Should Alexis Lafreniere Go to WJC?

[Shesterkybomb]

Also, people seriously exaggerate the importance and value of a World Juniors tournament. It's fun to watch, sure. It's probably among my favourite hockey tournaments to follow each year, but it's just a junior tournament.

Lafreniere is under contract in the NHL, preparing for a new season. Canadians expecting him to join their team despite this aren't seeing the big picture. As long as there is an NHL season in the cards, top prospects won't be released to play in a junior tournament if their teams consider them roster players.

Nobody is complaining about Hughes not going last year or Matthews in 2016 or Dahlin in 2018 or Stamkos, Kane, Crosby, Kovalchuk, Hall or MacKinnon the year they were drafted. But somehow the Rangers are a bad organization now for not releasing their 1st overall pick to play in the WJC.

And why are people assuming Lafreniere even wants to go?

He has already had that experience but being this is a different year though with nowhere to play it would be the best hockey he will play until the season starts. I don't think it would be a bad thing but imo i think he wanted to decline without declining so this is what the Rangers did. Its hard to turn down your country, i think NYR took the fall.

 

[The Mouth]

Not a chance.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Not a chance.

This reminds me of Internet Explorer

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Are we going to have to deal with this speculation for the next 15 years if Laf is going to play in Montreal or not?

Deal with? I relish the opportunity to laugh at a bunch of whiny jackasses asking about this every year and walking away with nada

The only way it could be better is if he were a pittsburgh native or an Ottawa native...well we all know Pitts fans wouldnt care as much since they're mostly just bandwagon elites

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Obviously, I am disgusted that we haven't released him. Playing in the WJC is obviously a dream that he wants to experience again. The NHL isn't that much more important, the top rookies should be released mid season every year, I don't see why they aren't.

I assume this is satire. Not being sarcastic, that's my actual assumption but I could be wrong

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

We're probably looking at a 48-56 game season. Probably a short training camp and a 1-2 game preseason, little practice time because of the compacted season. Making the playoffs seems like an uphill battle. I just think extending the season for him (assuming it doesn't interfere with training camp) seemed like a good idea.

This is kind of how I felt about it too. Getting any sort of games in before training camp would've served to shake some of the offseason rust off, like a Traverse City tournament that actually means something, but I get why the Rangers wouldn't want him to go and I can't say I'm terribly mad (or happy) about it

 

[AB13]

Why are you assuming Lafreniere wants to go?

Would you rather represent your country in a huge international tournament with a bunch of friends or sit at home, quarantine and do a little strength work?

 

[AB13]

I assume this is satire. Not being sarcastic, that's my actual assumption but I could be wrong

I am being serious. The World Juniors should not be given much less priority than the NHL. It is more fun to watch and to play probably.

 

[Apocalypse Dude]

I am being serious. The World Juniors should not be given much less priority than the NHL. It is more fun to watch and to play probably.

I agree it can be more fun to watch but to play? Come on man. Everyone playing in the WJC wants to play in the NHL.

 

[AB13]

I agree it can be more fun to watch but to play? Come on man. Everyone playing in the WJC wants to play in the NHL.

Young players would obviously prefer like 70 NHL games and 5-7 WJC games over 82 NHL games and 0 WJC games. Plenty of long term NHL players talk about the World Juniors one of their career highlights. Regular season games in january would feel meaningless compared to the WJC.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Would you rather represent your country in a huge international tournament with a bunch of friends or sit at home, quarantine and do a little strength work?

A tournament he already won, even won MVP, and a year prior played that same tournament in his own country. Is it worth the risk of a serious injury that could cause him to miss the NHL season and in the process lose out on millions of dollars by having his ELC slide?

I am one of the most critical fans of this organization, trust me. But in this case I really don't see any definitive proof that Lafrenière even wanted to go and that it was solely a decision made by the Rangers

 

[WAIVE BRODZINSKI]

I am being serious. The World Juniors should not be given much less priority than the NHL. It is more fun to watch and to play probably.

