Influential New Yorker columnist Larry Brooks appears to be weighing in on Alexis Lafrenière’s case these days, criticizing his lackluster performance in Rangers training camp and mincing no words in commenting on it.
In a text published on the website of the daily newspaper “New York Post”, the ice hockey journalist referred to the Quebecer’s lack of performance, which was limited to one assist in four preparatory games. If he considered Thursday’s encounter “better than previous ones” by the winger, who took part in the 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden, Brooks still used sharp words to qualify his performance.
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“[Le problème], it’s not that Lafreniere didn’t look like a first-round draft pick poised for a big season. It’s more like, most of the time, he looked like a player who was invited to a camp or a tryout, the author of the article wrote. Before he was demoted to Hartford last weekend, Matt Rempe, a sixth-round pick in 2020, made a more positive impression.
What awaits Lafrenière?
Still, Brooks believes the former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League star needs to start the season on one of the Rangers’ front two lines… but by default. In his opinion, the right wing of the second line seems to be the ideal spot for the 22-year-old skater. He also played there on Thursday, with Artemi Panarin on the left and Barclay Goodrow in the middle; He could soon make way for Filip Chytil, who is recovering from an upper body injury.
“The truth is that number 13 did not achieve a top-six finish thanks to his work during the camp and that is obvious in itself. Some might even argue that the guy from Saint-Eustache doesn’t even deserve a spot in the lineup. […] Here’s the reality: If Lafrenière can’t earn a spot at right guard in the top six, Blake Wheeler should get the mandate, and that’s too much to ask of a 37-year-old athlete who also plays on the second power play unit. Wheeler may move up the hierarchy for a short time, but the Blueshirts don’t want to see him there all the time,” the columnist wrote.
The latter believes that Lafrenière is coping, saying: “There is no indication that he was lazy in the summer, but that his work did not carry over to the ice.” According to Brooks, the fact that players who came directly after him could were selected in the 2020 draft, have much more lucrative deals than him – especially Tim Stützle – to further motivate the Quebecer.
“He seems paralyzed,” he analyzed. The Rangers need Lafrenière and want him to be a top-six pick. […] It should not be the red elephant in the room, but rather become the main topic of discussion within and outside the organization. What they ask for more than anything is to see him breathe, just that.”
New York begins the schedule with a visit to the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.