EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
LMAO ok that’s a good one
Speculation: Roster Building Thread: New Season Edition
- Thread starter Gardner McKay
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Please put Lafreniere back at LW I don't care if Zibby or Chytil is his center. It's a joke this kid can't play his natural position
TominNC
Registered User
But fans want guys to play everywhere, just because they say so.
egelband
Registered User
- Sep 6, 2008
- 16,199
- 15,058
I know I’m beating a dead horse, but…
Laf-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-VK
Kreider-Chytil-Gauthier
Blais-Goodrow-Reaves
Vesey
Yeah I am fine with Sammy Blais or Jimmy Vesey playing Center, RW, LW, D, assistant coach, video review coach but can we put probably our most talented player at the position where he is most likely to succeed? and leave him there!
SA16
Sixstring
More or less of a joke that a player taken #1 overall is incapable of switching sides?
egelband
Registered User
- Sep 6, 2008
- 16,199
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Exactly. You put the guys in their best spots to succeed. Sometimes a chat has to happen. But that, to me, is what the coach is there for. Put the most talent in the best spot to thrive. Then let them play. To me, that means Gauthier on a north-south matchup line. VK with Panarin in a shooter/finisher role. Lafreniere and Kakko with Mika needs no explanation. Put Blais and Reaves and Goodrow together and let them soften up the opposition.
Those lines give Gallant four good pitches, in baseball terms.
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When the actual player says he is more comfortable at LW and is the first overall pick we will ever draft in our lifetime yes put him at the absolute best position to succeed.
SA16
Sixstring
He has always said he's fine at whatever position they put him at. This is a made up fan/media narrative.
“For me, left wing, right wing, I’m ready to play wherever with whoever,” Lafrenière told Staple. “Every line you’re on you’re playing with skilled players. Wherever I am next season, I’ll be ready.”
Alexis even added that he’s already working on being better at right wing this offseason.
“Just some small details, working on the right side of the ice, breakouts, zone entries, stuff like that,” he noted. “It’s details but if you get more comfortable doing it you help yourself when it comes time to do that. I’m not changing my summer work a whole lot though.”
I’m in.He may have said that, but watch what side of the offensive zone he enters on.
He’s always on the left side of the ice.
I played left wing my whole life so obviously I was more comfortable there, but I’m ready to adjust and change to right wing and try to play the best hockey I can,” Lafreniere said. “It’s obviously a little bit different coming back into your own end, and it might take a couple of games, but I’m comfortable with it.”
even the coach said it...
Gallant believes Lafrenière is more comfortable on the left side, saying “We asked Laffy to be a 200-foot player. It’s a little tougher on the right wing. Sometimes he loses where he’s at at times, but on the left wing, he feels more comfortable, that’s where he played all his career. I thought he was excellent tonight, he’s played hard, he finishes his checks, he plays the game.”
doesn't sound so convincing that he doesn't mind his off wing and rather is instinctively better playing the position he has played his entire life. We can all come to our own conclusions but I see it on the ice he's better at both ends playing his natural side.
TominNC
Registered User
He says that because he’s not a whiny baby like Kravtsov. He wants minutes so he says he’ll play anywhere to get them, but results show. He’s a LW.
Yep especially the one that has the most potential to take us where we all wanna go. We can not win a cup with Laf not being at his best or at least some semblance of what we saw when he was such a dynamic player in the Q.
SA16
Sixstring
What results? He's been better this year than in previous years. His play hasn't been a problem. If by results you mean he's scoring less that is just because he was never going to shoot 18% longterm.
And, once again, it's been 12 games. He's 21 years old and in his third season. How do you propose he goes about learning to play the right side if he never actually does it? Of course he's more comfortable on the left. He's played it his whole life. That is why the team employs a coaching staff. If they're incapable of teaching him how to play on the right and what his responsibilities are then they aren't doing their jobs. Players switch back and forth all the time yet somehow for the Rangers it's almost an impossibility to even consider.
You can just never win. In the past the argument was he wasn't getting enough ice time. Now, that no longer applies since he's 17th in the league in 5v5 TOI/game so the argument shifts to how he can't play the right side. If you're expecting him to get a top 6 LW spot over Panarin or a guy who scored 52 goals last year, 20 at 5v5, and has been the first line LW I'm sorry your expectations are way out of line because no coach in the league would do that.
Circus86
Registered User
- Sep 12, 2020
- 2,692
- 5,418
I honestly don't know what happened. He was supposed to be our Mich Marner, people said he had even more potential than that. I have not given up on Laf and hope he proves me wrong. The thing is that I just don't see a lot, hardly any, flashes or "wow" moments were he displays high amounts of skill.
