Though I'm not a Rangers fan, I have followed Alexis Lafreniere since his days in junior and always felt he had the potential to be an elite player. I'm not talking about franchise caliber, but a good first line left wing who can carry his line like Taylor Hall or Matthew Tkachuk. After he got drafted, I have been more interested in the Rangers and I try to tune into their games whenever I can. However, I have to admit, I haven't seen much that suggests he'll be an NHL caliber player.
Last season, it was understandable to cut him some slack as he didn't play in a year and had to play under David Quinn who wasn't a very tactical coach in terms of attacking systems, he mostly relied on established individual players to facilitate plays through anticipation. However, he is gone and the Rangers brought in Gallant, a coach with pedigree and ability to develop situations suitable for elite talents. Yet it still hasn't gone well, Lafreniere has 4 points through 13 games and the Rangers have just been a very bad 5v5 overall.
My biggest takeaway from watching Lafreniere this season is that he is scared to hold onto the puck and carry it in hopes of facilitating a play with his skillset. Every time he receives it, he defers it right away to a teammate or chips it into the corner for them to chase. Although he has never been a flashy or elusive player even in junior, he has always been known for his ability to carry out plays in tight spaces at the right time and that's just not something we're seeing enough in the NHL. Based on the way that he's playing and the linemates Gallant is putting him with, it seems like they are trying to develop him into a grinder or enforcer rather than a power forward with playmaking abilities. Like he's doing the work physically but they don't seem to believe in his attacking talents and are trying to transform him into someone he's not familiar with.
Although I am not a fan of using advanced analytics to measure a player but I have to admit that there is still hope for Lafreniere despite the poor situation that he's in. He's second amongst Rangers forwards in on ice xGoal share. His individual shooting and chance creation numbers are in the same range as a number of highly rated playmaking wingers:
At this point, it's not even about the linemates that he's playing with or the amount of ice time that he's getting. It really comes down to the style they want him to play, and if they want him to fulfill his potential, they have to allow him to express himself more freely with the puck. Let him try to carry the puck more and give him the opportunity to control the play for his teammates using his instinct. There will be successes and failures, but that's how a player grows, you have to allow him make mistakes. I'd try to give him an extended with Chytil or try to acquire another offensive center like Strome of CHI. If the Rangers don't have belief in Lafreniere's abilities, then it's time to explore trading him for a prospect whom they have a better chance at developing.
I’m not too concerned about Kakko. He’s like most of the top NYR players, they’re just playing really badly at 5v5 to start the season. It’s a coaching issue. He has looked good in the past.
I would worry far less about Laf than about Kakko.
Kakko seems to struggle with speed of game.
When we play against Rangers, Laf appears to be more a threat...and attracts more defensive attention.
Players need to walk before they can run. I'm not sure how he's bein used incorrectly when those underlying numbers are on par with top end players. Coaches need to put players in a position to succeed and the number say that is exactly what's happening.
He went from being the best player on the ice every night for probably most of his life to playing against men who have played in the NHL for years. Dump and chase, then fight for the puck along the wall, is a skill that he needs to learn to go far in the NHL. He can't just be better than everyone else and good things happen.
Develop the basic NHL game skills then add to that once he's mastered those. Then the game starts to slow down and the skill game will start to come out naturally. He already looks like he's in over his head at the NHL level on the lower lines. Putting him on the top line against the top shutdown lines and d-pairs every shift is just setting him up for failure.
Top draft picks in every league get wakeup calls once they hit the pros and have to actually work hard and actually have to learn the intricacies of the game. Look at the coaching ranks in any sport. Successful coaches aren't the top players, they are the fringe/role players that had to work on every aspect of the game to try and make it in the pros.
They have played more games than everyone else. Last night when I looked it was NYR with 13 games played and the rest of the Division all had 10 games (WSH had 12) played.
3 games doesn't seem like much, but at this early point in the year that's 30% more games. NYR's P% was 4th or 5th (IIRC) though.
I think they are right for making Lafreniere improve his checking skills cuz he does have the talent in that regard but they shouldn't neglect the offensive skills either.
The Montreal Canadiens technique of drafting players for their skills and then trying to develop them into "responsible 2-way players"? Usually accompanied by limited minutes in bottom 6 duties?
