Alexis Lafrenieres Rangers payday is a reward for everyone involved
It always resonated with me that even when Alexis Lafreniere was going through his most disappointing days through the first three years of his career, the first-overall pick of the 2020 draft was always so popular among his teammates.The Rangers have had a veteran room for a long time.Had there been an iota of truth to the smears and allegations on social media about Lafreniere not caring and about Lafreniere drinking away his summers, he would have been run out of the room.Instead, though, one veteran after another would tell you how special a teammate and talent Lafreniere was, how they could see it every day at the rink, how they appreciated his attitude, humor and work ethic.Maybe the Rangers didn’t mess this up, after all.The lad from Saint-Eustache who nabbed the Back Page of The Post three times before he even slipped into his No.
13 Blueshirt cashed in on Friday, signing a seven-year, $52.15 million extension that equates to annual $7.45M cap charge.You might say the organization cashed in, too.Because over the last calendar year, Lafreniere’s talent and hockey IQ have blasted off with booster-rocket linemates Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.
The winger’s elite instincts are obvious.There is a sure-styled confidence to his game that includes a heaping of edge when at his best.
He has seized the moment and he has seized his career.He is the guy who commanded the Back Page.Is anyone else old enough to remember when the left-handed Lafreniere could not make the switch to right wing?I don’t particularly subscribe to the theory that Lafreniere was suppressed in his rookie season by then-head coach David Quinn, but the second year with Gerard Gallant behind the bench was kind of bonkers the way the coach would insist Lafreniere was not comfortable moving to his off-wing while the player sat at his locker on a daily basis saying he had no issue at all moving to the right.
There was something, though, between them that always seemed a little off.Pe...