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

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

He always scores against Buffalo leading to misguided hope.

 

[Voight]

I still don't think so. He's played LW his entire career, on the Rangers he's stuck behind Bread and Kreider, that won't change because they're both there long term. This year is really the first time he's ever had a chance at a top 6 role and it's on his off-side, that's not an easy shift to make, especially at the NHL level for a 22 year old kid.

Yes this is a lot of time spent making excuses, but like.. what else is he supposed to do. Some ppl are saying that he should be outplaying Panarin or Kreider as a 19-22 year old... please.

I think of Laf as a 1st overall pick who's gotten late first round opportunity. Given the situation his development hasn't been unexpectedly terrible, it's just been a really bad situation for him. More importantly, no easy solution because the Rangers are / have been win-now, they're not going to give reps to some kid just so they can be a worse team with Panarin or Kreider out of their top six.

***

All that to say, 100% agree that a trade clearly would make sense. I'd take him on the coyotes in half a second, stick him with one of your top development centers (in this case, Cooley) for at least 10-15 games and see what Laf can do with actual opportunity on his preferred side. Pretty sure every rebuilding team would do the same thing wrt Laf's development

Kreider is nothing special and a 50 point forward (minus one career year). If Laf was worth the hype then he should've easily been able to. play above him in the lineup.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

Carcone in less time than it took to write this post. Done.

In all seriousness I'd give you a good but not elite prospect for him, like a deal based around someone like Conor Geekie (who I think is an inarguably better asset than Carcone, but if you want Carcone then have at him). Do you think that would actually be enough to get something done?

wait - not maccelli? you said you would hook up 13 with cooley. even over zucker? if that's the case you would deal maccelli even up without having to mention others? as far as carcone is concerned i'm in a huge minority group in thinking that i'd rather have him than 13.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Should've just traded the pick I guess.

I still feel like Vancouver is going to offer some ridiculous package for him and regret it instantly like we do with pretty much all of our trades.

PA "Brock, we've traded you to the Rangers, you've gotten your wish, best of luck to you"
BB - "Wait, I rescinded my trade request, I like the direction the team is heading in n...."
PA "Brock, we've traded you to the Rangers. Best of luck"

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Sometimes you just have to be lucky to NOT win the lottery and have to pick another player.

He was the clear # 1.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

It's been said by the smarter posters on HF since Laf's second season: whatever potential Lafrenière had, the Rangers were not going to get it out of him and were better off trading him while his value was still high.

The more time passes, the less of a valuable reclamation project he is and the less likely that the Rangers will get good value for him.

It's inevitable that he will end up elsewhere, so you gotta wonder what's the point for the Rangers in waiting pointlessly and wasting all the value of the 1st overall gloss?

 

[leeroggy]

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

40 PIMs and 40 Giveaways is more likely

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

Kreider is nothing special and a 50 point forward (minus one career year). If Laf was worth the hype then he should've easily been able to. play above him in the lineup.

if 13 and kaako were close to being what he was projected to be then the deals for copp, vatrano and tank wouldn't have been necessary. i wished those were still on the team.

 

[AndreRoy]

You wonder if he had been sent back to work on things and continue his growth instead of buried on a roaster trying to win now and being punished for mistakes and killing all confidence if he could be a player.

The Lightning tried to do that with Drouin and we all saw how that turned out. Not that Laf would necessarily have responded the same way, but sometimes a bust is just a bust no matter what the team does with him.

 

[SimpleJack]

What an epic bust this guy turned out to be.

If he and Kakko would have reached their potential(like they should have based on the hype and expectations) then the NYR would be an absolute powerhouse with a loaded top 6 full of firepower. Instead their combined ineptitude has held back the team from becoming the Cup contender that many expected. They peaked in the 2022 playoffs.

 

[LokiDog]

Are they waiting until he's 27 to move him?

#FreeLafreniere

Plot twist: he is 27 and that’s why he sucks. He was dominating 16 & 17 year old kids at a 23 year old with a full beard in juniors, pretending he was 17 himself. Now he’s already earned a few millions in the NHL, the con worked, he’s just happy to be here.

 

[Sky04]

Now do Joe Thornton
First 3 seasons
213 games played, 42 goals, 66 assists, 108 points

In a significantly harder era to score, the 2020's are a joke for scoring and Laf is producing worse than DPE numbers, dude would barely have 15 points a season if even had he played in Thornton's spot.

 

[Oneiro]

One player not developing is whatever. Two is I guess misfortune.

But 4-5-6? I’m not writing Laf off yet but a Rangers fan should really question what the development process is.

