Lafreniere was said to be the best since Matthews.
No doubt he's not Crosby or Ovechkin level but something is off when Kakko and Lafreniere, both billed as more NHL ready than the average bear, are struggling to show up on the stat sheet consistently.
Yeah it's just three games but Svechnikov averaged 0.45 ppg his rookie year. Hischier averaged 0.63. Laine averaged 0.88. Eichel averaged 0.69. Mackinnon averaged 0.77. RNH averaged 0.55. Huberdeau averaged 0.65. Taylor Hall averaged 0.65.
Kakko was 0.35 and so far Lafreniere has a goose egg. He doesn't look like he's about to put up in excess of a half a point per game which would really be my expectation.
Yes Seguin and Barkov are lower outliers but what, we just happen to nab two of the only not NHL ready to contribute players picked in the top 2 in the last decade or so?
Something smells. And I suspect it's their usage or instruction.
I smell the same thing you're smelling, and it ain't roses. Even if this horrific smell is TRUE, much of what was stated about these "stars" has to be directed towards playing time and PP time. Kakko hasnt seen a whole lot and Laf is way too early to make a big stink. Not too early to realize that they aren't going to be on the scoreboard in an "easy manner".
I don't care too much for that "instant success", because it scares me to thinking that such player could become extremely spoiled and become primadonna"ish".
Yeah, the Rangers always seem to make kids struggle, by not paving an easy path (Buch, Chytil recently) and even remember Cally being quite the yoyo before he stuck.
Somewhere along the line, you have to give them subsantial minutes. The more PT the quicker they adapt.
However one wants to look at it, this is a DEVELOPMENT YEAR. We would all sacrifice the PO's if these kids PLAYED, and PROGRESSED, with winning a close 2nd place.
Quinn seems genuinely concerned about his job, over what's best LONGTERM.