Deep Thoughts • 18/12/2019
Deep Thoughts Sudbury Star - December 18th 2019 - Lafrenniere or Byfield
Deep Thoughts
With
Mark Seidel
The Battle for #1 Overall
As we are at the dawn of the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championships & hockey fans gather around their televisions to watch teenagers from across this country battle against other nations top players, there will be one interesting sub plot to the whole event. The battle to be the 1st overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has ostensibly come down to 2 kids and they are teammates on Team Canada. Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield have separated themselves from the pack and thus every move they make, interview they give & play they make on the ice will be scrutinized by fans and scouts alike. Throughout the tournament, you will hear names like Lundell, Askarov, Stuetzle, Raymond, Rossi & Holtz as the “experts” discuss the top picks for the Draft but make no mistake, this battle is between Lafreniere & Byfield. As the tournament begins, I fully expect that you will see Alexis Lafreniere featured a lot more than Quinton Byfield for the simple fact that he played for Team Canada last year & he is almost 1 year older. He will be one of the offensive focal points after putting up a staggering 70 points in 32 games in the QMJHL this season. As a rookie on this team, Byfield will be lower in the lineup & be asked to play more of a role because of the incredible depth to his game, his ability to play Centre or Left Wing & his tremendous skating ability. Based on how this tournament should unfold and their individual roles, a lot of fans and pundits will reach the end of fortnight and deem Lafreniere the top player for the Draft in June. But should they? Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, Quinton Byfield is almost a full year younger and that development window is hugely important. Secondly, he plays the Centre position with a 6’4 frame and has incredible skating ability. He also has a more complete game away from the puck than Lafreniere does & he still has to really fill in physically. I see him in the NHL in 5 years as a cross between Alexander Barkov & Anze Kopitar. On the other hand, there is no doubt in my mind that Lafreniere is the better player at this time and his ability to generate offense is breathtaking. He has a pro shot & is extremely underrated as a playmaker. Furthermore, his leadership is impressive & his hockey IQ is elite for any player inside the NHL or outside of it. When Lafreniere reaches his ceiling in the NHL I think he will be a cross between Pat Lafontaine & Jonathon Huberdeau. In the scouting world we have to make hard decisions & forecast what a player will be like when they are 25 years old & thus the question becomes “Who would you take 1st overall in the 2020 Draft at this moment”? There is still 6 months to go before the Draft in Montreal and a lot can change but contrary to most Pundits & Scouts, my choice would be Quinton Byfield from the Sudbury Wolves. Alexis Lafreniere is going to be an offensive catalyst in the NHL but Byfield will become the big, stud Centreman that every team highly covets. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas & a prosperous & Happy New Year! Those are my Deep Thoughts. – Mark Seidel
With
Mark Seidel
The Battle for #1 Overall
As we are at the dawn of the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championships & hockey fans gather around their televisions to watch teenagers from across this country battle against other nations top players, there will be one interesting sub plot to the whole event. The battle to be the 1st overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft has ostensibly come down to 2 kids and they are teammates on Team Canada. Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield have separated themselves from the pack and thus every move they make, interview they give & play they make on the ice will be scrutinized by fans and scouts alike. Throughout the tournament, you will hear names like Lundell, Askarov, Stuetzle, Raymond, Rossi & Holtz as the “experts” discuss the top picks for the Draft but make no mistake, this battle is between Lafreniere & Byfield. As the tournament begins, I fully expect that you will see Alexis Lafreniere featured a lot more than Quinton Byfield for the simple fact that he played for Team Canada last year & he is almost 1 year older. He will be one of the offensive focal points after putting up a staggering 70 points in 32 games in the QMJHL this season. As a rookie on this team, Byfield will be lower in the lineup & be asked to play more of a role because of the incredible depth to his game, his ability to play Centre or Left Wing & his tremendous skating ability. Based on how this tournament should unfold and their individual roles, a lot of fans and pundits will reach the end of fortnight and deem Lafreniere the top player for the Draft in June. But should they? Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, Quinton Byfield is almost a full year younger and that development window is hugely important. Secondly, he plays the Centre position with a 6’4 frame and has incredible skating ability. He also has a more complete game away from the puck than Lafreniere does & he still has to really fill in physically. I see him in the NHL in 5 years as a cross between Alexander Barkov & Anze Kopitar. On the other hand, there is no doubt in my mind that Lafreniere is the better player at this time and his ability to generate offense is breathtaking. He has a pro shot & is extremely underrated as a playmaker. Furthermore, his leadership is impressive & his hockey IQ is elite for any player inside the NHL or outside of it. When Lafreniere reaches his ceiling in the NHL I think he will be a cross between Pat Lafontaine & Jonathon Huberdeau. In the scouting world we have to make hard decisions & forecast what a player will be like when they are 25 years old & thus the question becomes “Who would you take 1st overall in the 2020 Draft at this moment”? There is still 6 months to go before the Draft in Montreal and a lot can change but contrary to most Pundits & Scouts, my choice would be Quinton Byfield from the Sudbury Wolves. Alexis Lafreniere is going to be an offensive catalyst in the NHL but Byfield will become the big, stud Centreman that every team highly covets. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas & a prosperous & Happy New Year! Those are my Deep Thoughts. – Mark Seidel
Sports. Stories. Honesty. Unbiased.
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