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

[Maple Leaf]

That is why I never draft from the Q

 

[McVespa99]

If he could just play the Oilers every night he would be a superstar

 

[Spargon]

He’s burning down villages

Quietly

 

[Felidae]

The weird thing about Lafreniere is that he was touted as a player with little to no weaknesses in his game other than his skating and maybe defense. Look at any of his draft profiles from dobberprospects to the draft analyst and they will praise his playmaking just as much as his goalscoring, and compliment his Hockey sense.


Quotes from eliteprospects

"As a puck-carrier, Lafrenière is a master at bending the defensive front and driving the puck through openings. He always maintains the same grip on his stick, forcing the opposition to guess if he's thinking shot or pass. Similarly, Lafrenière doesn't need to choose between pace or patience when determining his plans of attack; he can serve both masters at once." Elite Prospects Guide

"high-impact forward … can control and dominate games … corrals bad passes with ease … great hands … makes smart decisions quickly, "
ISS Hockey 2017


It's really a wonder how bad he's been relative to draft expectations. More bewildering than Yakupov or Daigle busting imo.

 

[Goose]

Wouldn't it be great to see him get sent to another team and put in 40 + 40

40 what?

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

Is he roaring back?

Tbf he has never roared yet (in the NHL).

I call out Rangers fans for this nonsense too so you are correct. I'll call everyone out. If I cared about Mercer, i'd go on that thread and say how stupid that is too. Laf is young and he doesn't get PP1 time. He's on the best line of the best team in the metro at the moment. Calm down and let it all play out. This stuff is poetic.

Fixed it for you.

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

That is why I never draft from the Q

You're a GM?

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

You're a GM?

No and thank god he isn't or else apparently the Pens would have passed on Sidney Crosby in 2005

 

[Pablo El Perro]

No and thank god he isn't or else apparently the Pens would have passed on Sidney Crosby in 2005

Lemieux, Lafleur, Lecavalier, and so on.

 

[jaywills1020]

The weird thing about Lafreniere is that he was touted as a player with little to no weaknesses in his game other than his skating and maybe defense. Look at any of his draft profiles from dobberprospects to the draft analyst and they will praise his playmaking just as much as his goalscoring, and compliment his Hockey sense.


Quotes from eliteprospects

"As a puck-carrier, Lafrenière is a master at bending the defensive front and driving the puck through openings. He always maintains the same grip on his stick, forcing the opposition to guess if he's thinking shot or pass. Similarly, Lafrenière doesn't need to choose between pace or patience when determining his plans of attack; he can serve both masters at once." Elite Prospects Guide

"high-impact forward … can control and dominate games … corrals bad passes with ease … great hands … makes smart decisions quickly, "
ISS Hockey 2017


It's really a wonder how bad he's been relative to draft expectations. More bewildering than Yakupov or Daigle busting imo.

He’s been bad relative to expectations for this very reason. This is the first season he’s really been put in a position to succeed. Solid line mates and even though he’s on the second unit, they’re actually getting PP time. Not that 20 second nonsense that Gallant was giving the second unit. I’ve seen more out of him and he’s looked better in these 5 or so games than I’ve seen all other years combined.

 

[ORRFForever]

I'm NOT getting my hopes up but LAF is producing. In the games I've seen in 2023, he could be better so there is still an upside.

Byfield has 4 points in 7 games, so things are looking up there, too.

 

[Dynamite Time]

Especially if he gets implants and shows up Puljujarvi…

 

[KapG]

I'm NOT getting my hopes up but LAF is producing. In the games I've seen in 2023, he could be better so there is still an upside.

Byfield has 4 points in 7 games, so things are looking up there, too.

Apparently Byfield looks really good on the ice this year

 

[Voight]

I’m saying he needed to play more immediately after being drafted and that being drafted to a team with an established core of players ahead of him and immediate cup aspirations has done him no favours. He was not drafted #1 to be a complimentary scorer and being the guy in junior to well down the depth chart at the nhl level has to be a huge adjustment for these kids.

If he was good enough he would have surpassed at least Kreider in the pecking order. He just doesn't have enough skill.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

If he was good enough he would have surpassed at least Kreider in the pecking order. He just doesn't have enough skill.

Yea, shame on him for not being good enough to "at least" surpassed a guy who scored 104 goals the last 2 season including playoffs. That should have been such a low bar for him to pass...

 

[ORRFForever]

Apparently Byfield looks really good on the ice this year

Nice!

 

[The Crypto Guy]

8 points in his last 9 games and looking great out there

 

[rangersfansince08]

8 points in his last 9 games and looking great out there

He's had streaks before but this is the best he has ever looked.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

He's had streaks before but this is the best he has ever looked.

Yea he’s never looked this dominate out there. He’s been amazing.

 

[TriFF51]

I didn't think he had this in him but he's definitely taken a big step this year so far. Making some great passes and looks aggressive skating.

 

[3074326]

Looking like he might actually score 40 points this season.

 

[PainForShane]

Really happy for the guy. Also don't think it's coincidence that Bread is among the league leaders in points this year either. Hope he keeps it up

 

[Pablo El Perro]

Good to see him doing well.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Looking like he might actually score 40 points this season.

Who Laf, or the Penguins?

 

[ORRFForever]

Looking like he might actually score 40 points this season.

He's on pace for 60 with little PP time. That's pretty good - credit where credit is due.