BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 05: Alexis Lafreniere #11 of the Rimouski Oceanic looks on during the warm-up prior to the game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 5, 2019 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
In what is the first of a 31 part series highlighting the top 31 prospects in this year’s NHL entry draft, I take a deep dive into each prospect and assess their potential fit with the Ottawa Senators.
Alexis Lafreniere (LW), Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)During this first part, I will be breaking down the top prospect in this year’s NHL Draft, which is none other than Alexis Lafreniere. This article won’t exactly lift the spirits of Sens fans (sorry), but the Ottawa Senators will be selecting two players out of my top 10, which we as Senators fans should be ecstatic about.
While the chances of the phenom from Quebec getting drafted to the Senators are next to none, assessing his game is still a necessary part of the exercise.
The immense talent on display from Lafreniere is eye-popping, and he is always the best player on the ice regardless of circumstance.
Through this project, each player will be assessed on their respective talents and their fit on the Ottawa Senators, other than Lafreniere every prospect is a possible selection for Ottawa with one of their three first-rounders.
BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 05: Alexis Lafreniere #11 of the Rimouski Oceanic skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 5, 2019 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
Alexis Lafreniere (LW), Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
2019-2020 Stats
GP: 52 G: 35 A: 77 P: 112 +/-: 41
The undisputed first overall selection is ready to step in and make an impact in the NHL next season. Lafreniere’s blend of skating, skill, size and physicality makes him a dynamic player whenever he steps on the ice. Winning the CHL player of the year in back to back seasons before he was drafted shows that Lafreniere has been ready to make the jump for a while.
Lafreniere also enjoyed an exceptional World Juniors, as he was named Tournament MVP due to his efforts in helping Canada win the gold medal.
It all looked for naught early in the event, when the star-studded forward went down with what looked like a gruesome leg injury, and Canada would go on to lose 6-0, showing how essential he was to the team’s success:
While looking devastating at the time, Lafreniere would only miss two games in his absence and would come back and win the gold for Canada.
Finishing the tournament with 4 goals and 6 assists, it was the cherry on top of his all but certain first overall status.
Strengths
Playmaking/Hockey Sense
Lafreniere’s great hockey sense allows him to see all areas of the ice and accumulate gaudy assist totals, as he did in his final two years with Rimouski, where he totalled 145 assists in just 113 games.
In this clip Lafreniere shows off his silky passing when he delivers a great saucer to his teammate for a goal, a common theme throughout the season:
On the power play, Lafreniere’s playmaking is front and center, he is always looking for his teammates from his position on the half wall.
The QMJHL sensation finished with just 5 goals on the power play but led the league in assists with 35, which is 11 more than the second-place player.
From the half wall, Lafreniere regularly finds the open player, especially when he uses his great shot pass to freeze the goaltender:
His phenomenal hockey sense allows him to deliver such precise passes for open looks on the net.
In this play below during World junior play, Lafreniere uses his great ability to think a step ahead of his opposition when he knocks the American defenceman’s pass out of the air, then proceeded to score the game-winning goal:
Shot
Despite not putting up ridiculous goal numbers in junior, Lafreniere’s shot is outstanding and his willingness to be a playmaker hides his insane goal-scoring potential.
His lightning-quick release to go along with his blistering snap/wrist shot is one of the best in the whole draft, trailing only Swedish sniper Alexander Holtz.
Here, the Oceanic winger takes the puck from his teammate and from an awkward position near his feet and rifles a snapshot top shelf for the highlight reel goal:
The Quebec Remparts goalie had absolutely zero chance on the shot that found the twine.
His great shooting ability aids his playmaking in a large way, goalies have to focus on Lafreniere when he has the puck and if they’re focused on passing options he can just blow it by you.
Even from a standstill, the future first-overall selection can rifle one for a seemingly easy goal. In the clip below, while flatfooted, Lafreniere rips a one-timer in from the bottom of the circle and leaves the goalie once again hopeless:
He will have no problem beating goalies in the NHL and his goal-scoring totals in the pros shouldn’t differ too much from his numbers in junior.
Hands
The star forward regularly makes defenders miss in a “phone booth” which refers to his ability to beat defenders in tight areas.
Lafreniere versus the Gatineau Olympiques makes the whole team look silly, he easily dangles past the first defender and then while the rest of the team stands frozen, he proceeds to roof it on the goalie with an insane backhand:
Lafreniere consistently beats opposing goaltenders with his silky hands and creates headaches for all who try to defend against him.
Playing in the QMJHL, Lafreniere had a significant amount of breakaways and used his great hands to make goalies look silly. His ability to dangle goalies should aid him in being a successful player in the shootout at the next level too.
In the play below, the talented winger intercepts the pass at the blue line and goes in alone making a quick backhand-forehand move to put it away on the goaltender:
Strength/Physicality
Lafreniere is already physically developed at 6’1″ and 192 pounds he has the frame for the NHL.
He is very strong on his skates, and it is always a task for defenders to knock him off of the puck. Fellow teammate from the world junior tournament in Kevin Bahl was impressed with his willingness to throw the body around:
Hulking defenceman Kevin Bahl on star Canadian winger Alexis Lafreniere lowering the boom on some hits of his own: "I thought he was all skill. But he loves to throw around the body and I absolutely love that." #worldjuniors2020
Some players have great strength but don’t use it by being physical, Lafreniere is never afraid of using his body to intimidate his opponents especially on the forecheck.
During regular-season games in Quebec you may not see his physicality present itself much, but when the stakes get high in the playoffs or like he showed at the world juniors Lafreniere will be throwing his body around quite often.
BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 05: Alexis Lafreniere #11 of the Rimouski Oceanic skates during the warm-up prior to the game against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 5, 2019 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 5-3. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
Weaknesses
Discipline
To nitpick, since there are no weaknesses in the way Lafreniere plays the game, the talented winger has shown an affinity to cross the line from time to time.
Lafreniere is sure to attract his fair share of agitators at the next level when he will be a targeted man, so he needs to learn to have a bit of restraint and not lash out on his opponents.
He delivered a dirty blow to the head of a defenceless Quebec Remparts player that resulted in a three-game suspension for Lafreniere.
While Lafreniere can be imposing physically he needs to be careful about crossing the line, because his play should do the talking on the ice, not in the press box.
Usually, with the last slide of each of these articles, I will assess the players potential fit with the Senators, but since there is no remote way possible Lafreniere is a Senator it seems unnecessary to project.
