The Alexis Lafrenière Hype

As a Red Wings fan who is desperate for an upside after this season fell short due to COVID-19, Alexis Lafrenière is definitely a player who has been on my mind. Coming up on the NHL draft this summer, he is by far the top prospect coming into the 2019-2020 entry draft. But is the hype surrounding this kid legit? Let's dive in.

Living up to expectations is hard. A lot of pressure is put on you after being drafted. Jack Hughes (the former 1st overall pick) would definitely be one to admit that. Hughes tallied just 7 goals and 14 assists in 61 games for the Devils this season, and for the most part, has been a disappointment. Do I think Alex will suffer the same fate? No. I've been watching this kid for awhile and have been studying a lot of film and stats. From what I have seen, he seems to have a lot of great potential to become a star in the NHL and has the potential to come into a team, like the Red Wings, and have an immediate impact.

Alex has been a star night-in and night-out for the Rimouski Oceanic in the QMJHL. In this past season alone, Alex tallied 112 points. He is a very skilled left-winger who isn't afraid to use his passion and grit to win games. He may not be the fastest skater for a likely first overall pick, but what he doesn't have in skating, he certainly makes up for in every other department of his game. His incredible puck-handling skills make defenders look silly. He has size, weighing in at 192 pounds, and can play a very fast, physical game, wearing down his opponents in every way imaginable. His hockey IQ is off the charts, he doesn't make very many mistakes on the ice, and will make you pay. Being a high-scoring winger, you would think his defense would be lacking, but he plays as if he was a center, taking on a very versatile, dependable role for his team. He always has a great feel for the net, and if you put the puck in front, good luck stopping him. The puck will be in the back of the net before the goalie has time to think.

From what I have noticed about his game, he plays very similar to Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars. His smarts, skill, physicality, and passion for the game is second-to-none. His shot is lethal. Overall, he's very close to being NHL-ready. The question is: would he be a good-fit for the Detroit Red Wings?

If the Red Wings do win the lottery, and land the prize, this presents the opportunity for the Red Wings to really get the rebuild process moving quickly. A scoring winger with Larkin would accelerate this team in ways that would blow our minds and potentially make the Red Wings a contender for the Cup in the near future. This adds a lot of excitement and hope for the Wings' future. Any team would be lucky to have this future star, but let's hope it's us!