F Alexis Lafreniere - Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL (2020 Draft) Part 2

[NinoBrown]

Lafreniere is easily in his own tier entering the year. He's a great skater with high end IQ, puck skills, shot and defensive ability. For todays game he plays a pretty physically imposing style as well. Very strong on the puck, in front of the net and battles along the boards. Best winger prospect since Ovi and wouldn't be surprised if he played a bit of C this year

Bettter than Laine, Marner, Rantanen, Pastrnak and Kucherov... all these guys to me are elite.
So basically we're talking about a generational prospect ?!

 

[bigdog16]

Bettter than Laine, Marner, Rantanen, Pastrnak and Kucherov... all these guys to me are elite.
So basically we're talking about a generational prospect ?!

As prospects Lafreniere is probably better than all of them though. Laine was pretty highly touted but mostly due to European hype. Marner was highly touted too but not in the same tier as Lafreniere. Pastrnak was a late 1st rounder, Kuch was a 2nd rounder.

As prospects, Laf is better than all fairly easily.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Winger, not a great skater, not a player who has a style of play that includes dominating games with regularity, no highly elite tools.

This is incredibly ridiculous.

Explain to me how a guy gets this hyped since 15, scores 40g/80pts at 16, leading his team... and then wins CHL player of the year at 17 without any elite skills?

There are some definite similarities in trajectory. They play the game slightly differently and I wouldn’t assume that Lafreniere will accumulate a lot of injuries or that he won’t go 1OA, but he fits the mold of an early hyped CHL guy that will be in the mix for 1OA, but clearly does not have the skill set to run away with 1OA, and will be leaving the door open to other players to be picked 1OA.

Except that their trajectory isn’t the same at all.

Lafrenière got 24 more points in their rookie season and was 1st in his team in scoring and by fair their best player. Patrick was like 6th or 7th best on his team that season.

Lafrenière then also scored 3pts more in 11 less games, led his team again, made team canada U20, and won the MVP of the CHL. Patrick has a good season, but was the 3rd best player on his own team, didn’t make team Canada, and was no where close to league MVP, let alone country MVP.

There is essentially 0 similarities at all.

Similarities to Hall/Stamkos/Mackinnon/Seguin? Sure thing

 

[nbwingsfan]

Bettter than Laine, Marner, Rantanen, Pastrnak and Kucherov... all these guys to me are elite.
So basically we're talking about a generational prospect ?!

Key word being prospect...

Yes he is quite clearly a better PROSPECT than 2nd rd pick Kucherov, late 1st Pastrnak, mid 1st Rantanen and 4th Marner.

Laine is debatable though.

 

[landy92mack29]

Bettter than Laine, Marner, Rantanen, Pastrnak and Kucherov... all these guys to me are elite.
So basically we're talking about a generational prospect ?!

you never truly know how a prospect will adjust to the nhl game(otherwise Kucherov wouldn't have been a 2nd rounder) but as far as prospects go it's between Kane and Lafreniere since Ovi for wingers. Generational gets thrown around way too much but he's close to that level as far as wingers go(I'd say franchise player not generational)I prefer players who play a complete game vs offense only so for me yes Laffy is the best since Ovi. It obviously depends on what team he goes to and who he plays with but I'm expecting him to put up 80-100 points each year while being a Stone/Landeskog type defensive player.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Lafreniere has high-end hockey sense and skill, but his tools are just average. Not the fastest skater and his size is just okay.

Can't be stated enough though what a smart hockey player he is. Highest hockey IQ prospect to come around in years.

 

[NinoBrown]

you never truly know how a prospect will adjust to the nhl game(otherwise Kucherov wouldn't have been a 2nd rounder) but as far as prospects go it's between Kane and Lafreniere since Ovi for wingers. Generational gets thrown around way too much but he's close to that level as far as wingers go(I'd say franchise player not generational)I prefer players who play a complete game vs offense only so for me yes Laffy is the best since Ovi. It obviously depends on what team he goes to and who he plays with but I'm expecting him to put up 80-100 points each year while being a Stone/Landeskog type defensive player.

So a winger similar to Patrice Bergeron with more offensive skills... sounds like the perfect player.

