F Alexis Lafreniere (2020, 1st, NYR) part 4

[Nicomo Cosca]

Hughes was given PP time but not that much at even strength. NYR also have good players to put on the ice with him if they choose. NJ really had no idea who to play Hughes with last year since he didn't mesh well as a wing with Hischier. I agree that Laf, Kakko, and the other first or second year players need to play. That said, he'll figure it out and I think his fans and NYR fans will be happy with him after the initial break in period.

This year is no different. He’s mostly been stuck dragging around an ice cold Kyle Palmieri, and Andreas Johnsson (who has no business being on a top line).

 

[Anthony5967]

Took Stammer 35 games to grab his fourth goal. Imagine if everybody wrote him off then?

 

[Waterbuf]

This year is no different. He’s mostly been stuck dragging around an ice cold Kyle Palmieri, and Andreas Johnsson (who has no business being on a top line).

I havent followed NJ at all this year but it seems like Bratt would be a better fit with him.

Anyway, Laf rules. Never let the haters rattle you with their negativity.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Update

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I havent followed NJ at all this year but it seems like Bratt would be a better fit with him.

Anyway, Laf rules. Never let the haters rattle you with their negativity.

thats an extremely small line. Hughes needs a big bruiser to work with, have they tried him with Wood?

Anyway, re: Laf. He still has zero 2ndary assists, a couple of those would make his line look better. Would help if Quinn would put him on the god damn powerplay but I guess thats too much to ask.

 

[bsu]

He was very bad tonight. It's early and of course he's a rookie but I watch a lot of ranger games... He lacks serious explosion.

 

[Dominance]

How f***ing incompetent can the Rangers coach be to barely play him in this game.

 

[doomscroll]

How f***ing incompetent can the Rangers coach be to barely play him in this game.

We wouldn’t know, it’s their first game coaching

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How f***ing incompetent can the Rangers coach be to barely play him in this game.

To be completely fair, his line played the most of any line 5 on 5.

 

[Dominance]

To be completely fair, his line played the most of any line 5 on 5.

I posted halfway through the second period when the Rangers were already up by ~7 and he had seen ~5 minutes of ice at that point.

 

[IslesBro715]

How f***ing incompetent can the Rangers coach be to barely play him in this game.

He played almost 15 minutes. That's normal ice time for a 2nd/3rd line player.

 

[foggyvisor]

1 assist in a 9-0 game is YIKES

But still not as bad a Kaako.

 

[Blackjack]

We wouldn’t know, it’s their first game coaching

(looking at scoresheet) yeah, these clowns obviously had no idea what they were doing.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I posted halfway through the second period when the Rangers were already up by ~7 and he had seen ~5 minutes of ice at that point.

Completely fair complaint. I think their ice time was much higher in the third, so you were probably right at that point in the game.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

1 assist in a 9-0 game is YIKES

But still not as bad a Kaako.

Not to hijack a post about Lafrenniere, but imagine having Blackwell in fantasy hockey. Twelve goals in two games against NJ, nine goals last night and zero points.

But I digress...

 

[The don godfather]

Kakko looks like a deer in the headlights
Laf looks like a kid on a stage doing his first science presentation. That pretty much sums it up.

 

[Lays]

1 assist in a 9-0 game is YIKES

But still not as bad a Kaako.

Kakko has been much better than Lafreniere this season. Don’t just statwatch

 

[Bankers Box]

Kakko has been much better than Lafreniere this season. Don’t just statwatch

They’ve both been mediocre at best so far.

let’s see how they continue their development.

 

[Lays]

They’ve both been mediocre at best so far.

let’s see how they continue their development.

I agree with that. Kakko has been very impressive defensively though so it’s a good sign he’s improving in some ways, also a massive improvement from being arguably the worst defensive forward last season. LaF has been very vanilla. I’m not worried about either of them though really and I wouldn’t say my perception of their potential has changed either

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Laf in junior and Laf right now look like two completely diffrent players.

Good thing he’s still young and has all the potential in the world. I mean look how Joe Thornton ended up.

 

[Bankers Box]

I agree with that. Kakko has been very impressive defensively though so it’s a good sign he’s improving in some ways, also a massive improvement from being arguably the worst defensive forward last season. LaF has been very vanilla. I’m not worried about either of them though really and I wouldn’t say my perception of their potential has changed either

That's true. Kakko also had a good stretch of games as well, right before he got put on the COVID list.

J.Hughes was looking otherworldly before getting COVID, then dropped off since coming back. I wonder how much it is affecting their game.

 

[NuxFan09]

Looks like Laf is picking it up a bit. Starting to see his name on Rangers scoresheets a little more often.

The great thing about such a - how should I put it? - uneventful first season is that you can't really experience much of a sophomore slump. Hopefully next season things return to normal, fans in the stands and all that, and he shows us what he's capable of.

Question: Is he usually on the 3rd line with Chytil? Have those two clicked at all?

 

[ElLeetch]

The reality of the situation is this: on the back of the rangers appearance in the play-in round last season, NYR management/coaching came into this season with the goal of making the playoffs. As such, players are on record (Kakko, for example) of saying they have been asked, essentially, to play mistake-free hockey. And due to the other talent on the roster, have been playing 2nd/3rd/4th line roles.

This is the anthesis approach that almost all other 1 and 2 OA picks experience.

Now, thats the reason, but i, and many other ranger fans, feel is the wrong one. It is robbing these kids of developing their skills, at the expense of getting 3 or 4 home playoff games this season, and so Quinn can prove he belongs in the NHL.

 

[shaner8989]

The rangers kids need more ice time. Coach sucks. Laffy Kaako and Chytil all need way more ice. Until then they won’t produce much

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Looks like Laf is picking it up a bit. Starting to see his name on Rangers scoresheets a little more often.

IMO he was playing better at the start of the year, he just wasn't getting the bounces. He had a nice goal yesterday but aside from a couple of "garbage time" assists (on the 9th and 8th goals in blowout wins), he's struggled to make an impact.

He had 18 shots in his first 10 games, but since then has only 24 shots in 24 games.

For him (and most players) it's all about confidence, and I don't think the coaching staff has done a very good job of building his up.