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

[Albatros]

Stamkos was 23+23=46 in 79 games by this age.

 

[ijuka]

Well, it's a good goal. Although I'd still like to see some plays addressing my concern with generating. But of course, it's good to be able to score even in spots that you get handed on a silver platter, very important.

 

[John Strachan]

I am not sure how Lafreniere’s shouldn’t be viewed as disappointing. He was drafted as being NHL ready and has only shown a couple of flashes of brilliance. I am not saying he is a bust or that he won’t be a star or franchise player, but more was expected of him.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether the NYR will develop him well enough. The generational players might be able to be successful when stepping directly into the league but there are at least a few #1 picks that needed a bit more seasoning before the NHL. I know people think he is too good for the Q, but it might put spark back into his game if he was more dominant even against kids. Then again, I don’t think you can send him back down to Jrs and bring him back until after the season there ends, so that isn’t really an option.

 

[TriFF51]

It's a lot to ask for a guy so young but then again maybe not for a #1 overall pick, but I wish he had more of the mentality that he's a beast and made his presence on the ice known more. I never watched him outside of highlight reels over the past few years so idk if that was ever his style but I wanna see him take charge of the play.

With that said I certainly have patience so I'm not worried now.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Stamkos was 23+23=46 in 79 games by this age.

Actually the fairer comparison for that season would be Lafreniere's final QMJHL season, as that was the same development year (18YR old season).

In the same development year Lafreniere is in now (19YR old season), Stamkos had 51 goals and 95 points.

 

[blindpass]

I am not sure how Lafreniere’s shouldn’t be viewed as disappointing. He was drafted as being NHL ready and has only shown a couple of flashes of brilliance. I am not saying he is a bust or that he won’t be a star or franchise player, but more was expected of him.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether the NYR will develop him well enough. The generational players might be able to be successful when stepping directly into the league but there are at least a few #1 picks that needed a bit more seasoning before the NHL. I know people think he is too good for the Q, but it might put spark back into his game if he was more dominant even against kids. Then again, I don’t think you can send him back down to Jrs and bring him back until after the season there ends, so that isn’t really an option.

I guess anyone can be disappointed if they want.

The right attitude for the Rangers is to maximize his development, I'm not sure that weighing him down with expectations based on where he was drafted does that. If he was drafted 18th (or wherever the Rangers should have drafted if they hadn't won the lottery) would there be this pressure? Would that player develop better with that pressure? Look at Draisaitl, who had a pretty mundane first year with Edmonton. Development isn't always linear. Your expectations are your problem.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

I am not sure how Lafreniere’s shouldn’t be viewed as disappointing. He was drafted as being NHL ready and has only shown a couple of flashes of brilliance. I am not saying he is a bust or that he won’t be a star or franchise player, but more was expected of him.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether the NYR will develop him well enough. The generational players might be able to be successful when stepping directly into the league but there are at least a few #1 picks that needed a bit more seasoning before the NHL. I know people think he is too good for the Q, but it might put spark back into his game if he was more dominant even against kids. Then again, I don’t think you can send him back down to Jrs and bring him back until after the season there ends, so that isn’t really an option.

The rookie class this season have a major disadvantage over past years because (1) they didn't have a rookie camp, (2) they had a short training camp, and (3) they played no preseason games, and in Lafreniere's case he didn't play in the WJC like Stutzle did. Somehow I think Lafreniere is going to be OK.

 

[Scorcho]

that's one way to boost your confidence. a goal with absolutely no defence, yikes

 

[bsu]

The defense on that play is undescribable.

 

[DJB]

Seriously ill say it for about the tenth time.

Lafreniere will be fine. Look at the rest of the Rangers and how productive they have been.

Its not Lafreniere.

I said the same thing a dozen times in every Hughes thread that he would be fine...and here we are with him, 10 points in 12 games and he's fine.

Young players take time and if you are a Rangers fan there is nothing to worry about

 

[John Strachan]

I guess anyone can be disappointed if they want.

