The jury is officially in: Alexis Lafreniere is a complete bust

[NyQuil]

I like this idea that being "fed PP minutes" is like a sausage making machine that pumps out points.

A player has to actually be contributing to the PP to stay there.

Stutzle earned that opportunity due to injuries in the depth chart and then held it by being one of the primary puck possessors and quarterbacks.

The same thing happened when he was moved to C. He wasn't given anything.

Ottawa had injuries at the pivot position, Stutzle was put there and he never looked back.

It's one thing to be given an opportunity. It's another to actually make use of it.

 

[Profet]

Why not? You know somehow better? You are no profet, you have just a nick.

Why will he? You know somehow better? Other than being drafted first overall, what has he shown?

N-O-T-H-I-N-G

All the people that watch him every game have drawn the same conclusion...

But sure. He'll be a star. /sarcasm

MacKinnon has been an elite skater since he’s been the league. What elite level skill does Lafreniere possess?

He's like a magician with the puck.

Once second he'll have it... and the next second, it's on the opposition's stick.

 

[The Real JT]

Laf’s skill level is greater than his compete level…and he’s not all that skilled.

One of his main problems is that he thinks he’s better than he really is. If he busted his ass on the ice and in the offseason then I think he’d be a solid middle 6 forward.

And yes, I’ve watched many of his games. Take it FWIW but my comments on his conditioning and work ethic come in large part from someone within the organization that I spoke with over the summer.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Lafreniere is a NHL player but he's 100% a bust for where he was drafted and where his expectations were at.

He's a bland guy who doesn't do anything particularly well. Okay 3rd line guy but you don't want an okay 3rd line guy with the #1 pick.

 

[Profet]

Lafreniere is a NHL player but he's 100% a bust for where he was drafted and where his expectations were at.

He's a bland guy who doesn't do anything particularly well. Okay 3rd line guy but you don't want an okay 3rd line guy with the #1 pick.

Being a 3rd line guy that doesn't PK or PP is also an issue.

3rd line guys are valued for their intangibles. The only intangible that Laf has is his draft position.

 

[Roland of Gilead]

Why will he? You know somehow better? Other than being drafted first overall, what has he shown?

Maybe give him s-o-m-e time? "Profet" nick tells me all the information I need from you and I dont waste any time for you anymore, sorry. I predicted it and I was so mad that I didnt beliave it.

 

[Profet]

Maybe give him s-o-m-e time? "Profet" nick tells me all the information I need from you and I dont waste any time for you anymore. I predicted it.

Again... what will more time do?

Certain types of players require more time:

• Players that need to mature physically.
• Players that are figuring out how to best use their talents effectively at the NHL level.
• Players who show talent but aren't used to the fast pace of the NHL.

Which one is Laf? Hint... none of the above.

 

[hawksrule]

Let’s save both of us time. We’ve been over this before about Lafreniere and I don’t regard your opinion.

I guess that copout is easier than trying to explain how he’s been good so far this year.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I like this idea that being "fed PP minutes" is like a sausage making machine that pumps out points.

A player has to actually be contributing to the PP to stay there.

Stutzle earned that opportunity due to injuries in the depth chart and then held it by being one of the primary puck possessors and quarterbacks.

The same thing happened when he was moved to C. He wasn't given anything.

Ottawa had injuries at the pivot position, Stutzle was put there and he never looked back.

It's one thing to be given an opportunity. It's another to actually make use of it.

Yeah biggest issue for Lafreniere when it comes to the Powerplay is that he's not particularly good at it. They do training camps and stuff, he's never done a thing to show he deserves to play PP1. It's kind of a big indictment that every partial defense of Lafreniere relates to how he should be getting spoonfed bad, tank team 1st line/PP1 time. That sort of thing might fly in Year 1, by Year 4 though, it's just weak. It's a team that got knocked out in the 1st round not the 2014 Canadian Olympic team.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Drouin was an egotistical punk with zero work ethic and a massive sense of entitlement long before his so-called “personal issues” became the go-to excuse for his failures. He didn’t want to listen to his coaches in Tampa, and then decided he was too special to be sent back to Syracuse to work on his game there so he threw a hissy fit and refused to report. Mental health issues didn’t cause that - character issues did.

thats a lot to say about a player you dont know personally!

seems like youre guessing

 

[Jeune Poulet]

This thread feels a tad over the top.

MacKinnon 4th season:
20 mins per night
227 pp mins, 1st unit (14 ppp)
53 points in 82gp

Lafreniere 3rd season:
15 mins per night
111 pp mins, 2nd unit (4 ppp)
39 points in 81gp

Yeah, I can totally picture it. A guy like Cooper or Cassidy, entering the locker room:

"Alright people! Tonight we're going against a big team. Now, I want you to pay special attention to #13. Don't let him get time and space! Be aware every time he's on the ice! #13, guys... #13!"

By seson 3, MacKinnon was on the game plan of every opposing team. He's on the shortlist of keys to hope for a win. There's no comparison between a young MacKinnon and Lafrenière. If you've seen both, you'll know the eye test is even more obvious than the stats.

