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

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Gnome17

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Mar 4, 2016
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If you play your first overall potential superstar pick as a 3rd liner, with 3rd/4th line players, for 3 years, chances are he'll develop into...a 3rd line player.

Now, he has increased his point totals every year he has been in the league, so I dont want to call him a bust until he stops doing that.
But they really havent done him any favors in terms of developing him. Theyve focused on winning instead, which is their choice but its not exactly surprising that Laf hasnt developed like he could have on another team like say..the current Blackhawks. Bedard gets 20+ minutes every game and gets to play with the best players on the team.
 

The Gr8 Dane

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Jan 19, 2018
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Slafkovsky looks dangerous when he plays. He might just need some time.

Lafreniere doesn't.
I agree I think he will end up a better overall player but if we are just going to post 19-22 PPG stats than I don't think it's looking good for slaf on the main boards haha
 

hawksrule

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May 18, 2014
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If you play your first overall potential superstar pick as a 3rd liner, with 3rd/4th line players, for 3 years, chances are he'll develop into...a 3rd line player.

Now, he has increased his point totals every year he has been in the league, so I dont want to call him a bust until he stops doing that.
But they really havent done him any favors in terms of developing him. Theyve focused on winning instead, which is their choice but its not exactly surprising that Laf hasnt developed like he could have on another team like say..the current Blackhawks. Bedard gets 20+ minutes every game and gets to play with the best players on the team.
It’s up to the individual player to take the bull by the horns and run with it. It’s on him to force his way up the lineup.
 

Lazlo Hollyfeld

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Lafreniere's draft year the Red Wings finished last in the league with 17 wins and 39 points, compared to the Rangers 37 wins and 79 points. But because the NHL is gonna NHL, naturally the Rangers ended up with the 1st overall pick and the Wings fell back to 4th.

So golly I feel really bad for the Rangers that Lafrienere didn't pan out as they expected and Detroit ended up with Raymond.
 

HBK27

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I think slaf surpasses him as the biggest bust especially if we are cutting it off at 22 years old

Lafreniere was also a much more highly touted prospect than Slafkovsky at the time of the draft - he was the unquestionable #1 overall pick in a more talented draft whereas there were a lot of question marks at the top of the 2022 NHL draft and maybe 3-5 guys could've gone 1st overall.

I don't think expectations coming out of the draft were the same for both players.
 

I Hate Philadelphia

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Aug 10, 2015
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complete busts don't have 220+ NHL games under their belt
?

Screenshot 2023-10-20 102928.png
 

HBK27

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It’s up to the individual player to take the bull by the horns and run with it. It’s on him to force his way up the lineup.

Yup. I understand that a way a team develops a player can certainly have an impact, but improper development is not going to drop them down from an all-star to a 3rd liner.
 

bobholly39

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Mar 10, 2013
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Get him out of NY ASAP.
Fresh start.

Not saying he'll definitely shine/meet expecations elsewhere, but obviously it's not working in NY.
 
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PANARIN BREAD FAN

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Feb 18, 2019
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Now do Joe Thornton
First 3 seasons
213 games played, 42 goals, 66 assists, 108 points
meanwhile 13's best season didn't surpass thornton's numbers from seasons 2 and 3.

and the 35 ev pts from last season - smoke and mirrors. 13 will be lucky to ever reach that again.
 

Korpse

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I still think he has upside to be a complimentary piece. A career as a secondary scorer isn’t terrible but he hasn’t shown the tools to be a player who is a primary threat which is a disappointment but I’m not sure ready to label him as a Yakupov or Stefan.
 

HFpapi

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Mar 6, 2010
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As a Canadian, sucks to see so many of our recent highly drafted/highly touted players seemingly not pan out.

The USA is pumping out young, elite, talent at an alarming rate. It hurts our ability to keep up and compete to have Lafreniere, Wright, Dach, Patrick fall completely flat.

Granted it's a bit early on Wright but for a guy formally the consensus #1 overall pick, certainly doesn't look like he has superstar qualities.

Byfield shows signs of life still but for a #2 pick he's iffy too.
 
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