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

[Devil made me do it]

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.

Every shift Hughes is in the ice the Devils are instantly a threat to score. He is that special and dynamic of a player. Insane vision and passing skills.

 

[Favin]

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.

Brady Tkachuk is a great young player...but I would be really surprised if any GM's are taking him over Hughes....or even Lafreniere. Those latter two have unbelievably high ceilings.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Brady’s neck has a higher ceiling.

 

[3074326]

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.

Uh no? lol

This is a part four thread because he was #1 overall. If he were drafted #18 overall he wouldn't even be in the NHL right now. He's pacing for 10 points in 82 games. That is disappointing for a #1. It isn't a problem with expectations. Absurd. He has been disappointing whether you want to admit it or not. I'm rooting for the kid to succeed, I'm no hater, but saying it's about expectations is just stupid and doesn't make sense. Pacing for 10 points in 82 games is disappointing - no doubt about it. But it's early and I'm not writing him off.

 

[Mats26]

So what are the expectations from him the rest of the year? Can he turn things around or just ride it out and hope he bounces back next year with more maturity? What are the coaches and management saying about his performance so far?

 

[Charlie Conway]

So what are the expectations from him the rest of the year? Can he turn things around or just ride it out and hope he bounces back next year with more maturity? What are the coaches and management saying about his performance so far?

Certainly the expectation would be that he produce more. I don't think it is a matter of maturity, but he has jumped to the NHL game with little to no preparation. I think it's a mix of a lack of preparation, adjusting to the NHL game, and a big mix of inconsistent line mates due to coaching and injury. He also hasn't had consistent top-6 time, nor has he gotten much PP time, so his usage has been a bit lackluster.

Quinn has also been preaching defense, so he's not getting the chance to be as creative as he could be.

I do think he can turn things around. He has shown flashes, and the goal yesterday shows some good awareness and skill. I wouldn't expect a massive jump in production this year. The top-6 is just not producing for us, especially Zibanejad.

I don't think anyone in the organization is unhappy with his play. From what I read from Quinn, he say he's been involved and tenacious, but it's just not showing up on the scoresheet. His advanced stats aren't bad, and his PDO suggests he's just been unlucky.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

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.

JD hiring his son-in-law as the head of NA scouting has something to do with that as well.

It's not that Davidso doesn't want to draft from Finland, Russia etc. It's just that the Rangers scouting in Canada was not up to par for many years. When they hired Steve Konowalchuk in 2018 it was the first change in direction. The first draft after Steve K was hired, they went with Robertson in the 2nd round. Something that would never have happened without his hiring a year prior.

Yes, JD has affected the make up of our scouting department, but it's not as if the change to draft from the Canadian leagues only happened once JD joined the organization.

 

[blindpass]

Uh no? lol

This is a part four thread because he was #1 overall. If he were drafted #18 overall he wouldn't even be in the NHL right now. He's pacing for 10 points in 82 games. That is disappointing for a #1. It isn't a problem with expectations. Absurd. He has been disappointing whether you want to admit it or not. I'm rooting for the kid to succeed, I'm no hater, but saying it's about expectations is just stupid and doesn't make sense. Pacing for 10 points in 82 games is disappointing - no doubt about it. But it's early and I'm not writing him off.

The point is it doesn't (or shouldn't) matter where he was drafted. He's a prospect of the NYR and they should be optimizing his development, period. His value isn't what he becomes relative to his draft position (not that the Rangers should have even had the #1 overall pick!), it is what he becomes. The obsession over where he was drafted is counterproductive.

Again, you can be disappointed if you like. It just isn't useful.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Certainly the expectation would be that he produce more. I don't think it is a matter of maturity, but he has jumped to the NHL game with little to no preparation. I think it's a mix of a lack of preparation, adjusting to the NHL game, and a big mix of inconsistent line mates due to coaching and injury. He also hasn't had consistent top-6 time, nor has he gotten much PP time, so his usage has been a bit lackluster.

Quinn has also been preaching defense, so he's not getting the chance to be as creative as he could be.

I do think he can turn things around. He has shown flashes, and the goal yesterday shows some good awareness and skill. I wouldn't expect a massive jump in production this year. The top-6 is just not producing for us, especially Zibanejad.

I don't think anyone in the organization is unhappy with his play. From what I read from Quinn, he say he's been involved and tenacious, but it's just not showing up on the scoresheet. His advanced stats aren't bad, and his PDO suggests he's just been unlucky.

I think Lafreniere could do a few things to improve his play outside of scoring, sometime he tends to take a secondary seat to the main puck battler and he tends to want to give up the puck too quickly.........usually because he finds himself motionless (yeah, gotta keep feet moving may be annoying to repeat but it's true in his case). A bit more strength can help, alas that will take the offseason so he'll just have to be a little more tenacious.

Get the feeling he's often getting primed to play defense on the lower lines, preventing him from fully engaging offensively. He doesn't struggle in back checking as a result, which is a positive for his age, but I'm sure it would be nice to have more popping moments offensively.

The Rangers' system doesn't seem to do much to create offense in a free flowing manner, so he ain't getting a lot of help that way, but Lafreniere is going to be a clicker in my opinion: once he gets it, his production will have an exponential curve until he hits his proper production capabilities.

