Prospect Info: LAK Draft (83rd, 2020) RW Alex Laferriere, Des Moines, USHL

[IceColdOx]

Chatham, New Jersey native Alex Laferriere had a big season with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL, getting the attention of hockey prospect watchers. He scored 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 42 games before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Laferriere also played six games for Team USA at the 2019 World Junior A Hockey Championships in December, winning a silver medal.

In 2018-19, Laferriere played 12 games for Des Moines but did not record a point. He spent most of the season playing high school hockey on the prep school circuit, representing Kent School. He scored 19 goals and 34 assists for 53 points in just 27 games. Laferriere was named to the US High School – Prep All Founders League Team. Laferriere is committed to attending Harvard University, playing for the Crimson in 2021-22. It is expected that he will spend one more season with Des Moines before joining Harvard. He should be one of the best players in the USHL next year. In 2017-2018, Laferriere led his North Jersey Avalanche team to the AYHL National Under-16 Championship. His father, Rob Laferriere, played for Princeton and Harvard in the 1990s.

Alex Laferriere Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #89

Click to read more...

 

[traffic cone]

When you can't get Alexis Lafrenière.

 

[Telos]

Sounds smart, great character, and a hard-working player. Bit of a project could be middle 6. Good looking pick.

 

[AzKing]

Kind of ironic that I was just reading a writeup on him and thought he was a good value. Here is McKeen's writeup and they had him at #63:

If we were to judge players based solely on how much they improved from the beginning of the
season to its conclusion, Laferriere would be an easy first rounder, with lottery rumors. Moving
full time into the USHL after a productive year spent largely playing for a Connecticut area
prep school, as the season got underway, he looked slow of foot and a non-factor, other than a
very heavy wrist shot. But hidden behind that veneer of a poor first impression, the Des Moines
offense was flowing through Laferriere once the Buccaneers were in the offensive zone. And
after those first two scoreless games, the New Jersey native went on a six-game point streak
featuring two four-pointers and 15 points in total. Of course, he could not keep that blistering
pace up, but nor did he ever look back. The consistency of his central role in the attack was
remarkable, and he had only a single game all year without registering a shot on net.
What really marked Laferriere’s improvement from the start of the season to its premature
completion was the complete makeover he made in his skating. Gone was the crow-hop kick
off, which had him behind before he took his first stride. His wide-kneed form added to the
inefficiency. By mid-season he was far smoother, able to get to his top gear much quicker and
became a primary puck carrier instead of just a trigger man. Then again, the trigger was still the
main draw. Despite carrying a slight frame, he has a big shot and can rip both wrist shots and
slap shots past unprepared netminders.

Another positive for the Harvard commit is his high IQ, represented on the ice through his
heady, two-way play. He was relied in heavily in late-and-close situations and was on Des
Moines’ first PK unit. The team that drafts Laferriere will need to be patient as he will need
substantial physical growth before turning pro, but there are a number of high-level tools on
offer here.

 

[Lt Dan]

Alex Laferriere, not to be confused with Alexis Lafrenière, is a dangerous player off the rush. He gains the line and creates room for himself to make plays. Alex is a true dual-threat scorer and likes to play a real power game, even at a modest 6-feet-even and 179 pounds. Think a scoring forward with some grit, not the second coming of Cam Neely.

Alex Laferriere at eliteprospects.com

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't usually like the USHL but after reading that I feel a little better about it. Improvement is a good sign, and though I was big on swinging for the fences, this seems like a solid "just a guy" that we have a lot of success with. Good value.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[LAKings88]

Thought he was going first overall.

 

[redcard]

Some prospects you see right away and envision one day putting a letter on his chest.

This kid I'd like to put a letter on his back. Preferably an N.

 

[lumbergh]

Sounds exactly like what the Kings have been preaching for years. Your team loses the puck? GET. IT. BACK.

