News Article: Lafreniere, expected No. 1 pick in 2020 NHL Draft, to skip QMJHL season

[Rangers394]

On another note garrioch has article just out saying Ottawa won’t be offering 3 and 5 for our pick. So this is basically a done deal Incase anyone didn’t think so already.

Even if they were, i'm taking Laf at 1 with a gigantic smile on my face

 

[Rangers394]

Laf is still being mentioned as a center? Are we done with this fantasy yet?

 

[Thirty One]

Laf is still being mentioned as a center? Are we done with this fantasy yet?

If we were done, how is it still being mentioned? Think about what you’re saying.

 

[Rangers394]

If we were done, how is it still being mentioned? Think about what you’re saying.

Very smart

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

im gonna go ahead and guess Gretzky Isn’t an idiot and probably knows more about the game than all of us combined. I didn’t reference tanner glass bud

It's not so much that he's an idiot, but more so that elite players look at the game through their eyes and have a hard time relating to players who were not on their level. Gretzky may see Lafreniere as a center because he has envisioned himself as a center ever since he was a kid. I am not saying Gretzky is right or wrong here but I had this conversation several times, and across different sports. The best players more often than not are poor at coaching and/or evaluating talent. That's not a knock against Gretzky but it's just the way it is, and has been proven time and time again in different sports. A Dutch football coach summed it up once by saying "A good horse is not necessarily a good jockey". I think that's what @nyr2k2 was referring to

 

[True Blue]

Laf is still being mentioned as a center? Are we done with this fantasy yet?

If nothing else, there seems to be consistency from year to year. Last year, it was Kakko that was being moved to center. Two years ago it was Kravstov. There seems to be a trend.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

If nothing else, there seems to be consistency from year to year. Last year, it was Kakko that was being moved to center. Two years ago it was Kravstov. There seems to be a trend.

To me hockey players not being able to play different positions is very 90s. Why are NFL players able to learn VASTLY different positions? I don't understand some of the sanctimony over "OMG, never move a player off his position".

 

[Filthy Dangles]

To me hockey players not being able to play different positions is very 90s. Why are NFL players able to learn VASTLY different positions? I don't understand some of the sanctimony over "OMG, never move a player off his position".

Because hockey is more of a skill and niche game while you can dominate in the NFL based on athleticism. A lot of wide receivers and running backs were QB's at lower levels because of their sheer athleticism and ability to dominate with that alone

 

[NYSPORTS]

To me hockey players not being able to play different positions is very 90s. Why are NFL players able to learn VASTLY different positions? I don't understand some of the sanctimony over "OMG, never move a player off his position".

both the Canada Cup and Olympics had players always playing out of position.

this Laf kid appears to be a heck of a playmaker anywhere on the ice.

 

[True Blue]

To me hockey players not being able to play different positions is very 90s. Why are NFL players able to learn VASTLY different positions? I don't understand some of the sanctimony over "OMG, never move a player off his position".

Hockey and football are two completely different sports. You want to think that it is 90s, that is your prerogative. But that does not change the fact that you really do not see a lot of it aside from on some broken plays. If you are a forward, you really loose the one time element. Panarin's shot from the left circle is not really the same as what would happen if he was on the opposite side of the ice.

Are there some exceptions? Sure. But it is still fairly rarely done. This is not EA Sports

 

[cwede]

i am not usually one to move guys out of position, but watching the highlight montages,
how Laf stick handles including in traffic, passes including in traffic,
forechecks and backchecks and plays defensive hockey, his hockey sense and competitiveness
i do think he might adapt to C directly over a transition,
obvi need to master faceoffs, but i could see that challenge achievable thanks to his compete and instincts

 

[Thirty One]

i am not usually one to move guys out of position, but watching the highlight montages,
how Laf stick handles including in traffic, passes including in traffic,
forechecks and backchecks and plays defensive hockey, his hockey sense and competitiveness
i do think he might adapt to C directly over a transition,
obvi need to master faceoffs, but i could see that challenge achievable thanks to his compete and instincts

Yeah, as I said before, there might be a reason why he isn't/shouldn't be a center, but it's not readily apparent to me.

Somewhat of an aside, I hate the term natural center/winger. No one looks at a newborn and says "aww what a cute little right winger". These are a set of acquired skills.

 

[TopShelf86]

I think with how most analysts are saying hes "a wing with a center's mind and impact" (paraphrasing)
Then you dont really need him to play with a dominant center...unless you have one which is great but he can drive the line. It's like you have a 2 for 1

I feel like after the puck drops he can score and dish from left right AND middle
That's crazy to say the least.
His future center MUST be good on faceoffs tho and only Zib is our good faceoff guy. Strome is eh and Chytil is hurtin bad, not to say he cant get better but I mean RN.
My point is you dont even have to move him to center for him to be the 'center's so to speak at least offensively

 

[Edge]

The more I think about it, the more I want to see him wear #22.

 

[Tawnos]

The more I think about it, the more I want to see him wear #22.

First 3 digit NHL player. 111.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Does anyone know the masked Ernst and Young Employee's name that Gorton paid to drop the loaded Ranger ball?

Wanna send him a gift basket.

 

[ecemleafs]

First 3 digit NHL player. 111.

or pull an ivan zamorano and go with 9+2 on his back to get 11.

 

[Thirty One]

or pull an ivan zamorano and go with 9+2 on his back to get 11.

Those are both retired numbers too. I'm not going to allow it.

 

[ecemleafs]

Those are both retired numbers too. I'm not going to allow it.

do those retired numbers have a plus sign on it? dont think so!

 

[Thirty One]

do those retired numbers have a plus sign on it? dont think so!

Just use 5 and 6.

 

[ecemleafs]

Just use 5 and 6.

9+2 looks better than 5+6.

 

[Thirty One]

9+2 looks better than 5+6.

We might be overthinking this scenario.

 

[ecemleafs]

We might be overthinking this scenario.

unless Laf is on hfboards looking for jersey number suggestions...

 

[Machinehead]

I could get behind 22.

I don't really believe in retired numbers and would like to see him wear 11 but that's neither here nor there.

As long as it's not something f***ing dumb like 78 or 85 or whatever the f***.

 

[Thirty One]

I could get behind 22.

I don't really believe in retired numbers and would like to see him wear 11 but that's neither here nor there.

As long as it's not something f***ing dumb like 78 or 85 or whatever the f***.

78 would be ideal IMO.