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

[SympathyForTheDevils]

He definitely earned it. Wouldn't be shocked if he got a game or 2.

That said, after seeing him last night for half a game, this guy is special.

It's easy to disregard it, but Lafrenière's tendency to be goaded into bad penalties is still around. He's quietly been racking up PIMs: right now he's 7th in the league in this category.

On this play, he's in a battle with Bernard in front of the net, gets put in the net by him, then goes for the puck and retaliates by trying to reverse-hit Bernard. Except he ends up smashing him in the face.

He's getting a taste of what being a superstar player means: being hooked, tripped, cross-checked, covered at all times. And he's not reacting that well so far. Don't think it's really a long-term concern, but it could hurt Rimouski once the games start mattering.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It's easy to disregard it, but Lafrenière's tendency to be goaded into bad penalties is still around. He's quietly been racking up PIMs: right now he's 7th in the league in this category.

On this play, he's in a battle with Bernard in front of the net, gets put in the net by him, then goes for the puck and retaliates by trying to reverse-hit Bernard. Except he ends up smashing him in the face.

He's getting a taste of what being a superstar player means: being hooked, tripped, cross-checked, covered at all times. And he's not reacting that well so far. Don't think it's really a long-term concern, but it could hurt Rimouski once the games start mattering.

Long term I think it is a great problem to have if you even want to call it a problem. Much easier to reign in someone like Lafreniere then it is to light the fire under someones ass that doesn't have that competitive edge.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Finally a true Hockey player, great to see the difference between elite Canadian talent and soft Americans that go 1st overall.

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

Long term I think it is a great problem to have if you even want to call it a problem. Much easier to reign in someone like Lafreniere then it is to light the fire under someones ass that doesn't have that competitive edge.

Yeah, that's why I think it might be more of a problem for Rimouski than for his future NHL team.

With that said, there will always be Marchand-like players that like to get under your skin, especially if you're a star player. And Lafrenière is vulnerable to that right now. When he's not taking retaliatory penalties, he whines to the refs a lot (got ejected for it once this season).

Basically, like a lot of young star players, he's got some maturing to do.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

"No elite tools"

 

[Dominance]

"No elite tools"

Crazy.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Interesting... of late, both Paré and Zavgorodniy have out played Lafreniére (playing better while scoring more points what Alexis)
the outcome; Paré has overtaken Lafreniére in points. worrying?.

 

[wetcoast]

Interesting... of late, both Paré and Zavgorodniy have out played Lafreniére (playing better while scoring more points what Alexis)
the outcome; Paré has overtaken Lafreniére in points. worrying?.

Scouts are looking at skill sets and how they project, production in their draft season is very secondary.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Interesting... of late, both Paré and Zavgorodniy have out played Lafreniére (playing better while scoring more points what Alexis)
the outcome; Paré has overtaken Lafreniére in points. worrying?.

It only takes about 5mins of watching a game to know who the driver is on that line

 

[kyle44]

Interesting... of late, both Paré and Zavgorodniy have out played Lafreniére (playing better while scoring more points what Alexis)
the outcome; Paré has overtaken Lafreniére in points. worrying?.

I’m skeptical you’ve watched any games to arrive at the conclusion Lafreniere was outplayed based on your posting history.

I also can’t fathom what is worrying about Lafreniere scoring at a 2.18ppg pace in his draft season. Pare is a soon-to- be 21 year old playing with two excellent offensive players. Fairly often there are overagers that put up outrageous numbers in their final CHL seasons but that don’t end up translating to the NHL game. Look up the stats of Jayden Halbgewachs (not a lost cause quite yet), Brendan Shinnimin, Dane Fox, Maxime Boisclair, etc. Not saying this will be the case with Pare, but there is far more to consider than statistics and box scores when projecting players and evaluating their play.

 

[greasysnapper]

Long term I think it is a great problem to have if you even want to call it a problem. Much easier to reign in someone like Lafreniere then it is to light the fire under someones ass that doesn't have that competitive edge.

I think fire, and competitive drive are different than undisciplined play. To me it's one of the things I'm watching very closely with this player. If he can actually reign it in like he has been doing as of late, more props to him. He plays in a very uncontrolled and undisciplined way, and I worry it's part of his DNA, and I think it's just as hard to light that fire as it is to dim it. Which is why I think Marchand is the type of player Marchand is-- you can't take the fight out of the dog. No matter how hard you try.

