Value of: Should Rangers trade Lafreniere?

[Kudo Shinichi]

Interesting take on things considering Laf has outscored Caufield this year at even strength while playing more than 2 mins a game less and mostly on the 3rd line. Caufield gets a third of his points on the PP while Laf has 1 PP point. Pretty sure if Laf was on the Rangers first PP unit instead of Strome he would be in the same territory point wise.

I also think Hughes and Zegras are much more talented. Caufield is a nice player but i would pump the brakes a bit.

Lafreniere has only 1 more EV point than Caufield in 14 more games. So no, he has not been better than Caufield at EV. The habs have the worst PP in the league, and the rangers have the 2nd best pp in the league. If Caufield was on the rangers top pp unit, he would also have a lot more pts...

 

[Beer and Chips]

well in the next 1-2 years Drury is going to have to make up his mind about either Lafreniere or Kakko and whether you want to hold onto either of them until they have absolutely no value or move one when there can still be proper interest. The problem is Canadian media talked of Laf as a franchise altering force, a lidl Crosby, a Tavare, a Stamkos, a Giroux, when anybody who's watched him has known he's a full-time playmaking complimentary winger.

He isn't bad at all he just isn't flashy and most smooth-brain fans only want flash-n-dash as they see nothing else in the game of hockey. NYR and their development team focuses on the defensive aspect of the game ABOVE all else for these guys which is why they can grow and establish really good D corps and goalie tandems throughout the years but fail to have true snipers and goal-scorers come through the ranks. Forwards on NYR never take offensive risks unless they are more experienced as NHL league veterans. Still I think he fills out as a slightly better Drouin, which for a NYR team wanting to make deep runs in the playoffs will be heavily valuable, especially since he'll be an easy cost controlled player to have in the lineup.

I would look for a different marketing terminology, "a slightly better Drouin".

 

[AirGut]

I would look for a different marketing terminology, "a slightly better Drouin".

I mean of course it isn't ideal, but it seems to be the reality that we're going to have to face with Laffy.

 

[common12]

Lafreniere has only 1 more EV point than Caufield in 14 more games. So no, he has not been better than Caufield at EV. The habs have the worst PP in the league, and the rangers have the 2nd best pp in the league. If Caufield was on the rangers top pp unit, he would also have a lot more pts...

So you continue to ignore time on ice and the fact Laf doesn't play on that 1st PP unit. You know the one that actually scores all the goals.....sure makes sense. Lets also ignore the fact Laf played on one of the worst 3rd lines in the league for a large majority of the season. While Caufield plays on which line again? Exactly

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

So you continue to ignore time on ice and the fact Laf doesn't play on that 1st PP unit. You know the one that actually scores all the goals.....sure makes sense.

Lafreniere doesn't deserve to play on the top pp unit. He has 1 power-play point in 118 NHL games. That's a brutal production. If he played better, the rangers would give him more pp time and more overall minutes.

Lets also ignore the fact Laf played on one of the worst 3rd lines in the league for a large majority of the season. While Caufield plays on which line again? Exactly

Lafreniere is a reason why his line has been brutal. He's not creating much. Also funny you use that as an argument. Do you realize that Caufield is playing on the worst team in the league and has also spent a lot of time in the bottom 6 this year?

Even if Lafreniere had more minutes per game, chances are very slim that he would be doing what Caufield has been doing. In the last 19 games, Caufield has 23 pts, which is more points than Lafreniere has in 62 games this season.

 

[TheNumber4]

Yes, the Rangers are ruining him.

 

[Ciao]

Oh, for Pete's sake, he's 20 years old playing in the biggest and most sophisticated city in the United States. His hockey skills haven't gone away, and he probably just needs some time to develop and figure out where his life is going.

I was in law school when I was 20 years old and had to go through the same thing. Too much, too fast to figure it out all at once, but given time things work out.

 

[Ciao]

Yes, the Rangers are ruining him.

I don't think the Rangers are ruining him.

 

[bernmeister]

Yes they should trade him, not necessarily because he's a bust (I don't think he is), but the fact that their core with the exception of Fox are all 28 or older.