The right attitude for the Rangers is to maximize his development, I'm not sure that weighing him down with expectations based on where he was drafted does that. If he was drafted 18th (or wherever the Rangers should have drafted if they hadn't won the lottery) would there be this pressure? Would that player develop better with that pressure? Look at Draisaitl, who had a pretty mundane first year with Edmonton. Development isn't always linear. Your expectations are your problem.

Wasn’t Draisaitl sent back down to Jrs later in the season even though he had already burned an ELC year? My point is that it is the pressure to put a #1OA player into your NHL lineup isn’t necessarily the best way to prepare your franchise player for a long career or to have an 18 y.o. maximize his skill level, especially if you are icing a bad team. I realize this is a bad year with the CHL in disarray, but even having dominated at Jrs last year, if he could lead his QMJHL team to a Memorial Cup championship, that may be a better development step than having him struggle against NHL competition with a bad team.

I think that one of the complications is that Lafreniere is supposed to already have an NHL frame and dominating physically in Jrs may not seem to be a step forward but it does appear that he is struggling with the mental adjustment and having him lead his team to a national championship could help with his maturation.

I will agree it is extremely difficult to come up with a development plan when your prospect comes from the one CHL Jr league that has decided to return to play so the option is Jrs or NHL.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

that's one way to boost your confidence. a goal with absolutely no defence, yikes

Yeah, but if you look hard enough, you can find a defensive lapse on every goal that's scored in the league.

 

[bigdog16]

Ahahahah. Sorry but that's so off...

Oh and Lafrenière, 2/2 game winning goals?

I mean as someone who has been there, coaches dont have as much influence as many on here think

 

[Scorcho]

Yeah, but if you look hard enough, you can find a defensive lapse on every goal that's scored in the league.

Yawn.

 

[Hisch13r]

After seeing almost every Devils player improve this year mostly due to coaching/ the system suiting their skills over John Hynes's nonsense I think if anything it's underrated. Rangers will fire Quinn and suddenly become a much better team I'm guessing.

The best example of how insanely bad coaching or insanely good coaching can impact a team is the 2011 Devils. They showcased both in the same season. Worst team in the league under MacLean. 2 weeks after MacLean is fired and the team adjusts to Lemaire’s coaching they were the best team in the league for the final 41 games

 

[Hisch13r]

Same here, I wouldnt have believed it if you gave me his current stat line 2 months ago.

I still take Laf on the Sens over Hughes, Kakko, Kokta, Hischier, Patrick, Dach. Just a gut feeling.

But not ahead of Matthews, Dahlin, Svech, Tkachuk (near priceless value to the Sens), Petterson. And not his fellow draft mate Stuetzle either. The gap between them was always pure speculation due to the leagues they played in - it was like comparing apples to dragon fruit.

My take on his lackluster debut - offensively Laf is a pass first winger with excellent vision, but only average speed and agility. He has good hands, but an average shot compared to the NHLs top shooters. And hes getting fewer touches on the puck and less time to react and make plays than hes ever dealt with before. So his game will have to adapt before he can hit star status.

I disagree but can at least find Stutzle over Hughes somewhat defensible because of Stutzle’s upside. Tkachuk over Hughes is the homerist of homer takes

 

[GAGLine]

After seeing almost every Devils player improve this year mostly due to coaching/ the system suiting their skills over John Hynes's nonsense I think if anything it's underrated. Rangers will fire Quinn and suddenly become a much better team I'm guessing.

And half the Rangers fans were calling for Ruff's head last year. Did he suddenly become a good coach, or were those people (many of the same people yelling to fire Quinn) wrong?

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

And half the Rangers fans were calling for Ruff's head last year. Did he suddenly become a good coach, or were those people (many of the same people yelling to fire Quinn) wrong?

