The Rangers Hadn't Talked to Lafreniere

Gorts revealed Monday night that the Rangers had not yet zoomed with Alexis Lafreniere because Gorton hadn't wanted to waste Alexis' time. Yesterday, whern  Ranger President John Davidson and Jeff Gorton spoke with the media, Gorts had been playing phone tag with Lafreniere's agent and even got a call during the media session. Hopefully, they've got that scheduled by now. Though they are paying lip service to due diligence, and probably perfforming it, they cannot hide their excitement about this prospects, already referencing his leadership and the way he "drags" everyone along with him. Davison said hadn't seen him play in person, but the Ranger scouts are always at the World Juniors and watched Alexis take them over - live. This is the no-brainer of no-brainers.

Also, it seems clear that the Rangers have to let Fast walk as a UFA, but they should also trade Buchnevich once they've picked Lafreniere. Buch is a good win, but Kakko, Lafreniere and Kravstov are all going to be better - to much better - and the kids won't develop on lines three and four. Plus, veteran that Buch now is, he sure took dumb penalty again the Canes in The Nightmare.

One thing that is a little disconcerting about the Rangers post lottery is that they are still chewing on the 3 game sweep, under unustual conditions, and thinking less about the 70 games the young and emerging Rangers had played under regular conditions.  Let's hope that's just hard feelings that will heal as they get deeper into the draft and their offseoason plans.

They should probably ask Vic Hadfield and Mark Messier to make the zoom pick and hold up a Lafrenierre #11 shirt as they do.