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

[Kupo]

had a couple of nice takeaways that lead to scoring chances + scored a goal.

impressed and far from a bust lol

I agree he isn’t a bust, but one game against the Leafs isn’t exactly indicative of anything.

He’s a bust in the sense that he’ll never be that Superstar, which most people feel a 1st overall should be. Or close to it. Expectations are higher because of his draft position, and rightly so. I’m just happy he’s playing well, and contributing on a good team, even when he doesn’t show up on the score board.

That’s the difference with Laf this year. He would go invisible for stretches the previous years. He’s been noticeable most games this season even when he’s statless.

 

[Grifter3511]

We’re happy he’s trending towards being a first line forward and potentially a good first line forward. He could even be a first line forward this season, if he keeps this play up.

Don't be silly. Hfboards deemed him a bust 2 years ago and said he'd be out of the league in no time. So it was written. So it shall come to pass.

 

[Luceni]

I don't think he's a bust. But he clearly wasn't ready for the league the last 3 years. Now he looks to become more and more comfortable and the confidence which he has lost completely might return too.

It's a reminder that guys who dominate junior hockey still need to adjust to the nhl level. Some can do it fast, other prospect need some time and a few won't ever make it.

That being said: I don't think that he will ever dominate the NHL like he did in junior hockey. But he could become a serviceable first liner or a good secondary scoring asset.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

17 points in 30 games in his 4th season, congrats

 

[FDBluth]

I don't think he's a bust. But he clearly wasn't ready for the league the last 3 years. Now he looks to become more and more comfortable and the confidence which he has lost completely might return too.

It's a reminder that guys who dominate junior hockey still need to adjust to the nhl level. Some can do it fast, other prospect need some time and a few won't ever make it.

That being said: I don't think that he will ever dominate the NHL like he did in junior hockey. But he could become a serviceable first liner or a good secondary scoring asset.

The one skill that he has that is above an average NHLer is the ability to catch a puck and shoot it pretty quickly and accurately. But he still just doesn't move his feet at an NHL level. It's not even about being fast, it's just about moving your feet to get to your spots. Until he's able to do that he won't become a legit top six forward.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

He's a bigger/slower Jonathan Drouin. 30/30 is his ceiling

 

[WarriorofTime]

He's a bigger/slower Jonathan Drouin. 30/30 is his ceiling

Drouin is a powerplay only specialist that passes good but is small and weak, I don't see the comparable other than they're French guys who were drafted high and didn't live up to the hype while their fanbase makes a lot of excuses.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't think he's a bust. But he clearly wasn't ready for the league the last 3 years. Now he looks to become more and more comfortable and the confidence which he has lost completely might return too.

It's a reminder that guys who dominate junior hockey still need to adjust to the nhl level. Some can do it fast, other prospect need some time and a few won't ever make it.

That being said: I don't think that he will ever dominate the NHL like he did in junior hockey. But he could become a serviceable first liner or a good secondary scoring asset.

39 points in a season isn’t ready for the NHL?

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Drouin is a powerplay only specialist that passes good but is small and weak, I don't see the comparable other than they're French guys who were drafted high and didn't live up to the hype while their fanbase makes a lot of excuses.

Yeah he's definitely better than Drouin, although he still hasn't been as good as Drouin was during his very short lived peak when he was arguably the lighting best player during an ECF run.

39 points in a season isn’t ready for the NHL?

People don't know what that means. Not ready to be a star doesn't mean not ready to play.

 

[villacco]

Is he a bust?
yeahnah.

He good, no good, good again.
Meanwhile more of his draft peers are looking to overtake him or are already there (Faber, Byfield, Jarvis, Rossi, Perfetti, Peterka, Zary), while some have already been better since their arriving (Stützle, Sanderson, Raymond)
Looks like a borderline Top Ten Pick to me, with potential to be Top 5.

Not sure how to rank this draft, with a recent emergence of some guys

 

[The Real JT]

Very disappointing. Not a bust but probably a middle 6 player at best when it’s all said and done.

He’s a team second worst -6.

Last 8 games he’s -8 with 0 goals and 1 assist 5 v 5.

Oh and he’s playing with Panarin.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Very disappointing. Not a bust but probably a middle 6 player at best when it’s all said and done.

