Blue Line Station
Fansided

Enough with the Lafrenière bashing

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers sits on the bench prior to warm-ups before the game against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on February 08, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 08: Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers sits on the bench prior to warm-ups before the game against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on February 08, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Oct 21, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant talks with New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant talks with New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) during the second period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Gallant’s gentle nudge

Coach Gerard Gallant is quick to compliment players when they have good games, but rarely calls out individual players for poor efforts and when he mentioned Lafrenière by name after the Calgary game it got noticed immediately.

To his credit, Lafrenière took ownership and acknowledged the need to be better.  Remember, players are provided to the press after games and practice and he agreed to face the gauntlet of questions after Gallant’s remarks.  He could have just stayed in the locker room after practice.

From Lafrenière’s remarks it is clear that he felt that Gallant was not criticizing as much as he was challenging him to do better.  Consider it a gentle nudge from the coach to a gifted player.

So what are our expectations?

Home/Analysis