TominNC
Registered User
I haven’t been on complaining about him playing with Chytil. You’re confusing me with someone else. Not everyone switches positions. Look at how teams search out RD or a LD. Why not just switch up everyone? Because they are different positions with different responsibilities. Or move Kreider “if it’s so easy”
You guys know that the 6 Dmen not named Adam Fox have a total of 1 goal combined thru 12 games? That’s certainly not good enough. Kandre and Trouba especially these guys are too good to be sitting on zero goals
Kandre’s gotta do more offensively. He more than capable. This should be a breakout year for him.
Kandre’s gotta do more offensively. He more than capable. This should be a breakout year for him.
Guess how many even strength points Mitch Marner has in his third season after the draft? 42.
He had 27 PP points playing on PP1 that season.
Marner broke out in his fourth season after the draft.
I expect Lafreniere to track to similar production at even strength this year.
He isn’t a “wow” skill kind of player. He wasn’t known for crazy dangles, lightning speed, or anything like that at the draft. His IQ was his best attribute. Hopefully his hockey brain continues to developing.
Kords
Registered User
- Jun 19, 2019
- 7,455
- 12,913
Just took a peak at the next 8 games. Aside from the Isles who are playing better and have Sorokin, the next 8 games are all VERY winnable against bottom feeders with no B2B's. This is gonna be a crucial month to make up some ground and perhaps create some space. Remember, the east was decided by Thanksgiving last season.
If Kreider can't get going against these next 8 teams, there is no better time for Gallant to try Laf at 1LW with Mika and KK.
I've always been in the "Chytil stays a Center" camp, but this kid is one of their better forwards and can't get talented offensive linemates for any consistent length of time. He's almost screwed himself by insisting to stay at Center. Lets get nuts and try him with Tro and Bread.
CK with Goodrow and VK/Blais/Goat for the 3rd line.
I would love for Kravy to put it all together and play with Bread and Tro, leaving Fil with CK on the 3rd but it's very freaking hard to pencil Kravy in there right now.
Either way, Kreider provides nothing 5v5 right now and deserves ZERO top 6 icetime. This is what we all expected before his career year last season. He's way better suited on line 3.
If Kreider can't get going against these next 8 teams, there is no better time for Gallant to try Laf at 1LW with Mika and KK.
I've always been in the "Chytil stays a Center" camp, but this kid is one of their better forwards and can't get talented offensive linemates for any consistent length of time. He's almost screwed himself by insisting to stay at Center. Lets get nuts and try him with Tro and Bread.
CK with Goodrow and VK/Blais/Goat for the 3rd line.
I would love for Kravy to put it all together and play with Bread and Tro, leaving Fil with CK on the 3rd but it's very freaking hard to pencil Kravy in there right now.
Either way, Kreider provides nothing 5v5 right now and deserves ZERO top 6 icetime. This is what we all expected before his career year last season. He's way better suited on line 3.
SA16
Sixstring
Kreider is currently running a 58 CF%, 60 xGF% at 5v5. He only has 3 points which is largely due to a 4.95 on ice shooting percentage when he has not been under 9 for 4 years. Those numbers do not scream to me as something the team will be trying to change.
Kreider/Zibanejad/Kakko, as a line, have the second best CF% of any line with 100+ minutes, and the best xG% of any line in the entire league. Why are we trying to change this? Because they're not scoring because they are shooting 3 for 84?
Kords
Registered User
- Jun 19, 2019
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Bro, I don't speak that language and neither do Gallant or any other coach in the league. Maybe they are worse for it and maybe not.
What I see is a player who has lacked basic engagement which is a basic pre requisite for top line minutes. He didn't spend the entire season last year on the top line. When he looked the way he has so far this season, he was bumped down the lineup. When he worked his way back up, he proceeded to have a career year.
So to answer your question, because it has proven to work. No one is saying it has to be permanent.
egelband
Registered User
- Sep 6, 2008
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Again, no one is condemning Krieder on Mika's line. Just like no is saying Lafreniere can't play RW.
I for one just think shuffling up the lines might be a net positive.
Also, if they did try it, and it doesn't work, GG can always go back to KZK.
JCProdigy
Registered User
How is a 6-5-1 record??? Asking for a '21-'22 Avalanche fan....
Surprised there hasn't been more talk of this. If Lindgren is indeed concussed, how do the Rangers not send the info to the league? In turn, how does the league not look closer at a way late blindside hit that resulted in a concussion and Boston is sitting there applauding him.
Also f*** Reaves. Deterrent my ass. The only thing he deters is competent play while he is on the ice. Great, he hits guys after the puck has already been sent up ice. No opponents have left the ice from his supposed devastating checks. Bruins weren't shitting there hockey pants when thinking about going at Ranger players in retaliation.
Good, the Ranger players needed a security blanket last year. Their all a year older. No other team needs a security blanket like Reaves. If they still need him then maybe the GM should think about getting rid of some more players in addition to Reaves.
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