Whenever a team meets the Rangers, how far do you think Lafrenière is? There's a ton of players to look out for. Laf is probably way down the list of things to look out for, right after having a pre-game indigestion.

 

[playasRus]

What differentiates Laf and Byfield where Laf is officially a bust but Byfield isn"just about to break out"?

Laf hasn't really had the opportunity the same way Byfield hasn't. I'd give them both until they're 24 because calling them busts.

 

[Knave]

Helicopter parents

 

[I Hate Philadelphia]

What differentiates Laf and Byfield where Laf is officially a bust but Byfield isn"just about to break out"?

Laf hasn't really had the opportunity the same way Byfield hasn't. I'd give them both until they're 24 because calling them busts.

About 120 games played.

 

[playasRus]

About 120 games played.

Honestly haven't followed too closely tbh but everytime I've watched, he's been limited to low teen TOI with limited PP time. Would be hard to contribute on the scoresheet.

 

[Empoleon8771]

What differentiates Laf and Byfield where Laf is officially a bust but Byfield isn"just about to break out"?

Laf hasn't really had the opportunity the same way Byfield hasn't. I'd give them both until they're 24 because calling them busts.

Lafreniere is like a year older than Byfield and hasn't shown any sort of progression in the NHL. Byfield is actually showing some progression.

I doubt Byfield gets even close to the upside he was projected to have as a prospect anyway, but he's not considered a bust yet because he's still on an upwards trend. Lafreniere has been mostly stagnant.

 

[TLEH]

Unless he scores 60 points over the next 40 games, he ain't catching Daigle....

Was talking about Stefan and Yak

 

[ole ole]

complete busts don't have 220+ NHL games under their belt

Not really true. Yak had 350 .

 

[McShogun99]

There are some parrallels but I don’t see it being quite equivalent.

Well, first, Laff only has 3 years under his belt. But the bigger thing is the Oilers forcefed Yakupov opportunity that he squandered while Lafrenerie joined an already very good team and I think personally that works against some guys

After Yakupov's rookie season he was primarily in the bottom six with minimal PP time. Oiler fans would blame Eakins at the time for his development but the blame should be on Yakupov.

 

[NyQuil]

Lafreniere is like a year older than Byfield and hasn't shown any sort of progression in the NHL. Byfield is actually showing some progression.

I doubt Byfield gets even close to the upside he was projected to have as a prospect anyway, but he's not considered a bust yet because he's still on an upwards trend. Lafreniere has been mostly stagnant.

Byfield was also drafted as more of a project so he’s going to have more runway from that fact alone.

This was known the day of the draft.

Lafreniere was perceived as more NHL ready so he doesn’t have that luxury.

 

[Romang67]

What differentiates Laf and Byfield where Laf is officially a bust but Byfield isn"just about to break out"?

Laf hasn't really had the opportunity the same way Byfield hasn't. I'd give them both until they're 24 because calling them busts.

IIRC, Byfield was seen more as a project coming out, though I think most people thought he'd be more than he currently is starting his 4th season in the league. Lafreniere was supposed to be a plug and play player. He was physically mature, had great production 2 years in a row in juniors, and was one of the oldest players in his draft class. Byfield was one of the youngest. Laf is over 10 months older than Byfield.

That being said, 33 points in over 100 NHL games for Byfield isn't exactly great either.

 

[bleedgreen]

Not really true. Yak had 350 .

Then it’s hard to call him a bust. An impressive disappointment? Sure. Not really a bust. It’s like Daigle, he actually put up pretty good points for his age, he just wasn’t the superstar he was supposed to be. He’s not really a bust at all. Laf being a middle six player for years isn’t a bust in my eyes either.

To me a bust barely or never makes the level at all. If someone carved out a career it’s a just a disappointment.

 

[WarriorofTime]

After Yakupov's rookie season he was primarily in the bottom six with minimal PP time. Oiler fans would blame Eakins at the time for his development but the blame should be on Yakupov.

Yeah, Yakupov averaged 14:42 ATOI on the Oilers, Lafreniere has averaged 14:26 on the Rangers. Yakupov averaged a bit more on the Powerplay, but was still 2nd unit, at a time when 1st units didn't stay out quite as long (league wide trend).

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

Byfield Reveals The Extent Of Writst Injuries in Recent Interview​

In a recent interview with The Hockey News, Byfield revealed the extent of his injuries and just how bad they were during the season.

But, more importantly, Byfield revealed to THN that he played almost all of last season with two sprained wrists.

"I only got three goals last year, that's definitely what everyone is talking about," said Byfield. "But you don't realize what issues and stuff people are dealing with.
You know, second game of the year I sprained my wrist and the whole year didn't miss any time (from that injury) and same with the other wrist. So, I couldn't really feel my hands out there the whole year."

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Let’s save both of us time. We’ve been over this before about Lafreniere and I don’t regard your opinion.

To be fair, it's not like your opinion of Lafreniere is deserving of high regard. You've consistently proven to overrate him. Have you at least finally accepted that he's not as good as Stutzle?