Why the Rangers’ Lafrenière Dilemma Is Not So Simple

Alexis Lafrenière has been the kind of player who keeps a room talking, because the talent is obvious and the next step never feels far away. Giving him a larger Rangers role sounds simple from the outside, but front offices do not hand out ice time like party favors. There are lineup dynamics, usage questions and the usual New York pressure cooker sitting right on top of it all. The Rangers know what Lafrenière can be, but the path to getting there is where the real debate lives.