He’s been great in NJ, my guess is he was the scapegoat as the d coach and I understand Quinn wants his dmen to play a very restrictive style.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He will be good, but I see more Johnathon Drouin or Johnathon Huberdeau in his game which is good but not great

These are two very different level players.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Gorton starting to worry me. They eyed Jack Johnson, the worst d-man in hockey, and thought he would help an already weak defense that bled chances.

Don't underestimate the impact of Davidson with some of these decisions. I think Gorton is a very erratic GM, but I think Davidson has swayed Gorton towards more of a grit/toughness direction with some of the decisions for free agency/trades/drafting. I think Davidson was directly responsible for why we've stopped drafting from Russia, Finland, Czech Republic, and some of the other European countries recently. We've mostly only been drafting NA's, and Swedes, who are stereotypically the most NA-style of the Europeans.

 

[Samsquanch]

I disagree but can at least find Stutzle over Hughes somewhat defensible because of Stutzle’s upside. Tkachuk over Hughes is the homerist of homer takes

Tkachuks value to the Sens is priceless. They wouldn't rather have Brady than Jack Hughes, I promise you. I can see how some teams may want the Hughes instead, but Brady Tkachuk is an extremely unique player in his own right. These two players couldn't be more different in style, and teams all have very different needs.

Brady is the leader of team and makes an impact all over the ice. Hes going to always be at the tops of the league in hits (looks like he will be in shots too), and adds a net front prescence and physical dimension to a team that fee other players can. Jack will get more points, but I'm doubtful that the difference is enough to make up for Bradys intangibles.

You can call it a homer take, and maybe it is. But as life long hockey player and NHL fan, I've seen enough to know that if you have a chance to add a player like Brady to your locker room, you better think damn hard about it before you pass up on him. You can only grasp how valuable he is to a franchise once you get a full picture of his personality and prescence as a leader.

Anyways good to see Laf get on the board, it was only a matter of time I guess.

 

[blindpass]

He will be good, but I see more Johnathon Drouin or Johnathon Huberdeau in his game which is good but not great

What a strange thing to say -- they really have little in common as hockey players other than being from the Q.

 

[Hisch13r]

What a strange thing to say -- they really have little in common as hockey players other than being from the Q.

There’s also a wide gap between what Huberdeau has been and what Drouin has been. It’s not even like the 2 Jonathan’s have been similar

 

[TopChedder]

Tkachuks value to the Sens is priceless. They wouldn't rather have Brady than Jack Hughes, I promise you. I can see how some teams may want the Hughes instead, but Brady Tkachuk is an extremely unique player in his own right. These two players couldn't be more different in style, and teams all have very different needs.

Brady is the leader of team and makes an impact all over the ice. Hes going to always be at the tops of the league in hits (looks like he will be in shots too), and adds a net front prescence and physical dimension to a team that fee other players can. Jack will get more points, but I'm doubtful that the difference is enough to make up for Bradys intangibles.

You can call it a homer take, and maybe it is. But as life long hockey player and NHL fan, I've seen enough to know that if you have a chance to add a player like Brady to your locker room, you better think damn hard about it before you pass up on him. You can only grasp how valuable he is to a franchise once you get a full picture of his personality and prescence as a leader.

Anyways good to see Laf get on the board, it was only a matter of time I guess.

First off it's good to see Laf get something, it's been a very hard year for the kid.

Secondly, I would take Brady over Hughes every day of the week. Calling him unique player is correct. He will impact the game in so many ways.

Hughes looks better this year which is good but I think more than a few GM's pick Brady over him.

 

[DJB]

Don't underestimate the impact of Davidson with some of these decisions. I think Gorton is a very erratic GM, but I think Davidson has swayed Gorton towards more of a grit/toughness direction with some of the decisions for free agency/trades/drafting. I think Davidson was directly responsible for why we've stopped drafting from Russia, Finland, Czech Republic, and some of the other European countries recently. We've mostly only been drafting NA's, and Swedes, who are stereotypically the most NA-style of the Europeans.

I would argue the Fins are the closest to a NA type game...but I see your point regarding Davidson either way