How Alexis Lafrenière upset the Rangers’ applecart

The New York Ranger had a plan, then Alexis Lafrenière dropped into their laps

First, let’s state categorically that when the New York Rangers won the draft lottery and the right to select Alexis Lafrenière with the first overall pick, it was a good thing. No, it was a great thing.  The chance to add a generational talent to an organization replete with potential was a gift from the hockey gods.  That said, it totally upset the plan that Jeff Gorton and John Davidson had probably mapped out.

20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing. It’s fun to look back at decisions that were made and ask, “why on earth did they do that?”  There have been numerous opportunities to do that this off-season.  In the long run, it will all work out, but let’s look at the the dominoes that fell when they won the lottery.

Domino #1 – The Kreider contract

When they won the lottery the Chris Kreider contract became an albatross.  There is no way that they would have signed Kreider to a seven-year, $45.5 million contract that kicks in when he is turning 29 if they knew that there were on the verge of drafting a top left wing who is NHL ready.

There were some eyebrows raised at the time they did the deal, but considering the roster and the rebuild time frame, locking him in for the next few years made sense.  Of course, they knew that the last three years of the contract will probably come back to haunt them, but with the life expectancy of NHL GM’s, it was a move worth making for Jeff Gorton.

If they hadn’t signed Kreider, he would have been the most valuable trade chip in a pre-pandemic market and could have netted the team at least a first round pick and more.  Now, he may have to be the player who makes the transition to the off-wing to make room for the star rookie, an experiment that didn’t go well last season.  The fact is the Rangers have three top six left wingers and that’s a equation that doesn’t work in the long run.