New York Rangers Will Look To Keep Alexis Lafrenière
Last week, the New York Rangers announced that they’ll be “re-tooling” the team as they sit at the bottom of the standings. Rumors have been flying around about which players they’re open to trading, and who is most likely to stay. Alexis Lafrenière is among those who will remain with the team.
The Rangers selected Lafrenière with the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, with hopes that he would become the next franchise superstar. Unfortunately, he’s fallen way short of those expectations and could become one of the biggest busts in NHL history. Even though he’s struggled this far, at only 24 years old, Chris Drury and the Rangers don’t want to give up on him just yet.
Lafrenière Has Taken a Step Back
After what we all thought was a breakout campaign in the 2024 NHL Playoffs, Lafrenière has taken a huge step back. In 16 games, he had 8 goals, 6 assists, and a plus-minus of +2. For the first time in his tenure with the Rangers, he looked like the player everyone expected him to be. The best play came in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Florida Panthers.
He was able to weave through three defenders to score an exceptional back-handed goal while falling. Lafrenière was extremely aggressive on the ice, taking over plays by himself, which is why he was selected first overall. Since then, he has appeared like a shadow of his former self. When he has an open lane, he’ll immediately pass it back even if there’s no one there to move the puck, and he just looks completely uninterested in playing.
Much of the blame can be pointed toward the Rangers’ inability to develop young talent, and Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette not trusting him enough on the power play and constantly moving him out of the lineup, making it hard for him to find any constant pairings.
Why Trading Top Talent Could Help Him
While he’s struggled thus far, moving top talent could really benefit him. Getting rid of someone like Artemi Panarin could allow Lafrenière to return to his natural position at left wing and change the game plan to better suit his needs. One of the biggest things the Rangers need to do to succeed in the coming seasons is get Lafrenière back to playing fast-paced and taking things himself.
The good news is that if there’s any coach who can fix him and help him return to his old form, it’s Mike Sullivan. To get him back to where the Rangers need him, Lafrenière needs to trust his instincts and be the focal point on whatever line he’s on. Sullivan needs to encourage him to attack the middle and not just dump and chase the puck, relying on guys like Panarin to make all of the plays for him.
With many veterans expected to be moved, Sullivan can focus on developing young talent, no matter the record. If he can put in the time and effort to fix Alexis Lafrenière, it could greatly accelerate the so-called “re-tool” for the New York Rangers.
It Will Be a Long 2 Months
With the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6, the next two months will be tense for the Rangers. Panarin is likely to be traded, with contending teams competing for his services. Drury must be creative, as Panarin will choose his destination, making the right deal more complicated.
Vincent Trocheck is also a top name on the market. As teams look to bolster center depth, Trocheck will fetch New York a haul of young talent and draft picks. It’s do-or-die for Drury, who can’t afford to miss on trades in the coming weeks.
