SUNRISE, Fla. — Alexis Lafreniere’s play to start the season demanded a spot on the Rangers’ top power-play unit, but the team looked like it was going to carry over last season’s success and there was no reason to break up what was the third-best man-advantage unit in the NHL last season.
The Blueshirts and their 2020 first-overall pick have since plummeted in the opposite direction.
Now in desperate need of notable change to a struggling power play, head coach Peter Laviolette looks to be giving Lafreniere an official shot to lock up the spot after giving him a few midgame chances.
“There’s a lot of skill on it, just got to simplify it right now,” Lafreniere told The Post after the Rangers wrapped up practice Sunday. “We’re getting some looks, but I think if we simplify it, get pucks to the net, we’re going to have a couple of rebound goals or tip goals and that can get you going. Try to keep it simple.”
Lafreniere joined Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Adam Fox to make up the first unit, while Mika Zibanejad was dropped to the second with K’Andre Miller, Reilly Smith, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle.
Despite having logged some ice time with the top group, Lafreniere said focusing on reading off the players he’s out there with is the best way to try to settle into a unit that’s largely played together the last six seasons.
“Obviously, you always want to play as many minutes as you can,” he said. “Power plays, there’s games where you have a couple power plays and it keeps you involved in the game. That’s always good. Just trying to make the most of it.”
The Rangers power play, which has failed to convert on each of their 20 man-advantage opportunities over the past seven games, has been such an important part of the team’s offensive game in recent years.
Its track record of success has made it difficult for Lafreniere to crack it, but the 23-year-old wing already has two power-play goals on the season while averaging just 1:41 of ice time with the man-advantage.
“He’s a talented guy,” Laviolette said of what Lafreniere can bring to PP1. “That’s his line, with Trocheck and Panarin, so those are guys that he’s familiar with playing. It’s a different look. Different set of hands. People are moving into different positions, so we’ll see.”
The Rangers practiced in the same lines and defense pairs they deployed in Tampa Bay.
Trocheck and Cuylle are two of just six NHL players with more than 10 goals and over 100 hits.