 

[Guttersniped]

Im curious, did you ignore the GP? Regardless, he hasn't been great. I agree. Not sure he is worst of those as he brings more than, for example, Nail did when not having the puck.

Also when adjusting for GP it seems as though he is better than a few of these "busts" so far.

Now do Joe Thornton
First 3 seasons
213 games played, 42 goals, 66 assists, 108 points

Here ya go.

Most of these players have more PP production than Lafrenière obviously, which helps.

Spoiler: All the players first 3 seasons

Regular Season

Playoffs

Spoiler: All the players first 4 seasons

Regular Season

Playoffs

 

[DanielBrassard]

This is just a lesson for NYR. Leave development to the farm teams like Buffalo. Let us draft the young stars and develop them. Then after a couple years of continued failure you can just trade us for them.

We tried that and you guys sent Eichel to Vegas. Why'd you have to do us like that bro.

 

[Guttersniped]

?

View attachment 755210

Stefen was a major disappointment but his career was cut short by injuries. He retired from hockey at age 27.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Are they waiting until he's 27 to move him?

#FreeLafreniere

Can’t risk “losing” a trade.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

This is what Uncle Gary gets for meddling.

Glad Detroit ended up with Lucas Raymond.

 

[BostonBruins11]

He's like a less offensively talented Winger version of Charlie Coyle. I could see him grow his game to a 40-50 pts player, top end 3rd liner or complementary 2nd liner.

How's his 2-way game though?

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Sometimes you just have to be lucky to NOT win the lottery and have to pick another player.

He was the clear # 1.

100% this.

If a team says they had some other guy on their board as #1, they're full of shit. I think Ottawa tried to claim Stutzle was their number one guy, again crock of shit.

I'm sure another organization who coulve given him a bigger role and perhaps is better at 'developmen't than the Rangers mightve been (be) able to make him a 45 point player instead of a 30-35 point player, but the biggest part is that the player is just not good. He wouldn't have come close to as advertised no matter what team/situation he was drafted into.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He's already on his 3rd NHL coach...how is this an excuse?

Isn't that kind of the problem?

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

He is far from that bad. To be honest he is better than at least half the league.

Half a league not first overall.

 

[PainForShane]

wait - not maccelli? you said you would hook up 13 with cooley. even over zucker? if that's the case you would deal maccelli even up without having to mention others? as far as carcone is concerned i'm in a huge minority group in thinking that i'd rather have him than 13.

No, not Maccelli. Macc is a weird case because he came out of nowhere and has shown flashes of elite vision combined with above average passing, I don't think any Zona fan would be surprised if Macc were able to get to an assist heavy 60 points every year even playing with plugs in the middle six. And if he starts shooting maybe he gets to 20g and almost PPG, who knows.

Just as possible last year was a fluke. But he's earned the opportunity he's gotten, and at this point I think we'd want to see what Maccelli actually is. And ideally just keep the guy as a complementary offensive producer.

**

Regarding Zucker, yeah I'd prefer to give Laf reps with Cooley instead, Zucker's a 31 year old winger on a one-year deal, not entirely sure he is or should be part of our core going forward. And it's not like we're trying to win now anyway so who cares if we're 10-15 points out of the playoffs or 20 points, it's essentially the same thing.

Either way, something like a good prospect plus a little bit is what I think Zona would part with. Carcone easily, imo Maccelli is a bit much at this stage of both their careers

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

depends on the winger. Not even close to reasonable to expect a 22yo to be able to switch sides without some initial period of adjustment

A few practices is usually enough.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

No, not Maccelli. Macc is a weird case because he came out of nowhere and has shown flashes of elite vision combined with above average passing, I don't think any Zona fan would be surprised if Macc were able to get to an assist heavy 60 points every year even playing with plugs in the middle six. And if he starts shooting maybe he gets to 20g and almost PPG, who knows.

Just as possible last year was a fluke. But he's earned the opportunity he's gotten, and at this point I think we'd want to see what Maccelli actually is. And ideally just keep the guy as a complementary offensive producer.

**

Regarding Zucker, yeah I'd prefer to give Laf reps with Cooley instead, Zucker's a 31 year old winger on a one-year deal, not entirely sure he is or should be part of our core going forward. And it's not like we're trying to win now anyway so who cares if we're 10-15 points out of the playoffs or 20 points, it's essentially the same thing.

Either way, something like a good prospect plus a little bit is what I think Zona would part with. Carcone easily, imo Maccelli is a bit much at this stage of both their careers

ehh heh - hey don't fault me - i took a shot