Sorry, right now he is a PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY PLAYER, his first priority is too the New York Rangers and like you said “be in the weight room”. You don’t know what the coaching staff has given him to start prepping for the season

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I am being serious. The World Juniors should not be given much less priority than the NHL. It is more fun to watch and to play probably.

It's a junior hockey tournament. As much fun as it is to watch, it's not more important than pro hockey. It's not even close

 

[NYSPORTS]

I am being serious. The World Juniors should not be given much less priority than the NHL. It is more fun to watch and to play probably.

from youth through the NHL, everybody just wants playing time and a sense of normalcy. It’s a sit and wait time across the board.

 

[AB13]

A tournament he already won, even won MVP, and a year prior played that same tournament in his own country. Is it worth the risk of a serious injury that could cause him to miss the NHL season and in the process lose out on millions of dollars by having his ELC slide?

I am one of the most critical fans of this organization, trust me. But in this case I really don't see any definitive proof that Lafrenière even wanted to go and that it was solely a decision made by the Rangers

Not likely he gets injured, even for his development, the pros massively outwiegh the cons. Playing with other top young players is better than just sitting at home.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Not likely he gets injured, even for his development, the pros massively outwiegh the cons. Playing with other top young players is better than just sitting at home.

He literally got injured in the WJC last year...thankfully was able to return, but from the NYR perspective I can see why they want AL focusing on getting ready for camp.

Both he and Kakko left the WJC on a high note...no where to go but down in terms of performance, confidence, and fan expectations.

 

[JCProdigy]

the bottom line is that there's no point in risking injury or illness for a short tournament that's not going to help him prepare for the NHL

you gotta think the Rangers are envisioning that knee injury he got last year but this time it's more serious...

 

[Entrancemperium]

Well as they said on TSN, I believe, he can only do worse... go and not be the mvp, go and not win the gold medal... what's that going to do for his confidence going into his first pro season?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Not likely he gets injured, even for his development, the pros massively outwiegh the cons. Playing with other top young players is better than just sitting at home.

Injuries are never "unlikely". You cannot predict injuries.

 

[AB13]

Injuries are never "unlikely". You cannot predict injuries.

How often do players get injured? Some players are more prone to that than others but Lafreniere doesn’t seem like one of those. I would much rather have him play than have him come back slow and sluggish. Could take him a while to get going because he doesn’t have ”game tempo” in his body.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

How often do players get injured? Some players are more prone to that than others but Lafreniere doesn’t seem like one of those. I would much rather have him play than have him come back slow and sluggish. Could take him a while to get going because he doesn’t have ”game tempo” in his body.

He literally suffered a knee injury last year in the same tournament.

 

[Irishguy42]

Could take him a while to get going because he doesn’t have ”game tempo” in his body.

This ain't it, chief.

If Laf underperforms because he didn't get to play in he WJC, it's not because of lacking "game tempo" or anything like that. It's a junior tournament.

 

[McSauer]

How often do players get injured? Some players are more prone to that than others but Lafreniere doesn’t seem like one of those. I would much rather have him play than have him come back slow and sluggish. Could take him a while to get going because he doesn’t have ”game tempo” in his body.

Dude, just stop. You're embarrassing yourself with each post, jeez...

It's literally an exhibition tournament he already dominated (was also hurt in, thankfully returning). Give it a rest.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Dude, just stop. You're embarrassing yourself with each post, jeez...

It's literally an exhibition tournament he already dominated (was also hurt in, thankfully returning). Give it a rest.

Anyone who thinks the World Juniors is anywhere close to pro hockey in terms of prestige, intensity etc, is just lying to themselves.

People severely overrate the importance of the u20 WJC

 

[McSauer]

Anyone who thinks the World Juniors is anywhere close to pro hockey in terms of prestige, intensity etc, is just lying to themselves.

People severely overrate the importance of the u20 WJC

My father is obsessed with it haha die hard Rangers fan since the 60s, but he just loves USA Hockey so much, and lives for this tournament. We watch every year, but just exhibition hockey to me...