He’s a team second worst -6.

Last 8 games he’s -8 with 0 goals and 1 assist 5 v 5.

Oh and he’s playing with Panarin.

So, the previous like 10 was just a little spike ?

 

[The Real JT]

Very disappointing. Not a bust but probably a middle 6 player at best when it’s all said and done.

He’s a team second worst -6.

Last 8 games he’s -8 with 0 goals and 1 assist 5 v 5.

Oh and he’s playing with Panarin.

So, the previous like 10 was just a little spike ?

Since you asked: The previous 10 games were a bit better. 3 goals and 3 assists yet another -3.

He’s not terrible but people need to get over him. He’s not that good.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

When even Panarin can't make you produce on a consistent basis...

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

When even Panarin can't make you produce on a consistent basis...

6 points in his last 6 games.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

Looks like he's on pace for about 50pts, which is top 6 production but not exactly what you'd expect for a 1st overall pick.

 

[Coffey]

Very disappointing. Not a bust but probably a middle 6 player at best when it’s all said and done.

He’s a team second worst -6.

Last 8 games he’s -8 with 0 goals and 1 assist 5 v 5.

Oh and he’s playing with Panarin.

Still better than Huberdeau.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

6 points in his last 6 games.

I hope you won't disappear, when he goes MIA for the next 6 games.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

When 6 points in 6 games is looked upon as a good streak by a first overall pick in his 4th season... you know he's a bust.

 

[Channelcat]

He's a pretty decent NHLer. I'd take him on my team any day.

 

[HabbyGuy]

I hate threads like this, who cares if he was drafted 1st overall or 15th. He's a legit NHL'er and still has room to grow. He is not a bust, if he was he wouldn't even be serviceable. Everyone and their mother would would have drafted Laf with the 1st pick, it is what it is.

I'd gladly take him on my team.

 

[TGWL]

When 6 points in 6 games is looked upon as a good streak by a first overall pick in his 4th season... you know he's a bust.

When fans use the word bust to describe any long or sample ppg metric, you know they're clueless. He's not Matthews. He'll 99.9% never put up close to 100 point season. If those are your terms for bust or not when it comes to any player, drafted 1st overall or not, then you should reevaluate your term.

We're 4 years in. Our expectations are no longer world class super star. Our expectations are not franchise player you build around. What we want we out of him is being a legit top 6 player. So you can go call that a bust.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

When fans use the word bust to describe any long or sample ppg metric, you know they're clueless. He's not Matthews. He'll 99.9% never put up close to 100 point season. If those are your terms for bust or not when it comes to any player, drafted 1st overall or not, then you should reevaluate your term.

We're 4 years in. Our expectations are no longer world class super star. Our expectations are not franchise player you build around. What we want we out of him is being a legit top 6 player. So you can go call that a bust.

Alexis won b2b Chl player of the year awards( only crosby has done that) he was touted as a franchise player. Becoming only a second liner is absolutely bust territory. Even Daigle was able to muster up a couple decent seasons. It seems he may score 60 points this year so if he can continue that he can play in the league but he has not come anywhere close to what was expected. The definition of a bust.

 

[TGWL]

Alexis won b2b Chl player of the year awards( only crosby has done that) he was touted as a franchise player. Becoming only a second line winger is absolutely bust territory. Even Daigle was able to muster up a couple decent seasons. It seems he may score 60 points this year so if he can continue that he can play in the league but he has not come anywhere close to what was expected. The definition of a bust.

Cool, story? But that's your definition of a bust. If playing in the league means you need to keep around a 60 point pace, I don't even know how to respond to that. You can call him a very bad 1st overall pick. You can call him a disappointment to the hype, projection, and drafted status. Those are much different than bust.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Cool, story? But that's your definition of a bust. If playing in the league means you need to keep around a 60 point pace, I don't even know how to respond to that. You can call him a very bad 1st overall pick. You can call him a disappointment to the hype, projection, and drafted status. Those are much different than bust.

You think a highly not just a first overall pick but a highly touted one failing to score 60 points isn't a bust? If he never scores over 60 he should maybe look to play overseas. The guy was not drafted to be putting up third line numbers.