I agree. He’s 20 years old, he can’t be bust yet.

The thing that separates Stutzle from Lafreniere is that he looks really confident with the puck on his stick. He's willing to take on defenders and cut to the net. Every time Lafreniere gets the puck, he defers it. He's scared to make a play on his own.

I wouldn't bring defencemen into the conversation since they usually take longer to develop. And Sandin has been a force this season.

Can't compare Nylander to Lafreniere. Nylander never had the same pedigree or hype. And Nylander's progression was very fast, he dominated the AHL and looked like a top 6 contributor during his tenure at the end of 2015/16. Lafreniere hasn't shown anything that suggests he belongs in the NHL.

Lafreniere is not a bust because of his age, it's how he performs. He hasn't shown anything that suggests he'll be an every day NHLer. The skills that he presented in junior are completely gone.

A “force” is alittle much. Actually a lot much. He’s only playing 16 minutes a night still. Not a force at all minutes wise.

He still needs to get way stronger. Got bullied on that break away by Lorantz. Badly. I mean Lorantz is a big boy; but a Defenseman gotta make that play. He got pushed out of the way.

He doing fine, offensively: defensively..meh.

I wish they would’ve kept Bogs to stay paired with Sandin. Pairing him with Dermott and now Liljegren isn’t doing him any favors.

Yeah I definitely would’ve preferred to keep Bogosian, but I think Sandin has been fine no matter who he’s played with. Maybe makes a few mistakes here and there but the overall results are excellent.

Still needs to get way stronger. Like I said, got bullied on that break away by Lorantz. Badly. Very badly. I mean Lorantz is a big boy; but a Defenseman gotta make that play. He got pushed out of the way like a little kid. That’s not a mistake, that’s getting pushed off the puck; as a D-man.

He was amazing tonight.

Winning puck battles against bigger buys.

Absolutely amazing.

Yep, good analytics too.

Let’s see him on critical shifts or play-off hockey though.
I’m a fan. Not knocking him or saying he’s bad or doenst have it.

I’m saying, he’s obviously still has a bit of his “kid” body. He needs to get stronger. Especially as a D-man. Or it will natural happen as he gets older.

But I would assume they need him for more than sheltered minutes and sheltered shifts in the play/offs. I’d assume they’d want to do some PK, or some shifts against the opponents top line or 2nd line.

And if stuff like that happens in the regular season, the post season won’t be fun for him.

But yes, overall, a good start to rookie season.

I’d assume, you guys want or expect him to being playing 20-22 plus minutes a night. And that will come. He definitely has the potential.

Right now, he’s playing 3rd pairing minutes with some PP time. And that’s great for a rookie D-man.

I think everyone, including me, expects him to be a top pairing and or atleast a really good 2nd pairing. And he definitely needs to get stronger to do that.

He’s not a 20-22 plus minute, 82 game season, plus play-off hockey, Defenseman, just yet.

I’m with u though; I hope he will be. And some of that comes with just age and experience which he’s getting now.

And some 18-21 year olds are big enough and strong enough to do it right away. He puts on 10-15 pounds in the weight room, I’d bet it would go along way for him.

Easier said than done, I know.