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

[WarriorofTime]

Detroit, or anyone else who won the 1st pick wouldve taken Lafreniere.

True, but the real miracle was getting 3rd as it turned out

 

[JD1]

Lol it feels like just yesterday that Rangers fans were telling Sens fans that it would cost the #3 + #5 + something else for that 1st overall pick....

Something else was Tkachuk

 

[WarriorofTime]

Drouin was an egotistical punk with zero work ethic and a massive sense of entitlement long before his so-called “personal issues” became the go-to excuse for his failures. He didn’t want to listen to his coaches in Tampa, and then decided he was too special to be sent back to Syracuse to work on his game there so he threw a hissy fit and refused to report. Mental health issues didn’t cause that - character issues did.

It's Montreal fans baby-ing Drouin, even still to this day. Many refused to admit for years and years that they got taken to the cleaners by Tampa Bay in the trade, coming up with excuse after excuse for Mr. Powerplay Dependent Career High 35 assists and not much else, Drouin.

With all the Quebecois ultra-nationalists, I guess you can sort of feel for them that the the two most hyped Francophone forward prospects in a ten year span were both massive disappointments.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Lawton's (who?) are almost the same. He won't catch Daigle, his brightest glimmer of hope is maybe (slightly) surpassing Yakupov.

Not trying to be more of a downer. But it's actually worse than it looks. Yakupov had a lockout shortened season in there.

 

[Bubbles]

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.

I had to search the entire thread to get someone who thinks the same way. You have to at least try to put a guy in a position to succeed before writing them off. Only this year have the Rangers actually given him a top job.

 

[13th Floor]

I had to search the entire thread to get someone who thinks the same way. You have to at least try to put a guy in a position to succeed before writing them off. Only this year have the Rangers actually given him a top job.

The flip side is also true. All the rest of the number 1s usually have to go to a tire fire of a franchise that got ran over all season where they have to be the top guy, be the top scorer, face the top competition, and be looked at to save the franchise.

For every argument that Laf "wasn't given a chance because Panarin and Krieder were in front of him", there's 5 arguments that he was gifted the most cupcake transition on an actual good team that was gifted a first round pick they didn't deserve. We hear all the time of guys on practice squads, tryouts, AHL tweeners play their way onto a lineup and make the most of their opportunity. This dude can't hack it against 3rd pairing defenseman and looks lost most of the time? And we're blaming his opportunity? Maybe he just sucks.

 

[Profet]

I had to search the entire thread to get someone who thinks the same way. You have to at least try to put a guy in a position to succeed before writing them off. Only this year have the Rangers actually given him a top job.

Tell me you haven't watched Laf play in the NHL without telling me you haven't watched Laf play in the NHL.

 

[Bubbles]

The flip side is also true. All the rest of the number 1s usually have to go to a tire fire of a franchise that got ran over all season where they have to be the top guy, be the top scorer, face the top competition, and be looked at to save the franchise.

For every argument that Laf "wasn't given a chance because Panarin and Krieder were in front of him", there's 5 arguments that he was gifted the most cupcake transition on an actual good team that was gifted a first round pick they didn't deserve. We hear all the time of guys on practice squads, tryouts, AHL tweeners play their way onto a lineup and make the most of their opportunity. This dude can't hack it against 3rd pairing defenseman and looks lost most of the time? And we're blaming his opportunity? Maybe he just sucks.

So you expect him to have a lot of points and yet be given 3rd line minutes and maybe 20 seconds of the power play? This is a guy that has never seen 3rd/4th line minutes since Timbits hockey. Some players have a hard time adjusting to the lack of icetime. At least give him a season with top 6 minutes and see how it goes.

 

[TGWL]

I had to search the entire thread to get someone who thinks the same way. You have to at least try to put a guy in a position to succeed before writing them off. Only this year have the Rangers actually given him a top job.

That's inaccurate. This organization has tried to bend over for this player and get him in an opportunity to see if he can do something. He got demoted from being in the top 6 because he stunk. He got demoted from the right side because he stunk. Now we're on another coach, again. They're trying him on the right side, again. In the top 6, again. We'll see if it last but this falls on him to make something happen.

He doesn't pk. He's lousy at defense. He's coasting on the ice. It's great that he scores even strength points, but if you're not valuable in those other areas you better be at least creating plays, driving some offense, forcing turnovers, something... Fans often say he's got no confidence because he's scared to make a mistake and get benched. He's making 10+ mistakes a game. His leash isn't as short at you think.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

Drouin was an egotistical punk with zero work ethic and a massive sense of entitlement long before his so-called “personal issues” became the go-to excuse for his failures. He didn’t want to listen to his coaches in Tampa, and then decided he was too special to be sent back to Syracuse to work on his game there so he threw a hissy fit and refused to report. Mental health issues didn’t cause that - character issues did.

Many of these kids grow up coddled because they have a special talent. They never even consider work ethic.

 

[Profet]

So you expect him to have a lot of points and yet be given 3rd line minutes and maybe 20 seconds of the power play? This is a guy that has never seen 3rd/4th line minutes since Timbits hockey. Some players have a hard time adjusting to the lack of icetime. At least give him a season with top 6 minutes and see how it goes.

No no... points are great...

But we expect him to compete. Game 1 of this season he did that. I can count on one hand the number of games in his career when he has actually competed on the ice.

THAT is the problem.

He is just "a guy" and will never ever... ever.. be "the guy"

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

Tell me you haven't watched Laf play in the NHL without telling me you haven't watched Laf play in the NHL.