 

[EbonyRaptor]

You guys can argue about Lafreniere all you want but he's going to look great on Dach's wing in 2020/21 and the following decade+.

 

[HabsMD97]

Winger, not a great skater, not a player who has a style of play that includes dominating games with regularity, no highly elite tools.

you're right, all he has is insane hockey sense, totally not important or predictive of future success

 

[Hockey Man]

Lafreniere has high-end hockey sense and skill, but his tools are just average. Not the fastest skater and his size is just okay.

lafreniere scored 40 goals in the Q as a rookie. maybe he doesnt use a very wide arsenal of shooting options, but his wrist shot is absolutely elite and he is an elite passer. he is not a very quick or fast skater but he is strong on the puck and his skates. he improved his skating last season from his first year in the Q and i expect that he will have worked on it a bunch this offseason too. i agree he is a very very smart player though. his size is perfectly fine. not a liability and maybe not a strength.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Winger, not a great skater, not a player who has a style of play that includes dominating games with regularity, no highly elite tools.

I mean, at least you got his position right.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Lafreniere has high-end hockey sense and skill, but his tools are just average. Not the fastest skater and his size is just okay.

Can't be stated enough though what a smart hockey player he is. Highest hockey IQ prospect to come around in years.

This is what I see. Just consistently makes the right decisions with the puck or without.

Very Mark Stone like.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Lafreniere has high-end hockey sense and skill, but his tools are just average. Not the fastest skater and his size is just okay.

Can't be stated enough though what a smart hockey player he is. Highest hockey IQ prospect to come around in years.

If by tools you mean puck skills, he is most certainly NOT "just average". His shot, shot accuracy and release are elite. Almost as good as Perfetti's, and that says a lot. His passing, vision, puck protections also are elite. Elite balance, elite, hands, elite work ethic, elite compete level.

He's the total package. Leader as well.

 

[93LEAFS]

We had this argument on the habs board ad nauseam before we drafted Kotkaniemi. My take was that it's not just rosters that have needs, organizations do. It's true that you don't know what your roster's needs will be in a few years' time. But if you have 1 or 0 blue chip prospects in your organizational depth at a particular position (outside of goalie), it's pretty easy to predict your needs in a few years time. We took the center and I have no regrets about that, as well as Tkachuk's season went.

Moreover, positions have value. Montreal ignored this for the longest time and all it got us was Bergevin saying ''they're not available'' in press conference after press conference in reference to top scorers and centermen.

The positional value should be factored into the evaluation, because it has an impact on the ice. But, that's a weighted issue. Although, a lot of center prospects aren't locks to be centers, and eventually end on the wing to be effective NHLers.

I don't think it's easy to predict your team's needs in a few years. People bust, disappoint or are traded in packages. Very few prospects outside the top 3 are sure things.

In 2011 the Leafs had a need for a center at 5, and had a promising D breaking through in Gardiner, a recent 1st rounder in Stuard Percy, plus well-regarded but overrated defenders (Dion and Franson). I'm sure as hell glad we didn't reach for the next potential center in Grigorenko and left that draft with Morgan Rielly.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Lots of awful takes in here.

Passing, puck skills, goal scoring ability are all elite. His skating, while not elite, is also an asset.

Plus his offensive IQ/awareness and vision is on par with someone like Crosby imo.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Lots of awful takes in here.

Passing, puck skills, goal scoring ability are all elite. His skating, while not elite, is also an asset.

Plus his offensive IQ/awareness and vision is on par with someone like Crosby imo.

Maybe not quite, but he is exceptional in that regard. I've said it before but I will say it again - I see a lot of Tavares in Lafreniere. He's faster and not quite the finisher JT was, and plays wing, but stylistically the similarities are there.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Who are you watching? His hands/finishing ability.and IQ are all amazing.

He isn't an elite skater like a MacKinnon/McDavid but he certainly isn't anywhere near the point on concern. As.of right now he is easily in his own tier at the top of the draft.

Where did I say his skating is a concern?

Players at 1OA rarely are not great skaters.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

This is incredibly ridiculous.

