I agree, players with skating ability always seem to catch the eye more. I'm confident Laf will be a great player, his skill is apparent when he makes plays, you just wish he would make more plays I guess. You wonder how much it is confidence and coaching. It's just frustrating when he doesn't have the puck or doesn't end up on the scoresheet, you could go a whole game without noticing him at all. I guess with so many generational talent drafted at #1 over the past 20 years you just have unfair expectations. Especially when you have never draft #1 before, and him being touted a can't miss consensus #1 in one of the deepest draft and you see his jaw dropping highlights at the biggest stage. You are just left wanting "more" after each game.
His skill has been apparent a couple of times, but it is NOT apparent to me much more often. I am fine (well, not fine, but I’m accepting it this year) with him getting pushed off the puck, or being a step behind, etc. But, I can recall at least a play a game where he’s presented with an amazing opportunity to use his skill in space and he screwed it up.
There was a play in the last game where Strome fed him as the trailer and he tried to drag the puck around a fallen down defender. This is a “hands” play that most skill guys can make nowadays, and he completely fumbled it.
I know how I sound when I criticize the kid. I am only doing so because I know he can do all of these things. He is a SPECIAL player and I just don’t know why he isn’t showing it more often by now. And this isn’t about points, it’s about showing that high end skill.