The numbers don't lie.
McDavids Junior numbers. 66, 99, 120.
Lafrenière Junior numbers. 80, 105, current season.
I know, roll excuses here. ................
It's hard to argue with someone who over values a guy who should probably be playing wing anyway because he can't win a faceoff worth shizzzz.
It's really easy to say, oh no he's no where as good as McDavid when all signs point to, yeah he is.
Don't get me wrong, Lafrenière not going to break any Crosby records in the CHL or be him in the NHL,, but no one has not even McDavid because frankly even McDavid isn't a generational player on the Crosby level and never will be. Don't even bother arguing it, it's not even close. Crosby is 32 and still capable of carrying people on his wing like he's done his whole career. McDavid still can't carry people on his wing. If only Crosby would have stayed healthy in his career you'd be able to look at the numbers and see it.
So lets not pretend it's not a good idea to bring in someone 5 years younger, Especially on a team that is wasting his best years. On a player who is most likely going to dart when that contract is over because he's frustrated in Edmonton..
You got 6 years left after this wasted season. How many more will be wasted on a team not capable of winning. Is this team turned around next year.....probably not. Down to 5. What about the year after that? At what point does he demand a trade as it's hopeless there and you get even less?
So yeah, it's a smart move to restart the clock on a really good young player. Give yourself 9 years with him. And possibly actually be able to build a team around him before he leaves. Since they failed to do that with McDavid. Because by the time they turn this team around with McDavid, you are looking at a player getting older, slower, and his whole game relies on his speed. In a league that is doing nothing but getting faster.