I truly worry about this one specific trait more than any other, and I realize I just referenced Marchand who's towed the line and helped his team find success and been an absolute force. But it's a very dangerous tightrope act. Especially when special teams is becoming so important in NHL play. You want your top pick to be a cornerstone on your team, to play mega minutes. And that means not taking stupid penalties and putting your team at disadvantage.

I don't watch enough QMJHL hockey to really focus on this, I'm more focused on the western league, but by far, more than any other trait with Laf, this is the one I'm so interested in. Not his skating, not his shot, not his motor. Because while I actually admire that tenacity it equally frightens me if left unchecked.

 

[tealhockey]

I think fire, and competitive drive are different than undisciplined play. To me it's one of the things I'm watching very closely with this player. If he can actually reign it in like he has been doing as of late, more props to him. He plays in a very uncontrolled and undisciplined way, and I worry it's part of his DNA, and I think it's just as hard to light that fire as it is to dim it. Which is why I think Marchand is the type of player Marchand is-- you can't take the fight out of the dog. No matter how hard you try.

I truly worry about this one specific trait more than any other, and I realize I just referenced Marchand who's towed the line and helped his team find success and been an absolute force. But it's a very dangerous tightrope act. Especially when special teams is becoming so important in NHL play. You want your top pick to be a cornerstone on your team, to play mega minutes. And that means not taking stupid penalties and putting your team at disadvantage.

I don't watch enough QMJHL hockey to really focus on this, I'm more focused on the western league, but by far, more than any other trait with Laf, this is the one I'm so interested in. Not his skating, not his shot, not his motor. Because while I actually admire that tenacity it equally frightens me if left unchecked.

Yeah but it could also be the reason why like you said he could have a lot more value than some players who really don't have that fire and won't help a team win when it matters. Agree could be a huge flaw but also potentially a key to massive success

 

[Emerz]

Lafreniere received a game misconduct for physical abuse of an official earlier, and scored 3 points also lol.

 

[FWF]

Any info on what he exactly did? Caught me off guard when I looked at the scoresheet

 

[Emerz]

Any info on what he exactly did? Caught me off guard when I looked at the scoresheet

Hard to tell, must have happened when he was on the ice tied up with the ref.

 

[FWF]

We'll have to wait and see if another explanation comes out, something definitely happened behind everyone there

 

[TheBeastCoast]

The Q is paper soft so it might have been nothing. Wouldn't be surprised if he got it for throwing a punch at someone while the ref was between them.

 

[Dominance]

Kid’s a monster of a talent AND the perfect teammate and leader.

 

[Halfy]

In case anyone was wondering the Q just fined Rimouski $500 and suspended a few other players. No suspension for Laf

 

[SI90]

Will he be able to play center or is he best served staying on the wing?

 

[93LEAFS]

Will he be able to play center or is he best served staying on the wing?

He's a winger. I feel this question gets asked every year about some winger prospect who has at best has limited experience at center. If you are 18 and not playing center full time in your respective junior league, the odds of you not being a full-time winger are remote.

 

[SI90]

He's a winger. I feel this question gets asked every year about some winger prospect who has at best has limited experience at center. If you are 18 and not playing center full time in your respective junior league, the odds of you not being a full-time winger are remote.

I agree I just feel his skill set could transition to center and maybe a team would
Give it a try. I know the chances are slim but it wouldn’t surprise me.

 

[93LEAFS]

I agree I just feel his skill set could transition to center and maybe a team would
Give it a try. I know the chances are slim but it wouldn’t surprise me.

It would very much surprise me since we rarely see it. I can't think of another player with as limited experience at center who has made that transition. You draft him to be a winger, and you should expect an elite one. Junior wingers moving to the center is extremely rare. Its the other way around like 99% of the time.

 

[SI90]

It would very much surprise me since we rarely see it. I can't think of another player with as limited experience at center who has made that transition. You draft him to be a winger, and you should expect an elite one. Junior wingers moving to the center is extremely rare. Its the other way around like 99% of the time.

It’s rare but even in the isles organization we have Otto Koivula. He’s never played center in his life and was playing pro in Finland as a winger. Last year at 20 the isles moved him to center in his first year in NA and now he’s playing center in the NHL at 21. I know this is more the exception than the rule but it wouldn’t surprise me to see more teams try this. Especially with guys who have the talent.

 

[dtown77]

Sorry if this has been asked. I see he is #1 in all the prospect rankings and early mock drafts I have seen. Is he a lock #1 type pick? Just trying to figure out how good this kid is comparatively to other top picks in recent drafts.