Panarin (31), Kreider (30), Zibanejad (29), Trouba (28), Strome (29), Goodrow (29)

All of them are on long term contracts with the exception of Strome.

You need to maximize the teams chances of winning NOW.

It doesn't really matter if Laf finds his way 3-4 years from now when that core is past its prime and locked into large contracts.

Then you'll just be floating in mediocrity. Not good enough to win, not bad enough to pick high.

1. Strome is not part of the core. He should have been traded already for over a yr, and will not be renewed as his $ now goes entirely, w'o replacement, along with others, to pay for Zib + Fox raises.
2. There is also a younger core which is contributing now AND THESE are the keepers. While some like Kreider provide something unique and are to be kept, others like Trouba can be replaced w/younger counterparts [Schneider]. To the extent possible, older vets should be replaced by youth. THIS is how you stay both cap compliant AND extend the compete window.
3. Maxing compete window, NOT STUPID GOING ALL IN which is not a guarantee, is the correct way to max winning (most) Cup(s).

 

[Arthur Morgan]

I think if NY traded Laf they would regret it fairly quickly.
not sure how I feel about KK though Kakko that is the real KK
still both young and I think both will become good NHLers just not sure if Kakko will be a star anymore
still lots and lots of time
Rangers in win now mode though if anything this could be a blessing in disguise where you get them signed cheap and they break out

 

[BruinsBtn]

Oh, for Pete's sake, he's 20 years old playing in the biggest and most sophisticated city in the United States. His hockey skills haven't gone away, and he probably just needs some time to develop and figure out where his life is going.

I was in law school when I was 20 years old and had to go through the same thing. Too much, too fast to figure it out all at once, but given time things work out.

He's from Montreal FFS. I don't think he's blown away by the 'sophistication' of New York. Lol.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Interesting take on things considering Laf has outscored Caufield this year at even strength while playing more than 2 mins a game less and mostly on the 3rd line. Caufield gets a third of his points on the PP while Laf has 1 PP point. Pretty sure if Laf was on the Rangers first PP unit instead of Strome he would be in the same territory point wise.

I also think Hughes and Zegras are much more talented. Caufield is a nice player but i would pump the brakes a bit.

Lafreniere is shooting over 20% at 5v5. We're really betting Lafreniere is one of the best 5v5 shooters ever, huh?

Lafreniere has gotten opportunities on the PP, including a reliable spot on the 2nd unit. If his play justified it, he'd be on the first unit more.

 

[common12]

Lafreniere doesn't deserve to play on the top pp unit. He has 1 power-play point in 118 NHL games. That's a brutal production. If he played better, the rangers would give him more pp time and more overall minutes.


Lafreniere is a reason why his line has been brutal. He's not creating much. Also funny you use that as an argument. Do you realize that Caufield is playing on the worst team in the league and has also spent a lot of time in the bottom 6 this year?

Even if Lafreniere had more minutes per game, chances are very slim that he would be doing what Caufield has been doing. In the last 19 games, Caufield has 23 pts, which is more points than Lafreniere has in 62 games this season.

You obviously do not watch the Rangers at all and you are just making stuff up. First Laf has recentmy been promoted to the line with Mika and Kreider because of his play. His old linemates such as Julien Gauthier isn't even playing anymore. Gauthier has 7 points on the entire year and 18 points in his entire career but sure Laf is bringing him down. Chytil his other 3rd line mate has 16 points this year and hasn't looked good at all. They are literally the reason the Rangers went out and got Copp and Vatrano. He also had Blais 4 points sprinkled in before he got hurt and the offensive juggernaut goodrow who was probably his best line mate during that time. The Rangers first PP is Fox, Panarin, Kreider, Zibs and Strome to say he doesn't deserve to be on that line is horribly misleading. He is not going to replace the chemistry of Strome and Panarin and he isn't better than the other 3. Guess what Caufield would not be on that line either because I guess he wouldn't deserve it......

