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“Alexis Lafrenière is the type of player the Canadiens should be targeting.”
Marc-Olivier Cook
“Alexis Lafrenière is the type of player the Canadiens should be targeting.”
Credit: Getty Images
This summer, Kent Hughes has set his sights on improving his roster.

It could be a trade, it could be a signing… but we know that the GM of the Canadiens would like to inject some talent into his top-6.

On this subject, Adam Gretz (The Athletic and Bleacher Report) has a suggestion: go get Alexis Lafrenière in New York.

Gretz mentions this idea in reference to Jeff Gorton’s familiarity with Lafrenière.

Gorton was in charge when the Rangers selected Laffy with the first overall pick in 2020, and he knows him well.

But it’s mainly Laffy’s style that Adam Gretz thinks would be a good idea. A big forward who can produce and play tough when needed could help:

Lafrenière is the type of player the Canadiens should target, and the fact that there’s a connection between their management (Gorton) and the player would make him an intriguing possibility. – Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz wonders if a Juraj Slafkovsky vs Alexis Lafrenière deal could happen.

But if it does… it wouldn’t necessarily move things forward because the Canadiens need Slaf’s size on the top-6 forward.

Replacing one big guy with another big guy is the same thing.

But ultimately, if the Canadiens can get Lafrenière out of New York without having to give away Juraj Slafkovsky, it could get interesting.

Adding a 6’2 guy who’s already scored 28 goals and is 23 years old might be a logical idea – even more so when you consider that Lafrenière would have the opportunity to play with quality players in Montreal. He’s had that opportunity in the past in New York, but hasn’t been able to fully seize it.

On the other hand, I can’t see the Rangers giving up on Lafrenière after everything that’s happened in recent months.

They still have a nice core with guys like J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin up front, but even if Lafrenière hasn’t necessarily played up to expectations in recent years, we know he has the potential to blossom at any moment because he’s shown some really interesting flashes in the past.

And even then, he’s only 23.

The Rangers – if there is a deal – are likely to ask the moon for his services… and Kent Hughes mustn’t sacrifice his current core to go looking for another project.


In Overtime

– Maxime Truman was at CF Montreal practice this morning. Some news here:

– Patrice Bergeron is happy for his boyfriend.

– I love it.

– The mood is good at Hurricanes practice.

– Interesting.

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