Explain to me how a guy gets this hyped since 15, scores 40g/80pts at 16, leading his team... and then wins CHL player of the year at 17 without any elite skills?



Except that their trajectory isn’t the same at all.

Lafrenière got 24 more points in their rookie season and was 1st in his team in scoring and by fair their best player. Patrick was like 6th or 7th best on his team that season.

Lafrenière then also scored 3pts more in 11 less games, led his team again, made team canada U20, and won the MVP of the CHL. Patrick has a good season, but was the 3rd best player on his own team, didn’t make team Canada, and was no where close to league MVP, let alone country MVP.

There is essentially 0 similarities at all.

Similarities to Hall/Stamkos/Mackinnon/Seguin? Sure thing

You are too hung up on points. Teams don’t draft on points. Lafreniere also plays in the weakest of the CHL leagues.

Lafreniere is probably most similar to Tavares. Late birthday who has put up great stats and has a lot of very good skills, but not a great skater nor a very exciting player.

And Tavares has turned into a very good NHL player, but not one of the NHL’s elite players. Tavares also plays the more valuable position. Lafreniere is not a lock 1OA, nor one of the top tier 1OA’s, if he’s picked first. No ones criticizing the kid. He’s a good player. Only one player can be picked first. He might go first or might not. It’s not settled yet.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

As prospects Lafreniere is probably better than all of them though. Laine was pretty highly touted but mostly due to European hype. Marner was highly touted too but not in the same tier as Lafreniere. Pastrnak was a late 1st rounder, Kuch was a 2nd rounder.

As prospects, Laf is better than all fairly easily.

What is European hype? Does it give you more credibility than Canadian CHL’er hype?

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

You are too hung up on points. Teams don’t draft on points. Lafreniere also plays in the weakest of the CHL leagues.

Lafreniere is probably most similar to Tavares. Late birthday who has put up great stats and has a lot of very good skills, but not a great skater nor a very exciting player.

And Tavares has turned into a very good NHL player, but not one of the NHL’s elite players. Tavares also plays the more valuable position. Lafreniere is not a lock 1OA, nor one of the top tier 1OA’s, if he’s picked first. No ones criticizing the kid. He’s a good player. Only one player can be picked first. He might go first or might not. It’s not settled yet.

2x hart finalist - 3rd in goals this decade behind Ovi and Stammer and ahead of Crosby and Kane,

 

[nbwingsfan]

You are too hung up on points. Teams don’t draft on points. Lafreniere also plays in the weakest of the CHL leagues.

Lafreniere is probably most similar to Tavares. Late birthday who has put up great stats and has a lot of very good skills, but not a great skater nor a very exciting player.

And Tavares has turned into a very good NHL player, but not one of the NHL’s elite players. Tavares also plays the more valuable position. Lafreniere is not a lock 1OA, nor one of the top tier 1OA’s, if he’s picked first. No ones criticizing the kid. He’s a good player. Only one player can be picked first. He might go first or might not. It’s not settled yet.

What? Anyone would be beyond thrilled if Lafreniere ends up as good as Tavares has been? I’m not “too hung up” on points, he’s just blown his competition out of the water and there’s not one thing so far to suggest he won’t go 1st other than you just wanting to be different.

 

[Mario le Magnifique]

Lots of awful takes in here.

Passing, puck skills, goal scoring ability are all elite. His skating, while not elite, is also an asset.

Plus his offensive IQ/awareness and vision is on par with someone like Crosby imo.

I agree with this, also I might add that he looks big out there in the Q, I mean, physically, this guy was already strong like a horse at 16YO. The Q is a bit light on the physical aspect but really lafrenière just dominates in every ways.

 

[tealhockey]

1OA's in recent drafts have been outstanding, perhaps not even worth comparing to. Specifically McDavid, Matthews, Dahlin IMO. Lafreniere could go 1OA, best player in this draft, become a very strong NHL player and still not be in the same galaxy.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

5 goals, 3 assists (all primary), in 4 preseason games so far.

 

[Hockey Man]

so what are the expectations for this season boys/girls? im guessing with a completely healthy season laf gets about 45 goals and 85 assists.