Please let this trope end.

 

[ElLeetch]

"complete"? Even in re-drafts he still is top-10.

he just turned 22, and is already a 0.5 PPG. how many NHLers are doing that?

 

[MrHeiskanen]

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.

What player as Buffalo developed? Team is ass.

 

[Profet]

"complete"? Even in re-drafts he still is top-10.

he just turned 22, and is already a 0.5 PPG. how many NHLers are doing that?

From your lips to to the ears of every GM when he finally goes on the trade market.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

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.

Unless he scores 60 points over the next 40 games, he ain't catching Daigle....

 

[JianYang]

It's Montreal fans baby-ing Drouin, even still to this day. Many refused to admit for years and years that they got taken to the cleaners by Tampa Bay in the trade, coming up with excuse after excuse for Mr. Powerplay Dependent Career High 35 assists and not much else, Drouin.

With all the Quebecois ultra-nationalists, I guess you can sort of feel for them that the the two most hyped Francophone forward prospects in a ten year span were both massive disappointments.

This post is made in some alternate universe if it is intended to represent the majority. The only time where drouin got more sympathy than not was when he came out with his mental health struggles.

 

[OilersFanatics505]

Not trying to be more of a downer. But it's actually worse than it looks. Yakupov had a lockout shortened season in there.

Were still talking about comparing them to games played, which the lockout doesnt affect.

 

[Sypher04]

This thread feels a tad over the top.

MacKinnon 4th season:
20 mins per night
227 pp mins, 1st unit (14 ppp)
53 points in 82gp

Lafreniere 3rd season:
15 mins per night
111 pp mins, 2nd unit (4 ppp)
39 points in 81gp

The Avs were not good, but even at year 4 Mac was being fed big minutes and prime opportunities and really didn’t have much more than Lafreniere to show for it.
I am most definitely not saying Lafreniere is going to be MacKinnon. People will rightly point out over similar number of games first 3 years Mac had like 60 more points.

My only point here is it’s very much still too early to declare Lafreniere officially a bust.

I do think the kid needs a trade though. Being drafted by an already good team is great in theory, but Lafreniere should have gone to a bottom feeder, where he’d play big minutes and develop as they build around him in their core.

His development has been hindered by the draft lottery

 

[WarriorofTime]

Where he stands amongst other players in the draft in terms of career production doesn’t matter. He was the first pick and the most nhl ready player (best junior). He’s already run through his elc and now he’s on a bridge deal to try and prove he just took a bit longer to become a franchise player but can still be that guy. If not he will be judged in accordance with whatever he is by that point there and then when it’s time for a new contract.

 

[Profet]

MacKinnon 4th season:
20 mins per night
227 pp mins, 1st unit (14 ppp)
53 points in 82gp

Lafreniere 3rd season:
15 mins per night
111 pp mins, 2nd unit (4 ppp)
39 points in 81gp

The Avs were not good, but even at year 4 Mac was being fed big minutes and prime opportunities and really didn’t have much more than Lafreniere to show for it.
I am most definitely not saying Lafreniere is going to be MacKinnon. People will rightly point out over similar number of games first 3 years Mac had like 60 more points.

My only point here is it’s very much still too early to declare Lafreniere officially a bust.

I do think the kid needs a trade though. Being drafted by an already good team is great in theory, but Lafreniere should have gone to a bottom feeder, where he’d play big minutes as they build.

His development has been hindered by the draft lottery

Again... this is an example of people who don't watch Laf play.

When MacKinnon played, you could tell there was something special there. He had flashes of talent. He had his speed. He didn't put it together right away, but the components were there.

Laf is not that. Laf's point totals are the direct result of his line mates getting better.

He has no drive, he has no motor, he has no will to be great.

He isn't fast, he doesn't attempt 1 on 1 maneuvers, he doesn't do anything noteworthy.

 

[Sypher04]

Again... this is an example of people who don't watch Laf play.

When MacKinnon played, you could tell there was something special there. He had flashes of talent. He had his speed. He didn't put it together right away, but the components were there.

Laf is not that. Laf's point totals are the direct result of his line mates getting better.

He has no drive, he has no motor, he has no will to be great.

He isn't fast, he doesn't attempt 1 on 1 maneuvers, he doesn't do anything noteworthy.

I’ve watched him play plenty thanks.

I agree with some of what you said, but not all of it. I firmly believe a number one overall pick needs to be allowed to flourish and put in the position to succeed, become a prominent part of the team. I think the Rangers have done a poor job of this and have stifled his game and it’s reflected in his play. This isn’t entirely the rangers fault, as the team views themselves as in contention now and will understandably lean toward their established veteran core instead.

 

[Waterbuf]

Mr. Zero.
The amount of times his stat line is just zeroes across the board is crazy.
He sucks.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s been pretty good to start this year. He should have another few points. He was a beast the first game of the season, and good since.

Schneider and Miller have been the ones who’ve been abysmal this season.

He’s going to continue to set career highs, like he has every season of his career so far. He’s never gotten a full look in the top six or with PP1 time. He’ll be a 70-90 point player eventually, and there will be a lot of people admitting they overreacted.

 

[Profet]

I’ve watched him play plenty thanks.

I agree with some of what you said, but not all of it. I firmly believe a number one overall pick needs to be allowed to flourish and put in the position to succeed. I think the Rangers have done a poor job of this and have stifled his game and it’s reflected in his play.

If you can honestly tell me with a straight face that when you watch him play you think he deserves more ice time... Go you.

I don't see it, coaches don't see it.