That seems to be an issue with a lot of young players nowadays. Defensive performance is really important but that comes with time.
I would worry far less about Laf than about Kakko.
Kakko seems to struggle with speed of game.
When we play against Rangers, Laf appears to be more a threat...and attracts more defensive attention.
Thanks for the insight. Kakko's analytics were really good last season, so I'm not too concerned with him. Lafreniere has the talent and the hockey sense but not the opportunity to execute it.
Players need to walk before they can run. I'm not sure how he's bein used incorrectly when those underlying numbers are on par with top end players. Coaches need to put players in a position to succeed and the number say that is exactly what's happening.
He went from being the best player on the ice every night for probably most of his life to playing against men who have played in the NHL for years. Dump and chase, then fight for the puck along the wall, is a skill that he needs to learn to go far in the NHL. He can't just be better than everyone else and good things happen.
Develop the basic NHL game skills then add to that once he's mastered those. Then the game starts to slow down and the skill game will start to come out naturally. He already looks like he's in over his head at the NHL level on the lower lines. Putting him on the top line against the top shutdown lines and d-pairs every shift is just setting him up for failure.
Top draft picks in every league get wakeup calls once they hit the pros and have to actually work hard and actually have to learn the intricacies of the game. Look at the coaching ranks in any sport. Successful coaches aren't the top players, they are the fringe/role players that had to work on every aspect of the game to try and make it in the pros.
I don't disagree with what you said, but I think Lafreniere has worked hard. He has forechecked, he is playing physical. I think he has earned the nod to play more loosely with the puck and his results would be even better than the players above him.
McCabe is just starting to find his legs again after missing a year, Strome hopefully can get a new lease on life in the organisation with King in charge and that can either spike his value or prove he needs to be moved.
I wouldn't agree to this move at this point in time.
Thanks for the feedback. CHI is still playing Strome on that fourth line with AHLer caliber talents. Although he has become a better defensive player and puck retriever, he’s not going to produce more points in a situation like this.
zib and panarin are struggling too because the rangers used to play a very good transition game and now they rely a lot on dump and chase, which IMO does not suit this team well. thats not how gorton built the team to be.
Thanks for the feedback. CHI is still playing Strome on that fourth line with AHLer caliber talents. Although he has become a better defensive player and puck retriever, he’s not going to produce more points in a situation like this.
Last 2 games, Strome has played 3rd line. Our 4th line does need some attention but we are also down a couple of good young players in Hagel and Entwistle who have been quite good on a poor team. TJ and Borgstrom also been out with C19 protocol.
Last 2 games, Strome has played 3rd line. Our 4th line does need some attention but we are also down a couple of good young players in Hagel and Entwistle who have been quite good on a poor team. TJ and Borgstrom also been out with C19 protocol.
Yeah I don't see the Strome situation working out for CHI unless he plays with Hagel & Kurashev.
Players need to walk before they can run. I'm not sure how he's bein used incorrectly when those underlying numbers are on par with top end players. Coaches need to put players in a position to succeed and the number say that is exactly what's happening.
He went from being the best player on the ice every night for probably most of his life to playing against men who have played in the NHL for years. Dump and chase, then fight for the puck along the wall, is a skill that he needs to learn to go far in the NHL. He can't just be better than everyone else and good things happen.
Develop the basic NHL game skills then add to that once he's mastered those. Then the game starts to slow down and the skill game will start to come out naturally. He already looks like he's in over his head at the NHL level on the lower lines. Putting him on the top line against the top shutdown lines and d-pairs every shift is just setting him up for failure.
Top draft picks in every league get wakeup calls once they hit the pros and have to actually work hard and actually have to learn the intricacies of the game. Look at the coaching ranks in any sport. Successful coaches aren't the top players, they are the fringe/role players that had to work on every aspect of the game to try and make it in the pros.
There's a balance between being given the opportunity to use your skills and acquiring/refining your other skills.
A naturally gifted shooter has a tool which can be used immediately. Putting them in a position where they can't use their existing skills (the ones you drafted them for), isn't good development.
Wanting certain basic standards is understandable, but moot if they aren't learning to incorporate those other skills with what they already possess.