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Anyone Concerned About Lafreniere

Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:01 p.m.
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So far, it has not been a good start to Alexis Lafreniere's career. No points in 6 games plus his play driving numbers have been brutal. He actually got off to a great start as his expected goals per 60 ranked in the 68th percentile while his expected goals against per 60 ranked in the 76th percentile. However, over the last 3 games, that has gone down significantly. He is now ranks 15th on his team in expected goals % and 11th in individual expected goals per 60.

Having watched his 2 games against the Penguins, I noticed that he is smart enough to get into the right places to take a chance, but his skill is not good enough to achieve results at the top level yet. He has the tendency to mishandle the puck or whiff on his shot.

I'm not going to consider him a bust just yet but it's been disappointing since he was hyped by fans and analysts as one of the most well-rounded forward prospects of the salary cap era. I think he needs to be stapled onto a line with Chytil or Blackwell for a consistent amount of time. Let him get comfortable against weaker competition while playing alongside a strong play driver. He needs more time to adjust to the skill level of the NHL.
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Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:01 p.m.
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What are your thoughts on Alexis' struggles so far?
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Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:03 p.m.
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Quoting: Penguins_Legend_Sheary
What are your thoughts on Alexis' struggles so far?


Happy because if Laf was good rangers would be in the playoff race lol
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:03 p.m.
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Quoting: Penguins_Legend_Sheary
What are your thoughts on Alexis' struggles so far?


He most likely would've been sent to junior by now if it was actually having a season
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:04 p.m.
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Quoting: Penguins_Legend_Sheary
What are your thoughts on Alexis' struggles so far?


Not worried, NYR is struggling as a whole. IMO it's poor coaching
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:04 p.m.
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He's a rookie, the vast vast majority don't even start in the NHL. And he's on a subpar team, which isn't going to help him out. He'll be fine.

And as a general note, you'll drive yourself crazy judging expected goals numbers on a 2 and 3 game sample. The sample size just isn't there to get good data.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:05 p.m.
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25th coming up
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Remember how the comparison with Lafreniere was Huberdeau and Rantanen. People thought Huberdeau was a flop at first and it took a couple years for Rantanen's arrival (and current growth).

He probably just needs more size and strength for him to keep up to his style of play, he dominated juniors with his physique and strength over others -- the IQ is not in question, points will come
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:06 p.m.
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Kid's 19 years old. Give him a break. Everyone wrote off Jack Hughes last year and now he's tearing it up on the Devils.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:06 p.m.
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Quoting: Penguins_Legend_Sheary
What are your thoughts on Alexis' struggles so far?


You drop a 19 year old on a rebuilding team.

Junior would have done nothing for him. True. But there is something to be said about spending time in Hartford if they were playing.

The Rangers are thus stuck. No choices. He plays through it, or he sits - which would be brutal assets management.

Victim of circumstances I say.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:07 p.m.
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Laf hasnt played in a while plus no training camp...this has to do with a lot of it
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:12 p.m.
#11
Go leafs go
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Quoting: Penguins_Legend_Sheary
What are your thoughts on Alexis' struggles so far?


Not a rangers fan but not worried in the slightest. This is normal for a first overall pick.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:14 p.m.
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He looks like a 19-year old rookie six games into his career. Be patient.

Just because Lias and Kravtsov busted, doesn't mean Laf will.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 4:50 p.m.
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torontos finest
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People are forgetting that there wasn't a pre-season. Normally he would've had four to six games to get his bearings.

First few games haven't been great, but his analytics aren't atrocious (his relative stats look terrible but being on the ice for 2 GF and 5 GA gives you a -31 GF Rel so maybe don't look at that just year), and the team is all over the place to start the season. I'm sure he'll pull together a decent stat line soon.

And no, he's not being traded to the Penguins.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 7:07 p.m.
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Quoting: A_Habs_fan
He most likely would've been sent to junior by now if it was actually having a season


Quoting: swinny
You drop a 19 year old on a rebuilding team.

Junior would have done nothing for him. True. But there is something to be said about spending time in Hartford if they were playing.

The Rangers are thus stuck. No choices. He plays through it, or he sits - which would be brutal assets management.

Victim of circumstances I say.


Yeah in hindsight it’s hard to understand why Laf didn’t go play in Europe or the NCAA during his draft year. It probably would’ve helped him prepare for the tough competition & at least given him the chance to play in the AHL right away.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 7:09 p.m.
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Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
Not worried, NYR is struggling as a whole. IMO it's poor coaching


Yeah thats true. Player usage hasn’t been the best with all his d-zone starts and playing his off wing.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 7:11 p.m.
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Quoting: Jetman
Laf hasnt played in a while plus no training camp...this has to do with a lot of it


Quoting: mondo
People are forgetting that there wasn't a pre-season. Normally he would've had four to six games to get his bearings.

First few games haven't been great, but his analytics aren't atrocious (his relative stats look terrible but being on the ice for 2 GF and 5 GA gives you a -31 GF Rel so maybe don't look at that just year), and the team is all over the place to start the season. I'm sure he'll pull together a decent stat line soon.

And no, he's not being traded to the Penguins.


That’s true, if there was preseason & he didn’t look good, he would probably get sent back down or loaned to Europe.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 7:14 p.m.
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Quoting: Jo_Habs77
Remember how the comparison with Lafreniere was Huberdeau and Rantanen. People thought Huberdeau was a flop at first and it took a couple years for Rantanen's arrival (and current growth).

He probably just needs more size and strength for him to keep up to his style of play, he dominated juniors with his physique and strength over others -- the IQ is not in question, points will come


TBH I don’t know if he needs more strength and size, he’s 6’2 and 200+ pounds, that’s pretty good for the NHL. What I feel he needs to improve is his skating speed and reactions. He looks awfully slow compared to his peers and is has trouble keeping up with the play.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 7:17 p.m.
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Quoting: tkecanuck341
Kid's 19 years old. Give him a break. Everyone wrote off Jack Hughes last year and now he's tearing it up on the Devils.


Hughes was one of the top players last season in generating chances off the rush IIRC. His poor production was more of an issue with finishing and poor linemates.

Lafreniere’s skating isn’t in the same league as Hughes but he’s always been projected as the more well-rounded player. Yet he is struggling even worse.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 7:27 p.m.
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Quoting: Penguins_Legend_Sheary
Hughes was one of the top players last season in generating chances off the rush IIRC. His poor production was more of an issue with finishing and poor linemates.

Lafreniere’s skating isn’t in the same league as Hughes but he’s always been projected as the more well-rounded player. Yet he is struggling even worse.


Most players have growing pains when they jump into the NHL. That's why there's, at most, two to three 18-year-olds in the league every year. Lafreniere has never played games against men before, let alone the best players in the world. He'll be fine.
Jan. 28, 2021 at 9:47 p.m.
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Am Yisrael Chai
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