Alexis Lafreniére at 16 VS Connor McDavid at 16

[Artorius Horus T]

So basically you can't compare C and W, not 1 to 1 at least,
also OHL vs QMJHL, not the same league,makes it even more difficult to compare.

But if in generally speaking...or slight hypothetical comparison if you will.(or must)
- at 16, which one of these was ahead in development?
which of these 2 was better at 16? Alexis or Connor?.

Both was listed 6 foot 0 at 16 <- rookie season (McDavid is listed 6 foot 1 now)

McDavid (C) was 15 when he started his rookie season in the OHL
turned 16 in January, he played for Erie Otters, at that time
Otters was in their last years of rebuild, 2 seasons later became
OHL&CHL powerhouse (although never winning the m-cup
and winning the league only once; 2017).

Lafreniére (LW) was 16 the entire rookie season in the QMJHL,
he played for Rimouski Oceanic, since their inaugural season
(95-96) they've reached to the play-offs every time but 2 times,
won the league title 4 times, 1 time mem cup winners (2000).
(17-18 record: 42-17-6-3 - 1st in division, 3rd in league)

- Sidney Crosby's team -

McDavid 2012-2013 25g+41a=66pts -24 (1.03 ppg)
Lafreniére 2017-2018 42g+38a=80pts +35 (1.33 ppg)

WHC-17

Connor: 6g+3a=9pts (1.75 ppg) - bronze -
Alexis: 3g+3a=6pts (1.00 ppg) - silver -

12-13 Otters top 5:

1. Connor Brown 28+41=69 -11 | 1.10 ppg | 18 year old
2. Connor McDavid 25+41=66 -24 | 1.03 ppg | 15&16 year old
3. JP Labardo 24+38=62 -31 | 0.93 ppg | 20 year old
4. Luke Cairns 12+29=41 -29 | 0.59 ppg | 18 year old
5. Adam Pelech 8+32=40 -16 | 0.69 ppg | 18 year old

17-18 Oceanic top 5:

1. Alexis Lafreniére 42+38=80 +35 | 1.33 ppg | 16 year old
2. Samuel Dove-McFalls 22+51=73 +37 | 0.89 ppg | 20 year old
3. Charles-Édouard D´Astous 18+38=56 +33 | 0.93 ppg | 19 year old
4. Dmitri Zavgorodny 26+21=47 +17 | 0.78 ppg | 17 year old
5. Mathieu Nadeau 15+28=43 +17 | 1.43 ppg | 21 year old

Click to read more...

 

[AngelDuck]

I guess you can say it's close during that specific year. But it's highly unlikely Lafreniere experiences the exponential development Connor had in his next couple years

 

[1Gold Standard]

earlier this month I had a business trip to Ottawa. so, I decided to sneak across the river into Gatineau as the Oceanic was in town. and I had to check out this young Alexis, as up until then I had only seen Q highlights, youtube videos etc...

I also saw McDavid when he was 14, as well as his rookie season in the OHL a few times.


Lafreniére is a good prospect with a lot of potential. He wasn't particularly all that great the night I saw him play...imo non scout ordinary hockey fan who tracks up and coming talent, there's no comparison, McDavid was miles ahead in development at 16 years old.

 

[McStimperi]

It has to be taken into account, that the OHL is a harder league than the Q. When comparing the point totals.

 

[Hfbsux]

It has to be taken into account, that the OHL is a harder league than the Q. When comparing the point totals.

To take this out of the equation, you can compare McDavid's and Lafreniere's stats with their teammates.

 

[93LEAFS]

McDavid at 16, it isn't even close. McDavid was better at 16 than everyone in recent OHL history outside of Tavares. Tavares was way more productive than McDavid, but McDavid had higher potential due to his unreal skating, hands and iq, which projected better than Tavares high-end tools of his Hockey IQ and finishing ability. Only at 17 and 18 did Tavares really round out his game, while remaining a weak skater. Lafreniere is in the discussion with guys like Hall, Mackinnon, and Stamkos if you want to compare him to other CHL 16-year-olds. He's good, but I don't think he's generational.

I also think trying to compartmentalize an age is a bit weird for a comparison purpose when it splits McDavid's year with an off-season and the back half of a season where he was granted exceptional status.

 

[nbwingsfan]

It has to be taken into account, that the OHL is a harder league than the Q. When comparing the point totals.

If I'm not mistaken, the OHL has been the higher scoring league the last few years.

But that doesn't even matter because McDavid is/was definitely the better prospect.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

McDavid by quite a bit, although Lafreniere is an elite talent

 

[Vachon23]

If I'm not mistaken, the OHL has been the higher scoring league the last few years.

But that doesn't even matter because McDavid is/was definitely the better prospect.

The Q is the fewest scoring league this past years we juste ad 2 guy that had 100 pts this years and our highest had 116 .. in the OHL they had 4 100 pts scorer and in the WHL they had 9 100 pts scorer and 17 player that had 90 pts and more ! in the Q just 2 players had 90 pts and more ! The Q are not a big scoring league.

now to compare McDavid and Lafreniere. Lafreniere is bigger but doesn't have the skills of McDavid.. however, I think Lafreniere game is more mature and he does alote of small things that gonna translate really good in the NHL but I don't think he is as a generational talent like McDavid is.. But he is the best player that played in the Q since Sidney Crosby

 

[Reddawg]

Remember Angelo Esposito? He's the far more likely career comparable here, not Crosby or McDavid.

 

[HabsTown]

Remember Angelo Esposito? He's the far more likely career comparable here, not Crosby or McDavid.

A bit of Q hate!? Or maybe you just didn't watch him. Comparing Esposito to Lafreniere is very comical.

