Apart from the injuries Lapierre just doesn't score very many goals. If you don't score goals or shoot the puck enough or your shot is very weak teams will figure you out. If all you do is pass and almost never score goals you're way too easy for a defense or a goaltender to read. If Lapierre can't be something of a goal scoring threat he's not going to be very productive.
I agree and I don't.
I think Lapierre has shown glimpses that he is capable of scoring goals and beating goalies with his shot. He just hasn't done it consistently enough. Now, whether that's a result of his playing style or the injuries is another question. But he's definitely shown an ability, including this pre-season where he seems hell-bent on showing that he can shoot too.
Generally speaking, I've always found that playmaking prospects tend to have their goal scoring ability discounted, yet they tend to carry over their success rates because they're generally smarter, higher-IQ players.
It's not a hard rule, but I find myself more comfortable that a playmaker who tops out at 20-25 goals at the junior level can net 15-20 goal in the NHL than a guy with a reputation as a "sniper" can get within the same range of his junior league goal totals.
In other words, I can envision a 25 goal/115 point CHL player hitting the 15-20 goal, 65 point point level at the NHL more than I can envision a 50 goal/90 point CHL player hitting 35 goals, or even 30 at the NHL level.
I just tend to feel like playmakers find a way to translate the high-percentange shots better than the kids who are volume shooters and who take advantage of the space at the junior level.