Where to play Alexis Lafreniere and projecting the New York Rangers 6 man taxi squad
No matter what this season was going to be or how the NHL was going to set it up, New York Rangers fans were amped for it. The primary reason is to lay their eyes on the Blueshirts first overall pick since 1965.
Where to play Alexis Lafreniere?
This is going to be the number one question fans and analysts like myself will have. And once David Quinn answers that question, no matter how he answers it, there will be second guessing by some.
Here’s how I see it:
- Play him at LW with Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich
- Play him at LW with Mika but shift Chris Kreider to the right wing
- Play him at LW on a youth line with Filip Chytil and Julien Gauthier
Recently, Larry Brooks wrote that fans shouldn’t be surprised if Lafreniere shifts to RW on either of the top two lines. That would be interesting but could hurt Kaapo Kakko since he is penciled in to play with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome.
Of course, shifting Buchnevich down to a third line could be the answer, but in a contract year does that help his trade value if you want to move him? The answer is no.
The NYR Taxi Squad
When constructing the taxi squad, it makes sense to go with an actual unit. Three forwards, two defenseman, and one mandatory goalie. Here’s who I see being on the New York Rangers taxi squad:
- Forward, Colin Blackwell
- Forward, Tim Gettinger
- Forward, Morgan Barron
- Defense, K’Andre Miller (or Libor Hajek if Reunanen beats him out)
- Defense, Anthony Bitetto
- Goalie, Keith Kinkaid
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