NEW YORK — Rangers GM Jeff Gorton contacted junior star Alexis Lafrenière this morning to discuss the team’s plan to select him first overall and their preference that he “fit the team model” by showing up at training camp having aged 16 years and with no apparent desire to keep playing hockey, the club recently confirmed.
“We want Alexis to come into camp ready to make an impact at the NHL level,” said Gorton in a phone interview this afternoon. “For our historic franchise, that doesn’t mean coming out with a youthful fire to prove to the world that you’ve earned your spot, it means being in your mid-30s, trying to milk one last big contract through a nagging knee injury even though you’d rather just hang up your skates and call it day. No hard feelings, kid; it’s just the Ranger way.”
Meanwhile, team sources declined to address rumors that Gorton had also called franchise record-setting goalie Henrik Lundqvist to see if he could come camp to with a $5.5 million check to recoup what the team owes him next season.