Esposito was solely carried by Radulov. There's not even 1 single thing in common between both players.

Btw, it's still McDavid as far as I'm concern.

 

[Vachon23]

Remember Angelo Esposito? He's the far more likely career comparable here, not Crosby or McDavid.

WTF ??? I don't see a Radulov with Rimouski ! Lafreniere took a team that finish in the 3 last team to put the in the top 5 ! yess The acquisition of Dove McFalls and mostly Colten Ellis that was amazing this year help, but the big impact was Lafreniere ! nothing to do with Esposito

 

[AUAIOMRN]

Remember Angelo Esposito? He's the far more likely career comparable here, not Crosby or McDavid.

"Someone was once wrong about a prospect, therefore nothing can ever be predicted."

Esposito never once led his team in scoring, how's that for a difference?

 

[Hfbsux]

To be fair, Lafrenière started his rookie season at 15 years old too. He turned 16 after playing 6 games on October 11.

Also, Rimouski was really bad last year and were not expecting to be any good this year, at all. Lafrenière carried the team to a 3rd place finish compared to 3rd last in 2016-2017.

McDavid is a flashy type of player who should win a lot of Art Ross in his career. He will probably end up with the most points of the 2. I think Lafrenière is a hard worker who is very effective in the dirtier areas, that's what impress me more about him. I think those kind of players are more valuable when the game gets tighter in the playoffs.

 

[Tube Skates]

When Lafreniere becomes McDavids winger in a couple years he should put up an incredible amount of points

 

[ijuka]

Let's see Lafreniere score 14 points in 7 games at u-18s ...

Lafreniere quickly becoming super overrated over here.

 

[Daneurism]

People need to seriously slow their roll on Lafreniere. Jesus christ

 

[Tutu to]

Lafreniere had a better -2draft year but Mcdavid is the better hockey player imo.

 

[AUAIOMRN]

A closer comparison is Taylor Hall, who has a similar birthday and had almost identical stats.

2007-08

Windsor Spitfires

OHL

63

45

39

84

22

40

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2017-18

Rimouski Océanic

QMJHL

60

42

38

80

54

35

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Hfbsux]

A closer comparison is Taylor Hall, who has a similar birthday and had almost identical stats.

2007-08

Windsor Spitfires

OHL

63

45

39

84

22

40

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

2017-18

Rimouski Océanic

QMJHL

60

42

38

80

54

35

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

This doesn't tell you the whole story tho. Lafrenière was the leader of his team. Hall was 3rd in his team's scoring playing with the likes of Josh Bailey, Ryan Ellis, Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz (bust but still a first rounder).

 

[Lebowski]

Got around to watch Lafrenniere live once, and watched a ton of Crosby live in his Rimouski days.

Not in the same class of prospects as far as I'm concerned. I'd assume the same applies when it comes to comparing him to McDavid.

We'll see how he develops going into next season.

 

[Canovin]

McDavid was the better player. He exploded in his draft year when he decided to score more.

 

[Hfbsux]

Got around to watch Lafrenniere live once, and watched a ton of Crosby live in his Rimouski days.

Not in the same class of prospects as far as I'm concerned. I'd assume the same applies when it comes to comparing him to McDavid.

We'll see how he develops going into next season.

True.. We have to wait until next season to compare him to Crosby since Crosby did not have a draft -2 season.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

McDavid was the better player. He exploded in his draft year when he decided to score more.

???????......

Nobody is questioning how good McDavid was at very young age, but your last statement is total BS.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

- i would like to say this -

When looking at McDavid's rookie season and take a look whom he was playing for
and his team mates...yes Otters at that time was one of the worst and they were
on rebuild, however, McDavid did play with quality players, at least with few quality players.
and Otters wasn't utter trash either.

It wasn't all total domination by him,
so saying McDavid was far better, not even close,
is...in my mind,complete exaggeration.

If you take a look at players u17 in the OHL that season,
he scored only 2 more goals than Spencer Watson,
in same amount of games,only 15-20 points more than these players u17;
Blake Clarke, Michael Dal Colle, Jared McCann,
Joshua Ho-Sang and Spencer Watson, again in same amount of games,
(except Clarke, who played 5 games more)

(5 players u17 in the WHL&QMJHL together who scored 35-57 points that season
Point (57), Hawrlyuk (44), Virtanen (35),Sandhu (35),Pepin (35)

Where as Lafreniére, albeit, been slightly older (2 ½ - 3 months) in his rookie season,
Lafreniére did more what McDavid did in his rookie season,
had better numbers in every single category, he showed
leadership, consistency, tremendous skill and determination
he lead his team, he was 1st in goals, points.
his team finished first in the division, third in league.

U17 players this season (QMJHL+CHL)

QMJHL:
scored 20 more goals than the next best (Jakob Pelletier),
20 more points than 2nd in points(Pelletier), 40 more points than the 3rd best
Xavier Simoneau&Samuel Poulin.

CHL:
2019 top prospects from the OHL; Arthur Kaliyev 48 points, 68 games,
Blake Murray 44 points, 57 games, Ryan Suzuki 44 points, 64 games,

2020 top prospects from the OHL; Nicholas Robertson 33 points, 62 games,
Nicholas Wong 26 points (17 goals), 63 games

2019 top prospects from the WHL; Peyton Krebs 54 points, 67 games,
Kirby Darch 46 points, 52 games, Connor Zary 29 points, 68 games,
Bowen Byram 27 points, 60 games, Sasha Mutala 26 points, 68 games

Yeah, yeah..i know, all of the above are just statistics, numbers, hardly cold hard facts
that shows which was better,ahead of development. not really comparable, different, different, different...