 

[Charlie Conway]

I think Lafreniere could do a few things to improve his play outside of scoring, sometime he tends to take a secondary seat to the main puck battler and he tends to want to give up the puck too quickly.........usually because he finds himself motionless (yeah, gotta keep feet moving may be annoying to repeat but it's true in his case). A bit more strength can help, alas that will take the offseason so he'll just have to be a little more tenacious.

Get the feeling he's often getting primed to play defense on the lower lines, preventing him from fully engaging offensively. He doesn't struggle in back checking as a result, which is a positive for his age, but I'm sure it would be nice to have more popping moments offensively.

The Rangers' system doesn't seem to do much to create offense in a free flowing manner, so he ain't getting a lot of help that way, but Lafreniere is going to be a clicker in my opinion: once he gets it, his production will have an exponential curve until he hits his proper production capabilities.

Absolutely agree. Quinn is putting him in a more defensive role, which is great for a young player to learn, but it's not going to help with his confidence for offense. He has moments where you see it all come together, and I think expectations were extremely high, so anything else will seem like a disappointment.

Quinn's system isn't great for breakouts. Most often, it looks like a strong side lock. I've seen everyone fairly low in the defensive zone (usually hashmarks or below). It makes it awful for breakouts because you give the other team's D free fire to the net and plenty of time and space to recover the puck if it pops up along the boards. We end up pinned in quite a bit and basically change the second we can get it out.

I see what Quinn's going for--he's instilling a defensive mentality, but it's at the cost of offense. I would want our guys to challenge the points more, especially when a good number of teams have green d-men.

The Rangers are 25th in GF/G and also 25th in GA/G, so that checks out. Better defense and worse offense. A lot of games have been pretty close affairs.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

So much for the no assists in his first 17 games complaints. Great assist here. Lafreniere had his best game of the season. He really should've had about three points. Hit a crossbar, and then Rask made his best save of the game on Gauthier from Lafreniere's pass. His luck this season has been really bad, but I believe thats still now two points in his last three games.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Another primary assist today. 3 points in his last 4 games.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

Actually missed his past couple of games, nice to see him get some apples.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[KapG]

His play has left a lot to be desired every game I’ve watched

 

[kings11]

No offense but he's nowhere near the level of any of them.. With that said, I see a Taylor Hall type player and at worse a prime Alexander Frolov. The Rangers need to decide if they're a playoff team and send him down to the A to try and dominate or they'll invest the time needed to develop him properly and give him top 6 minutes regardless of the outcome this season.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

No offense but he's nowhere near the level of any of them.. With that said, I see a Taylor Hall type player and at worse a prime Alexander Frolov. The Rangers need to decide if they're a playoff team and send him down to the A to try and dominate or they'll invest the time needed to develop him properly and give him top 6 minutes regardless of the outcome this season.

Did the batteries of your sarcasm detector die?

 

[kings11]

Did the batteries of your sarcasm detector die?

perhaps

 

[My3Sons]

No offense but he's nowhere near the level of any of them.. With that said, I see a Taylor Hall type player and at worse a prime Alexander Frolov. The Rangers need to decide if they're a playoff team and send him down to the A to try and dominate or they'll invest the time needed to develop him properly and give him top 6 minutes regardless of the outcome this season.

when was the last time a first overall was sent down? It seems like a long time. NJ decided Hughes needed to take his lumps and learn on the job and it’s paying off this season. Laf will ultimately be a great player. I’m not sure the NYR are that concerned with the standings at this point. They have a number of developing players that need to be brought along.

 

[kings11]

when was the last time a first overall was sent down? It seems like a long time. NJ decided Hughes needed to take his lumps and learn on the job and it’s paying off this season. Laf will ultimately be a great player. I’m not sure the NYR are that concerned with the standings at this point. They have a number of developing players that need to be brought along.

The Devils knew they weren't a playoff team and afforded him teh proper development time, The Rangers haven't done that with either Kakko or Alexis. Those two need to be getting top 6 minutes to continue with their developement or they need to be on ateam where they can like the AHL.. Seems to be doing wonders for Byfield.

 

[My3Sons]

The Devils knew they weren't a playoff team and afforded him teh proper development time, The Rangers haven't done that with either Kakko or Alexis. Those two need to be getting top 6 minutes to continue with their developement or they need to be on ateam where they can like the AHL.. Seems to be doing wonders for Byfield.

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.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Another goal!

4 points in 5 games. Huge bust!

 

[blindpass]

Another goal!

4 points in 5 games. Huge bust!

Not watching the game I guess -- not a goal to be excited about. But some of the earlier bad puck luck is balancing out.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Not watching the game I guess -- not a goal to be excited about. But some of the earlier bad puck luck is balancing out.

Goals are goals.

 

[blindpass]

Goals are goals.

Sure they all count on the scoreboard and in the stats... just saying that puck was going in whether Laf was there or not -- in fact he's lucky he didn't stop the goal.

Edit: they showed the replay again and *maybe* it was going wide on the far side... I'll take it back.