Photo courtesy, Oceanic de Rimouski
Alexis Lafreniere
In his third season in the QMJHL, which coincides with his year of eligibility for the next NHL Draft, where his name should be heard at the very top, the 18-year-old presents statistics from another planet.
Combined with Cedric Pare and Dmitri Zavgorodniy of Russia, Lafreniere already has nine goals, 20 assists and 29 points in 11 games. By counting the points of his teammates, who follow him in the ranking pointers, the explosive trio provided 78 points on the offensive Rimouski. The Oceanic (7-2-1-1) has also won its last three outings.
Acquired Oceanic during training camp after spending a season and a half under the command of Serge Beausoleil, veteran Anthony Gagnon is not surprised at the beginning of the flamboyant campaign of the native of St. Eustache.
"On his part, it does not surprise me. I practiced with him and he's such a good player. Every day he works and he wants to improve. I'm not surprised. Then, it's one of my good friends, so I'm really happy for him, "said the Remparts forward on the eve of the first of two weekend duels between the two rival clubs.
"He's a guy who works so hard during training. He is dedicated to hockey and it seems. The results are there to prove it. We must be happy for him, but tomorrow (Friday), he must be opposed. It's another challenge. It's probably the player who will come out first overall in the next draft, "said goalkeeper Carmine-Anthony Pagliarulo, who also wore the colors of the Oceanic before ending up in the Vieille Capitale last winter. .
If Gagnon, who has amassed 15 points in ten games, is keen to return to number 11, he will see him closely since the unit he formed with Felix Bibeau and James Malatesta will likely be called to neutralize the trio of the hour. in the Courteau circuit.
"We must not give him anything, we must not give him space. He does not need much for the puck to end up in the net. You really have to be careful.
"I know how good he is, he will really have to respect his talent and play well defensively. We must not make turnovers, because it will quickly turn against them, "he repeated.
And Gagnon insists: Pare and the Calgary Flames' hope also have their say in Lafreniere's success. In this context, it seems fair to speak of a three-headed monster.
"Pare really has a good shot and he scores goals. He is dangerous on the ice. Same thing for Zavgorodniy. They complement each other really well on the ice. "
One of the last opportunities to see Lafreniere for some "piasses"
Patrick Roy hopes that the crowd will be at the rendezvous for the passage of the Quebec prodigy. He also recalled an undeniable fact at the end of the training on Thursday morning.
"It's going to be in the last few times that you can come and see him for between 15 and 20 square feet. After that, it will cost a couple of cents to go see him play, maybe even more, depending on the amphitheaters. For our league, it's a player that should attract crowds. The guy who is a bit of junior hockey, it's a great opportunity to see a guy like that, "said the big boss of the Remparts hockey operations whose troupe will be looking for a seventh win in as many games.
Alexis Lafreniere's infamous production of 2.64 points per game would give him 179 points if he continued at such a pace until March. He will miss several games in December and January because of his selection with Junior Team Canada.
In his last year in Rimouski, Sidney Crosby had amassed 2.71 points per game while the last player to reach the 150-point mark was Alexander Radulov in the 2005-2006 Red Devils uniform.
"It will allow us at the same time to evaluate ourselves as a group. It's a good challenge for our defenders and for our attackers. Those who will be called to play against them (the first trio of the Oceanic), they will have to be on the boat, "said Roy.
The Remparts' surprising start to the campaign (8-2) did not go unnoticed by recruiters, who placed them fourth in the most recent national standings. Nothing, however, to make the head lose the "33".
" I saw that. I do not attach so much importance to this, because it seems to me that last week, we were not even there (Editor's note: true). What we have done, no one can take away from us, and now we must focus on what is coming for us. "
Barring a turnaround, forward Gabriel Montreuil, who has not played since October 4 in Charlottetown because of a shoulder injury, will return to play in the Quebec camp …
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https://www.journaldequebec.com/2019/10/17/le-meilleur-joueur-en-ville
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