 

[ru4reals]

I'm sure its been said but if we couldn't get a Lafreniere why not a Laferriere.

 

[Pandaman11]

I thought he was consensus 1st overall, can't believe he fell to 83rd. And yes, I know I'm late to the party.

 

[Pandaman11]

Down Goes Brown: Meet the Off-Brand All-Stars, a bad roster that looks amazing

 

[Basilisk]

This guy went from zero points one year to 45 points in 42 games the following year. If that's not impressive progress, I don't know what is....

Alex Laferriere Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

 

[King'sPawn]

This guy went from zero points one year to 45 points in 42 games the following year. If that's not impressive progress, I don't know what is....

Alex Laferriere Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Hockeydb doesn't track high school. He only played 12 USHL games, but went nearly 2 points/game in high school that season.

It's still impressive, but he did have a scoring touch.

Alex Laferriere at eliteprospects.com

 

[PumperNichol]

Chatham, New Jersey native Alex Laferriere had a big season with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL, getting the attention of hockey prospect watchers. He scored 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 42 games before the season was halted due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Laferriere also played six games for Team USA at the 2019 World Junior A Hockey Championships in December, winning a silver medal.

In 2018-19, Laferriere played 12 games for Des Moines but did not record a point. He spent most of the season playing high school hockey on the prep school circuit, representing Kent School. He scored 19 goals and 34 assists for 53 points in just 27 games. Laferriere was named to the US High School – Prep All Founders League Team. Laferriere is committed to attending Harvard University, playing for the Crimson in 2021-22. It is expected that he will spend one more season with Des Moines before joining Harvard. He should be one of the best players in the USHL next year. In 2017-2018, Laferriere led his North Jersey Avalanche team to the AYHL National Under-16 Championship. His father, Rob Laferriere, played for Princeton and Harvard in the 1990s.

Alex Laferriere Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #89

Dude had 4 goals tonight for Harvard.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Dude had 4 goals tonight for Harvard.

Here’s one of them, beautiful passing play.

 

[ru4reals]

Here’s one of them, beautiful passing play.

I'm telling you we getting the better Alex Laf.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Huge fan of this kid. He has some grit to his game as well.
It really could end up being an amazing draft for LA 2020
Q
Grans
Faber
Simon
Laf
Chromiak
and even Meehan and Jamsen could end up being interesting players.
Really curious how this draft class does going forward.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Not bad, kid. Not bad.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Having a nice start to his season:

 

[johnjm22]

Coronato was the 13th OA pick in the draft. Fantilli will likely be a top 3 pick in this upcoming draft.

So that gives some perspective on how well Laf is doing. Although he is older than both of them, which is a huge factor.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Coronato was the 13th OA pick in the draft. Fantilli will likely be a top 3 pick in this upcoming draft.

So that gives some perspective on how well Laf is doing. Although he is older than both of them, which is a huge factor.

Yes I heard Fantilli supposed to go 2nd next draft.. Laf is a year older than QB to give some perspective on his age. Edit: i guess the good news is there more wings in the pipe - cheap talent is always key in the cap era.

 

[Lt Dan]

Report: Laferriere to sign with Kings on ELC, will join team imminently

The Los Angeles Kings are set to sign forward prospect Alex Laferriere to an entry-level contract now that his sophomore season at Harvard has concluded, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reports.Laferriere is expected to burn the first year of his deal and play regular-season games for Los...

www.thescore.com

 

[Fishhead]

Report: Laferriere to sign with Kings on ELC, will join team imminently

The Los Angeles Kings are set to sign forward prospect Alex Laferriere to an entry-level contract now that his sophomore season at Harvard has concluded, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reports.Laferriere is expected to burn the first year of his deal and play regular-season games for Los...

www.thescore.com

He's expected to play games down the stretch?

I doubt it. They might give him a game just to get him to sign, but it's not like he's going to displace someone in the lineup. There are already deserving guys sitting, and he's not on the same level as them.