Alexis Lafreniere has been cut from Rangers... for now

New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has announced that forward Alexis Lafrenière will not be in Wednesday night’s lineup against the Devils in New Jersey.

On top of that, Lafrenière skated at left wing on what appeared to be third line-type units for the past two days.

“Laff is not going to play [Wednesday] and with the extra players I’m trying to get reps in there,” the coach said to the New York Post. “If he played left the whole practice, it wasn’t intentional.”

“I actually had slotted him in on the right so I don’t know how it exactly panned out in practice. But the people I did want to take reps are the people who are going to actually play in [New Jersey]. He’s already played three. I don’t think it’s necessary for him to play five.

“So he’ll be one of the guys who sits out [Wednesday] and then you’ll most likely see him back in New York.”

Fans have however been asking the Rangers to move on from Lafrenière, who has been just disappointing ever since he was selected first overall in 2020 by NYC.

Lafreniere hit a career high of 39 points in 81 games last season, which isn’t bad by any measure, but it might be too late for some fans.

For tonight anyway, Laviolette is giving other players a chance to shine. We will see where Lafrenière slots in when the Rangers open the 2023-24 season against the Sabres in Buffalo next Thursday.

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