible at both ends of the ice.

Is his defensive game good? I keep reading conflicting thoughts.

He does make nice plays with his stick but how is his overall consistency in the dzone?

 

[TimeZone]

Is his defensive game good? I keep reading conflicting thoughts.

He does make nice plays with his stick but how is his overall consistency in the dzone?

From what I've seen (I've seen him live a handful of times and will again this weekend) he's always backchecking hard and has an incredible stick. He has an extremely high IQ which allows him to read the play well in the dzone.

He's a fantastic well rounded player. I don't think it's a perfect comparison but the closest I've been able to come up with is a prime Hossa.

 

[Sweetpotato]

From what I've seen (I've seen him live a handful of times and will again this weekend) he's always backchecking hard and has an incredible stick. He has an extremely high IQ which allows him to read the play well in the dzone.

He's a fantastic well rounded player. I don't think it's a perfect comparison but the closest I've been able to come up with is a prime Hossa.

Reminds me more of Yzerman, i know that's high praise but he's just so good offensively but you can tell he's capable of being that rock 2 way forward.

 

[HabsMD97]

Even if his defensive game isn't polished right now, he has the potential to improve his play in his own end because of the sheer tenacity in his game and willingness to do anything to win. He's a high character guy who's not gonna ignore his defensive duties.

 

[57special]

Who gives a shit if he plays D?

 

[Muffinalt]

From what I've seen (I've seen him live a handful of times and will again this weekend) he's always backchecking hard and has an incredible stick. He has an extremely high IQ which allows him to read the play well in the dzone.

He's a fantastic well rounded player. I don't think it's a perfect comparison but the closest I've been able to come up with is a prime Hossa.

Damn I knew he was impactful but I wasn't expecting Hossa as the comp. As if he couldn't be any more tantalizing as a prospect.

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

One of his biggest improvements this year is giving a more consistent defensive effort. I still wouldn't call him a great defensive forward, but I don't think this part of game is a weakness anymore; hell, compared to other high-scoring wingers, it's probably a strength. Especially when he thinks he can take the puck; sometimes he'll come flying in on the backcheck and shut down a rush completely with his strength and speed. He also plays on the pk, though not a ton.

 

[57special]

This guy appears to have it all, including the character, IQ and heart, which are vague and hard to pin down qualities, but real. That's what separates the Crosby's and Gretzky's from the pack, IMO.
The only negative thing I see is that he isn't a great or fast skater.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Not a surprise (thou it was so close with Rossi, who had his chance in his last game), Lafreniére
became the first player this season in the CHL to hit 3 digits.

 

[Gold Standard]

3 years in the Q was great for his development. If he had been drafted last year with the rest of the '01 class people (and by people I mean HF posters) would have screamed "can't possibly go back to juniors. He's learned all he needs to learn playing against boys. It will ruin his development".

He probably goes #3 in last year's draft. arguably who knows...depending on the team/ perhaps a couple of teams would have had him #1 over Hughes/Kakko. Lafreniere will perhaps have a better rookie season next year than the two aforementioned players sophomore seasons. And he learned it by playing an extra year of junior as an 18 year old playing against teenagers.

but of course we'll read that ridiculous hf argument about every high draft pick. Byfield can't possibly go back to junior next year. It will ruin his development.

 

[Michoulicious]

3 years in the Q was great for his development. If he had been drafted last year with the rest of the '01 class people (and by people I mean HF posters) would have screamed "can't possibly go back to juniors. He's learned all he needs to learn playing against boys. It will ruin his development".

He probably goes #3 in last year's draft. arguably who knows...depending on the team/ perhaps a couple of teams would have had him #1 over Hughes/Kakko. Lafreniere will perhaps have a better rookie season next year than the two aforementioned players sophomore seasons. And he learned it by playing an extra year of junior as an 18 year old playing against teenagers.

but of course we'll read that ridiculous hf argument about every high draft pick. Byfield can't possibly go back to junior next year. It will ruin his development.

I know he's a winger and Hugues a C, but I'm pretty sure he'd have been #1 OA on many (if not most) NHL draft lists if he was eligible last year. He was the CHL player of the year at 17 y old. Let that sink in. Guy is an elite, elite talent.

Anyways, I would not take HF as the best barometer, but even in February last year he was far and away considered the best talent.

Kakko vs Hughes vs Lafreniere

Lafreniere will be a stud, and is worthy of #1 OA in most draft outside of the McKinnon/Eichel/Matthews/McDavid/Crosby/Tavares etc. ones. He's as good a #1 OA winger as you can get.

 

[lilmaxo]

Laffy will score 90 pts on the mtl canadien next season

 

[TkachukNorris79]

Laffy will score 90 pts on the mtl canadien next season

Ottawa only plays MTL 4-5 times a year. He's really good, but I don't think Lafreniere will put up 20 points per game vs the habs next year.