Caufield has been glued to Suzuki and either Anderson or Toffoli when he was there. Any one of them individually have more points then the rest of Lafs 3rd line combined. The talent level is not and wasn't close. Caufield also has 7 PP points of his last 13 points. Again it must be so hard to play on the top PP unit with much better talent and get points. The Rangers literally have 1 PP goal from a forward that isn't on PP1 (Kappo). 4 total PP goals from guys on the 2nd unit and I dont even know if they scored it with the 2nd unit because they are almost all Dmen.

You can make all the excuses you want but its pretty clear Caufield has had the much better linemates all year and has a much easier path getting top PP minutes on a much better unit. Thats fact. There is not a person on this board that would choose to be on the 2nd PP unit with Gauthier and Goodrow over Suzuki and Anderson, Toffoli etc. Not one

Laf since he got promoted and given the opportunity to play with guys that actually have talent has been producing at even strength. He has points in 4 straight and 9 in his last 14. The guy never gets PP points, he has 1 in his career. If the Rangers ever decided to split that talent and created 2 equally as good PP units his point totals would increase dramatically.

Sorry Caufield has had the better opportunities and its not even close. The gap between the 2 players right now isn't what you think it is and it would be much smaller if the roles were reversed.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I hope the Rangers are dumb enough to trade a 1st overall who just turned 20 at his lowest value, but I doubt it.

 

[Buck Dancer]

Lafreniere doesn't deserve to play on the top pp unit. He has 1 power-play point in 118 NHL games. That's a brutal production. If he played better, the rangers would give him more pp time and more overall minutes.


Lafreniere is a reason why his line has been brutal. He's not creating much. Also funny you use that as an argument. Do you realize that Caufield is playing on the worst team in the league and has also spent a lot of time in the bottom 6 this year?

Even if Lafreniere had more minutes per game, chances are very slim that he would be doing what Caufield has been doing. In the last 19 games, Caufield has 23 pts, which is more points than Lafreniere has in 62 games this season.

I think you’re taking context out of the equation here. Laffy is on a better team with better players and for that reason alone will see less ice time with lesser players, in situations that are more critical to the Rangers than they would be for a last place team.

Playing without a care in the world because you’re dead last can be great for a player and his personal stats since they have nothing to lose. Committing a bone headed turnover doesn’t impact the Habs the same way it would the Rangers, since they’re actually fighting for something.

If you put Caufield in Laffy’s situation, I don’t think he would do any better and drop Laffy in Caufield’s role and I can see him racking pts as well. Both players are in completely different situations and that aspect is being ignored.

I say this without having a horse in the race. I’m a Devils fan living in Montreal… I hate both teams that are being discussed equally.

 

[Zippy316]

It’s really hard to find a deal to get the value out of a recent first overall pick. Any deal the Rangers make they are most likely going to lose value-wise.

They really shouldn’t be looking to trade him, but the argument can be made that he shouldn’t be untouchable. If Patrick Kane was willing to waive this past deadline, I could see the argument in giving him up for two post-seasons of Kane.

There’s very few players that they should be moving him for though.

 

[cheesymc]

Definitely not going to get full value from trading him, but I think it would make a lot of sense if the return gives them players that fills key missing pieces for a champion.

 

[bernmeister]

You obviously do not watch the Rangers at all and you are just making stuff up. First Laf has recentmy been promoted to the line with Mika and Kreider because of his play. His old linemates such as Julien Gauthier isn't even playing anymore. Gauthier has 7 points on the entire year and 18 points in his entire career but sure Laf is bringing him down. Chytil his other 3rd line mate has 16 points this year and hasn't looked good at all. They are literally the reason the Rangers went out and got Copp and Vatrano. He also had Blais 4 points sprinkled in before he got hurt and the offensive juggernaut goodrow who was probably his best line mate during that time. The Rangers first PP is Fox, Panarin, Kreider, Zibs and Strome to say he doesn't deserve to be on that line is horribly misleading. He is not going to replace the chemistry of Strome and Panarin and he isn't better than the other 3. Guess what Caufield would not be on that line either because I guess he wouldn't deserve it......

