Lafrenière, the cautious prodigy

All these sentences come from the mouth of Alexis Lafrenière. The young Quebec prodigy hits the brake pedal with energy when we talk to him about the New York Rangers’ solid start to the season. He presses with even more force when we talk to him about his own departure.

He is excessively cautious.

Did he develop this natural reflex during his first three seasons in the American metropolis? Has he learned to fear the media people and the fans of the National Hockey League’s biggest market?

Half-heartedly this week, Lafrenière admitted that it is more pleasant to play in New York when the Rangers have a winning record.

“We have one of the best buildings in the league. The fans are incredible. THE vibehe is good at the moment,” he admitted.

No one in the Eastern Conference expected to find the Rangers at the top of the standings. Rather, it was thought that this place would belong to their eternal rivals from New Jersey.

“We are really complete. We have six good defenders and four good lines. When you have a complete club like that and you play with intensity, as we have been doing since the start of the season, you become hard to beat. But, as I say, it’s only about twenty games. There’s still a lot of hockey left to play.”

It seems that prudence is a sign of maturity. At least, that’s the opinion of one of Lafrenière’s good friends with the Blueshirts, defenseman K’Andre Miller.

The winger who was selected first overall in the 2020 draft is on track to have his most productive campaign of his career because he is more mature.

“His confidence, with and without the puck, has grown exponentially,” Miller said. We see it grow a little each year. The challenges are different. The expectations are different. Every time, he does everything we ask of him.”

“It’s visible in several first-round picks. Each player takes their own path. Each player peaks at a different time. The one thing that all players have in common is that you have to experience ups and downs at the start of your career. Alexis does a great job. He adapts very well.”

With Panarin

The late Guy Lafleur liked to say that he started producing in the NHL when the Montreal Canadiens coaches started giving him quality ice time.

Could we say the same thing about Lafrenière? He has still been playing with the dangerous Artemi Panarin since the start of the campaign.

“Yeah, he’s one of the best players in the league,” recognizes the former Rimouski Océanic. He’s certainly one of the best passers in the entire league. When you play with guys like that, you just have to try to be open. If I’m able to stand out, usually he’s able to find me. I want to try to make plays for him too.”

Panarin and Lafrenière have had the chance to play with different centers since the start of the season. Every time it goes well.

“It’s going well because the two wingers are working in the right way,” thinks head coach Peter Laviolette.

Lafrenière, we repeat, does not want to take anything for granted. “It’s such a good league. Every night you have to be ready. Everyone can beat everyone. That’s our mentality.”

“I just learned to play in that league. I understood that, every night, you face good defenders. I am more and more comfortable. Every night I feel comfortable trying games.”

On the defensive

We remind you that the situation was already delicate in Toronto. Since veterans Mark Giordano and John Klingberg are injured, the organization has made a few recalls, exposing its great lack of depth on defense. Now number one goalkeeper Joseph Woll finds himself in the infirmary. He left the Canadian Tire Center ice rink on Thursday evening in Kanata after making a routine stop.

He had difficulty leaning on his left leg.

“He will have to be away for a while,” head coach Sheldon Keefe simply whispered when he appeared in front of the journalists.

The Maple Leafs won this game thanks to Woll’s prowess. The 25-year-old American made some very spectacular saves before getting injured.

For now, Keefe must rely on Martin Jones, a fallen star who had an efficiency rate below 88% in the American League since the start of the season.

A transaction in sight?

Neutral territory

A record was broken on Thursday. The Kings became the first team in NHL history to win their first 11 games of the season on opposing ice.

A convincing victory, other than that! They dominated the Montreal Canadiens, 4-0, on the Bell Center ice rink.

A team that is capable of winning with such consistency on the road will certainly be a team that will be difficult to beat during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

We also congratulate Anze Kopitar, who collected the 758th assist of his career during this match. He then became the leader in the history of the franchise, in this chapter. It has eclipsed a brand that belonged to Marcel Dionne since 1987!

To attack!

“The important thing is to create chances. I had a good chance in the third period. I would have been happier if I had managed to put the puck in the net, though.

Patrick Kane was disappointed after hitting the post in a key moment in his first game with the Detroit Red Wings.

Especially since the Wings let a four-goal lead slip away to lose to the San Jose Sharks, on their own ice…