It's Time For A New Generation Of Rangers Players To Take Over

As key Rangers such as Breadman Panarin, 32, Vincent Trocheck, 31 and Jacob Trouba, 30, move toward the downside of their careers, the S.O.S. is flashing for young rescuers.

Hello! Alexis Lafreniere. Yoo-Hoo! K'Andre Miller.

A year ago, coincidentally, left wing Big Al and defenseman K (not Kaapo) were rated third-best at their respective positions. And they still might be.

No matter how you shake it, Breadman and Chris Kreider are better than Lafreniere while Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren top Miller on the best day K'Andre ever had.

What's the point?

The point is that as good as 24-year-old Miller was last semester, there's room for him to get better. Same for 22-year-old Lafreniere.

I'm not convinced that each was anything more than one-year wonders. Or, to put in my

Brooklynese language: Whaddya gonna do for us this season?

My 18-year-old hockey playing grandson, Ariel Fischler, closely watches; and sticks up for Miller; but with an asterisk.

"K'Andre had a good season last year," says Ariel, "and if he was a bit down, it was because he was teamed with Trouba."

All things considered, Lafreniere – he's from lovely St-Eustache, Quebec, if anyone asks – enjoyed a superior 2023-04.

By "superior," I mean that Big L was "Le Grand Flopperoo" until last season. Then someone must have whispered in his right ear, "Hey, Buddy, you were once a first overall Draft pick. What gives?"

Like beloved but unsigned Rip Van Winkle, Lafreniere awakened from his three season snooze. He not only played all 82 games but came off with good arithmetic – 28-29-57, sixth best on the team. However his plus-minus was an "eh" Plus-2.

"It was a fine revival," says The Old Scout, "now it's up to Alexis to show that he's got more than that. But, frankly, I'm not sure."

Ditto for Miller who happened to be right behind Lafreniere in seventh place on the club's scoring list. But can Miller be better than 8-22-30 over 80 games? And a Plus-5?

The Maven has more confidence in Big Al. In fact, I see him eventually rising to the top of the Blueshirts sharpshooting derby.

There's a lot to like about K'Andre as well and that's why I'd put him up as trade bait!

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