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

[Pierre Larouche]

Honestly Philly is a dump

Philly actually has some amazing architecture and is a cool city.

 

[AlaBlueShirt]

lol yeah. Points out you have a negative asset in Trouba and how Laf is one of the biggest draft disappointments ever but “rent free!!1!”

”Points out” = your emotional outburst on a hockey forum, lol

 

[Beniersgeron]

Laffy have never been a play driver, not even in junior, atleast not consistent. His play have always been getting the puck from the puck carrier and then be in the right place and make the right shot or pass to get that scoring chance.

If you truly see the Rangers game this year you have to see the amount of chances he create for his teammates, if only they could have score on those chances Laffy numbers would look much better.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

”Points out” = your emotional outburst on a hockey forum, lol

Was it emotional because you want it to be?

 

[Machinehead]

Was it emotional because you want it to be?

It feels a bit emotional when we can't even say he's been decent for 20 games.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

It feels a bit emotional when we can't even say he's been decent for 20 games.

Is this where the bar is?

 

[Machinehead]

Is this where the bar is?

Right now, yes.

It is what it is. Fans have every right to feel good about him improving and at least being a much-needed piece in the team's top six.

 

[Legionnaire11]

Philly actually has some amazing architecture and is a cool city.

No, no, no... Philly is ONLY Kensington and throwing snowballs at Santa.

 

[Windy River]

The team is much better at 5v5 this year with him on the ice than not on the ice. It's an objective statement.

Can you share the stats behind that? Id really be interested to see. Perhaps he has some clandestine intangibles.

I’m sure the stats will do a proper comparison showing him vs ‘replacement’- otherwise his consistent 1st/2nd line minutes would show through, but obviously that would be accounted for lol.

 

[Machinehead]

Can you share the stats behind that? Id really be interested to see. Perhaps he has some clandestine intangibles.

I’m sure the stats will do a proper comparison showing him vs ‘replacement’- otherwise his consistent 1st/2nd line minutes would show through, but obviously that would be accounted for lol.

In relative CF%, which compares on-ice performance versus the team's performance when you're off ice, he's 7th in the whole league. As the chart indicates, his ability to drive shot differential has been elite.

People will point to Panarin, who has helped his goal-scoring ability, no question, but Panarin is actually below him in this category.

His xGF% is a bit less impressive but still rates comfortably at a first line level.

 

[nyr2k2]

Guy looked great again tonight.

I'm not really sure what his ultimate upside is, but he's definitely still improving, which is hugely encouraging. He just looks so much more confident this season; everything just seems much more deliberate and intense. Last season you'd see nice things but they'd be sandwiched by periods where he seemed to have no idea what he was supposed to be doing.

 

[Paper]

So it was a mistrial?

 

[Calad]

So it was a mistrial?

 

[SnowblindNYR]

This thread is an absolute cancer of Rangers haters. If you watched him this season and thought he didn't stand out for a shift you're just a non-objective hater. I know fans don't like the Rangers and it would be great for them for Lafreniere who a lot of fans thought the Rangers shouldn't have been in position to draft to be the worst player ever but your hatred is blinding you. BTW, Machinehead has been one of his biggest critics. When he's saying Lafreniere has been good it's not some Rangers homer saying he's been good. The fact y'all can't admit he's been good is embarrassing for y'all. Grow the f*** up you man children.

 

[Realgud]

He was really good tonight

 

[RedHawkDown]

I hate the rangers a lot but he was fantastic tonight and all over the wings. Apart from Panarin I thought he was the rangers best player

 

[Peltz]

I hate the rangers a lot but he was fantastic tonight and all over the wings. Apart from Panarin I thought he was the rangers best player

Has been our second best forward all season long.

 

[UnSandvich]

He's just fun to watch right now

Has been our second best forward all season long.

And our best forward multiple times

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Honestly Philly is a dump

Don't you live in Montreal

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I hate the rangers a lot but he was fantastic tonight and all over the wings. Apart from Panarin I thought he was the rangers best player

He's been the Rangers second best 5 on 5 forward this season. Panarin hasn't played like he has this season 5 on 5 probably since his first season here. Maybe just maybe it's a mutually beneficial relationship.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Philly actually has some amazing architecture and is a cool city.

Quite true and the architecture has personality; Federal and Georgian style reminded me so much of Beacon Hill and I’m a sucker for anything inspired by Ancient Greece. The opening credits to Trading Places (classic quote movie BTW) sparked my interest and I used to drive there from NYC all the time. History at every turn in the better parts.

As for Lafreniere, you can make the case that he’s one of the Rangers’ three best forwards alongside Panarin and Kreider for the first two months. A bounce here or there and most of his money setups not being converted are all that has kept him from being well above a point a game. I also think he had two primaries taken away for offsides. Phenomenal start to his season and he’s turning doubters into believers on the regular. Just look at this thread lol

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Laffy have never been a play driver, not even in junior, atleast not consistent. His play have always been getting the puck from the puck carrier and then be in the right place and make the right shot or pass to get that scoring chance.

If you truly see the Rangers game this year you have to see the amount of chances he create for his teammates, if only they could have score on those chances Laffy numbers would look much better.

Lafreniere won CHL Player of the Year two years in a row. Only other guy to do that was Crosby. Cedric Pare went from 35 career goals in 192 games to 37 goals simply by centering Lafreniere, who used to run their breakouts and cycles. He was the most dominant player in all of Canadian major junior and won WJC MVP.

 

[Beniersgeron]

Lafreniere won CHL Player of the Year two years in a row. Only other guy to do that was Crosby. Cedric Pare went from 35 career goals in 192 games to 37 goals simply by centering Lafreniere, who used to run their breakouts and cycles. He was the most dominant player in all of Canadian major junior and won WJC MVP.

Yes Im Laffy fan, I got knew all that, but it does not change what I said.

 

[Colezuki]

Don't you live in Montreal

Yeah he does, Montreal is probably one of the most consistently fantastic cities to live in in the world. I’ve lived all over Canada including Montreal, spent time in Europe and the states. Montreal is by far and away one of my favorite places alongside Vancouver.

Philly is a dump,

 

[Taluss]

I'll vouch for Philly. Really enjoyed my time there, saw some really nice areas. Philly gets too much hate, especially from those who haven't even stepped foot there.

As for Laf I'm thrilled with how he's been doing. I was ready to let him go for a 1st... really hope he can continue this production. But even if he slows down its nice to know it's within him to play like this.