Alexis Lafreniere ready for shot with Rangers’ top power-play unit
NY Post
SUNRISE, Fla. — Alexis Lafreniere’s play to start the season demanded a spot on the Rangers’ top power-play unit, but the team looked like it was going to carry over last season’s success and there was no reason to break up what was the third-best man-advantage unit in the NHL last season.
The Blueshirts and their 2020 first-overall pick have since plummeted in the opposite direction.
Now in desperate need of notable change to a struggling power play, head coach Peter Laviolette looks to be giving Lafreniere an official shot to lock up the spot after giving him a few midgame chances.
“There’s a lot of skill on it, just got to simplify it right now,” Lafreniere told The Post after the Rangers wrapped up practice Sunday. “We’re getting some looks, but I think if we simplify it, get pucks to the net, we’re going to have a couple of rebound goals or tip goals and that can get you going. Try to keep it simple.”
Lafreniere joined Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Adam Fox to make up the first unit, while Mika Zibanejad was dropped to the second with K’Andre Miller, Reilly Smith, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle.
Despite having logged some ice time with the top group, Lafreniere said focusing on reading off the players he’s out there with is the best way to try to settle into a unit that’s largely played together the last six seasons.
It should come as no surprise by now that the Knicks lead the NBA in minutes played by their dynamic starting five by a considerable margin.
WASHINGTON — Before Jonas Valanciunas signed his three-year, $32 million deal with the Wizards — a free agent contract that felt almost immediately like a future trade piece — the bruising center heard a little bit about the Knicks’ interest.
The 49ers and Lions sure know how to put on an entertaining show for a game that meant nothing to either team.