Jan Levine: On which line should Alexis Lafreniere start the season? Also, should he moved to his off-wing?

1st line, 1st PP, unles he proves differently. Although 1st PP could a stretch, there’s only one puck.

Give it shot in camp, if he’s comfortable and handle the breakout from the off wing, why not?

- jimbro83

No proving in camp required? Right from the get go? Rewarded for where he was selected? No concern over Kakko's struggles?

We keep talking about pressure... whos putting pressure on him? Were still at a point on this team where we are piecing it together and getting guys to mesh. Theres no pressure on LAF to be a superstar, theres no pressure on guys to absolutely make the playoffs and make a run at the cup.

Lets remember this kid grew up under the microscope of Montreal hockey his whole life, you want to talk pressure? Hes been there done that at 18 years old.

No proving in camp required? Right from the get go? Rewarded for where he was selected? No concern over Kakko's struggles?
- airjan23

nope, he's 19 already and absolutely would have gone ahead of Hughes and Kakko if he was in last year's draft

I see McKinnon like success like he had in his first season

only thing keeping Laf from the Calder is Shesty

Totally have to see what clicks and what doesn’t. That’ll likely require some shuffling, which can also be good for a young player’s development - learning to work with many of your teammates and their different styles. To me, if a player has a proven skill set and, moreover, a solid, confident, positive make-up, then you don’t worry so much about screwing them up. By all accounts, that’s what we drafted. This should be fun...

If he can prove in camp he belongs on the 1st line, go for it.

If coaches like him on the 3rd to start the season and it creates 3 good lines, go for it.

Either way its not the end of the world.

I will say this though, having only 2 good lines is great but when they are shut down, game over for the Rangers. So they better find at minimum a 3rd line that can generate points.

And we ever want Chytil to succeed, how bout we give him good wingers. This notion that Chytil just turning 21 is a bust after playing a total of 144 games with 3rd/4th line wingers is nuts

Starting Laf on the 3rd line with a center that can't win faceoffs in Chytil isn't going to help his development.

Starting Laf on the 3rd line with a center that can't win faceoffs in Chytil isn't going to help his development.
- Fenrir

Zib was 69th for centers in FO %, he and his linemates had a pretty ok season

I am starting to come around to just play him big minutes. This offseason is so far playing out that they aren't playing to try to win next year with the moves they made. So let him get his feet wet and get experience in all areas so he is ready to rock in 2021-2022

Zib was 69th for centers in FO %, he and his linemates had a pretty ok season
- mdw7413

49% is a hell of a lot better than 38%.

I'm all for Chytil centering the 3rd line if he improves this off season. I get that he's still a kid and will likely improve.

Zib was 69th for centers in FO %, he and his linemates had a pretty ok season
- mdw7413

He was winning 49.2% of his faceoffs, Chytil was 38.4%. Thats a very significant difference.

49% is a hell of a lot better than 38%.

I'm all for Chytil centering the 3rd line if he improves this off season. I get that he's still a kid and will likely improve.
- Fenrir

He's just turned 20 (frank)ing 1 and played a total of 144 games!!! God I hope you guys weren't judged by the poop you did at 19-21 and told you can't learn to be better.

I am starting to come around to just play him big minutes. This offseason is so far playing out that they aren't playing to try to win next year with the moves they made. So let him get his feet wet and get experience in all areas so he is ready to rock in 2021-2022
- TPC

I starting to feel the same way. They're giving no indication they're taking this season seriously. I don't like it.

He's just turned 20 (frank)ing 1 and played a total of 144 games!!! God I hope you guys weren't judged by the poop you did at 19-21 and told you can't learn to be better.
- mdw7413

That's when I peaked.

I still don't get the faceoff infatuation so i am staying out of this argument.

Give me the player who can drive play and put up points, if he can't win faceoffs i will live with it

That's when I peaked.
- Fenrir

I starting to feel the same way. They're giving no indication they're taking this season seriously. I don't like it.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Yea after they were man handled by Carolina I thought we would see some changes. Outside of Jack Johnson and LAF i am not seeing much room for changes. Maybe they just decided to treat this year as a development year and when more cap space comes available next offseason we see moves. It just sucks to waste another year of Zib, Panarin and Kreiders prime years. But I guess it is what it is

I still don't get the faceoff infatuation so i am staying out of this argument.

Give me the player who can drive play and put up points, if he can't win faceoffs i will live with it
- TPC

Remember Hayes was so awful at FO and that was such an issue Ranger fdans would female dog about endlessly. He was better than Zib this year on FO. Who would you rather have?

Yea after they were man handled by Carolina I thought we would see some changes. Outside of Jack Johnson and LAF i am not seeing much room for changes. Maybe they just decided to treat this year as a development year and when more cap space comes available next offseason we see moves. It just sucks to waste another year of Zib, Panarin and Kreiders prime years. But I guess it is what it is
- TPC

Exactly 100% correct, and I'm sure the afore mention players are not happy about it either.

Remember Hayes was so awful at FO and that was such an issue Ranger fdans would female dog about endlessly. He was better than Zib this year on FO. Who would you rather have?
- mdw7413

Maybe I am the wrong person to ask cause I do miss the Hayes/Kreider partnership

But yea Zib

Exactly 100% correct, and I'm sure the afore mention players are not happy about it either.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

If they can find a way to trade Strome for an upgrade at 2C it would make me feel a little better

If Laf is on the first line, are you moving Kreider to the third line?

If they can find a way to trade Strome for an upgrade at 2C it would make me feel a little better
- TPC

Me too! Cause if they sign Strome, he as to play with Panarin. Otherwise, he's useless.