Lafrenière’s progress and Chytil ready to play?
By Steve Paulus
Lafrenière’s progress
The stories that will come out of practice will focus on Alexis Lafrenière, who has shown some offensive spark lately. David Quinn talked about him saying “We’re trying to have a 19-year-old play like a 24-year-old, because he plays important minutes. He’s on our top two lines right now and that demands a lot, we’re demanding a lot from a 19-year-old and sometimes it can be unrealistic.”
What’s a little strange about that assessment is it appears that the rookie is actually thriving under those demands. He has a goal and two assists in his last four games and has shown more offensive instincts in those games than he has all season. While the scoring is surely giving him some more confidence, it also appears that a skilled player is finally playing with linemates who complement that skill level.
Lafrenière himself said that “I’m making more plays, skating more with the puck…more confidence with the puck on my stick, as an offensive player that’s what you are looking for.”
He was asked about playing with Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich. “We’re building a chemistry, and we’ll still get better, still trying to figure out things on the ice . The more you play with people it[s going to help us on the ice.”
The odd thing is he scored his goal playing with Artemi Panarin and his assists were on goals by Ryan Strome and Colin Blackwell and he has yet to put up any points with Zibanejad and Buchnevich.
The Eichel rumors
The Jack Eichel trade rumors just won’t go away and will hit a fever pitch with the Sabres coming to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. The Sabres were shut out twice over the weekend by Philadelphia and have lost seven of their last nine since coming back from a COVID hiatus.
Again, there is no reason to believe that a deal is in the works and the Sabres have maintained that Eichel is not available,but there are many reasons a trade with the Rangers would make the most sense. He has two goals and 14 points in 17 games for the Sabres who are in last pace in the East Division.