Caufield has been glued to Suzuki and either Anderson or Toffoli when he was there. Any one of them individually have more points then the rest of Lafs 3rd line combined. The talent level is not and wasn't close. Caufield also has 7 PP points of his last 13 points. Again it must be so hard to play on the top PP unit with much better talent and get points. The Rangers literally have 1 PP goal from a forward that isn't on PP1 (Kappo). 4 total PP goals from guys on the 2nd unit and I dont even know if they scored it with the 2nd unit because they are almost all Dmen.

You can make all the excuses you want but its pretty clear Caufield has had the much better linemates all year and has a much easier path getting top PP minutes on a much better unit. Thats fact. There is not a person on this board that would choose to be on the 2nd PP unit with Gauthier and Goodrow over Suzuki and Anderson, Toffoli etc. Not one

Laf since he got promoted and given the opportunity to play with guys that actually have talent has been producing at even strength. He has points in 4 straight and 9 in his last 14. The guy never gets PP points, he has 1 in his career. If the Rangers ever decided to split that talent and created 2 equally as good PP units his point totals would increase dramatically.

Sorry Caufield has had the better opportunities and its not even close. The gap between the 2 players right now isn't what you think it is and it would be much smaller if the roles were reversed.

Not an entirely accurate take on NYR, incl Chytil, Gauthier and others.

 

[Lays]

Laf is now on a career high 5 game point streak after scoring just now 2 minutes into the first period

 

[The Crypto Guy]

12 points in his last 20 games. That would equal to a 50 point season over 82 games.

Damn what a bust. Shame on him not putting up 80 points in his 2nd nhl season.

 

[John Mandalorian]

I said no. They'll be selling low. The Avs have a similar situation with Byram (except he's already proven to be very effective). I don't think the return will be enough to offset the risk of it blowing up in their (NYR's) face.

 

[Leviathan]

There should be a "let me see if he scores 2 points in the next game or not" option for the extremely fickle among us

ridiculous to suggest NYR could even consider trading him. he's barely played a full season and is under control until what, 2029? and no GM is gusty enough to offer up what it would actually cost to get him.

 

[Eggtimer]

12 points in his last 20 games. That would equal to a 50 point season over 82 games.

Damn what a bust. Shame on him not putting up 80 points in his 2nd nhl season.

Relative to what he was expected and hyped up to be , yes it is still considered a bust in some peoples eyes. Or at least disappointing production. Cherry picking a 20 game stretch where he has been the least crappy , to say he is on a 50 point pace , does not really scream he is for sure not a bust.
Having said that , he is still young and has played limited amount of games in his NHL career. To call any player a bust that soon is premature.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Lafreniere is shooting over 20% at 5v5. We're really betting Lafreniere is one of the best 5v5 shooters ever, huh?

Lafreniere has gotten opportunities on the PP, including a reliable spot on the 2nd unit. If his play justified it, he'd be on the first unit more.

You couldn't be more off if you tried. Please, never post about Rangers players because you're clearly not watching. And if you do watch them, you have even less of a clue. The Rangers #2 that Lafreniere has a reliable spot on sees the ice once every 3 games for 20 seconds if that. Do you really think for one second, that any coach in their right mind is going to mess with the chemistry of the #2 PP in the NHL? What do you want them to do, swap Lafreniere with Kreider who leads the league in PP goals?

"sorry Chris, we gotta get Laffy some more PP time during the heat of battling for the top spot in the Metro"

Zibanejad who's scored 40+? Fox who is a D (you usually want at least 1 of those on your PP) and bonafide PP QB? Panarin who routinely puts up 100+ points a year in his sleep?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Relative to what he was expected and hyped up to be , yes it is still considered a bust in some peoples eyes. Or at least disappointing production. Cherry picking a 20 game stretch where he has been the least crappy , to say he is on a 50 point pace , does not really scream he is for sure not a bust.
Having said that , he is still young and has played limited amount of games in his NHL career. To call any player a bust that soon is premature.

It’s not cherry picking anything, these are the last 20 games he played, you know, like 17% of his entire NHL career..