When Alexis Lafrenière was transferred from the Saint-Eustache Vikings of Quebec's Under-18 Development League to the Rimouski Oceanic of Quebec's Major Junior Hockey League, the 15-year-old was living away from home for the first time. .
After scoring 83 points in 36 games in the QMAAA during the 2016-17 season, Lafreniere scored 80 points in 60 games in the QMJHL in his rookie season.
This statistic speaks for itself and reveals that Lafreniere didn't need much of an adjustment period on the ice despite his drastic life change.
One look at Lafrenière's highlight package from his time in the QMJHL, and it's clear that the Quebec native played with great confidence in himself.
That's Lafreniere, who took to the ice for Pittsburgh's season opener. There, the newly turned 23-year-old showed off the high-end skills that made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft and began producing nightly during his break. Last season.
So is he making these moves now because he's gained enough confidence to do so, or has he found a way to translate that part of his game at the NHL level?
“It’s a little bit of both,” Lafniere told the Post on her birthday Friday. “It's more like an instinct. It's not like you're sitting before a game and you're like, 'I'll do it.' It comes with the game. ”
Lafrenière is looking forward to playing with players he played with at Rimouski, Samuel Dove-McFalls, Jimmy Huntington and Justin Pare, as well as Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck last season as their game started to take off. He credited it with his immediate success.
Lafniere said it took him a few games or two weeks to feel 100 percent on the QMJHL ice, and as the games slowed down, he started to feel more comfortable playing.
It may have taken four seasons to reach that spot in the NHL, but Lafreniere is there now.
It was probably a shock when his game didn't translate to the NHL right away.
All other levels changed almost instantly.
The extra time in the NHL may have made it even longer.
“This is a good league, the best league in the world, and we have to adapt,” Lafniere said. “I just tried to trust the process and play my game and have a good attitude. Be patient.”
Lafreniere, who had 28 goals and 29 assists in 82 games last season and 14 points in 16 playoff games, didn't just pick up where he left off Wednesday. He set the standard in Game 1 in '82.
In the first period, Lafreniere scooped up a go-ahead feed from Panarin and slid toward the net before Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson attempted a sliding defense.
He pulled the puck back as if it was on a leash to avoid Pettersson, swinging past Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry on the short side and maximizing his patience, awareness, and control. demonstrated.
“This is a high-end move,” Laviolette said Friday. “It takes patience to come in with a forehand like that. I think patience is the biggest thing. He has the patience and the ability to get it done. Last year, his confidence went up a year. I thought it increased throughout. By the time of the playoffs, he had done it a couple of times.
“He pulls off moves where you kind of look up and say, 'That was a pretty special move,' like the other night. To me, it builds confidence in a player's game and ability. It shows.
“Last year, I felt like he could make those types of plays heading into the playoffs, and I think he did. Game 1, he got it going.”
Lafreniere, who will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, said he is not thinking about his next contract at all and is just playing hockey and having fun.
The Rangers will want to think about that sooner rather than later.
A move like this doesn't come cheap now.
“I love it here,” Lafniere said of playing for the Rangers. “It's a great place. Obviously, a great team every year. Great teammates, great city.”
