New York Rangers legend Ron Duguay seen snowing on Broadway. The famous striker with curly hair personified one of the most popular players with New York fans in the 1970s and 1980s on the ice of Madison Square Garden.
Himself a former first-round choice of the club, in 1977, the Franco-Ontarian understands what Alexis Lafrenière is going through. The former NHL star has already been in the bad graces of his head coach, despite a successful 40-goal season at age 24.
Above, watch the interview that former star Ron Duguay gave to journalist Louis-André Larivière.
Next spring will also mark the 40th anniversary of the unpopular trade – Rangers fans are still talking regarding it – that sent Duguay from the Big Apple to car town.
Until then, it will be interesting to see if Lafrenière will get going to dispel doubts in Manhattan or if the doors will close like those of a New York subway car. Stand clear of the closing doors.
Falling ice time
Since the Eustachois’ last goal on December 7, his usage average has dropped to 13:43 before Thursday night’s game in Montreal. It was then the third lowest average for his skaters among skaters who played 10 or more games during this period.
Just two years following Rangers made him the first overall pick in the draft, in 2020, Lafrenière appears to be slipping down the pecking order. What’s more, his first professional contract will expire in the summer.
For Duguay, a change of scenery would be beneficial both for the management and for the player, whose potential does not manifest itself with consistency or conviction in his third professional season.
Photo credit: Martin Chevalier / JdeM
“I watched it for two years. I don’t think he might be better than a 20-goal scorer, he explained during a generous interview with TVASports.ca earlier this week. Not because I don’t like it, but because it lacks speed. I figured he’s a player they might be looking to trade.
“The Rangers have a good team and they want to win the Stanley Cup within two years. He is not giving enough right now to be on the first two lines and for the team to aspire to great honors.
Montreal, the ideal destination?
Historically, organizations don’t trade a youngster selected with the first overall pick unless there is an admission of failure or a new administration decides to change the look of the roster they inherited.
In this sense, might the man who spoke the name of Lafrenière at the microphone in 2020 try to put the hook on him? For Duguay, this is the ideal scenario.
“The Montreal Canadiens,” he exclaims. If Rangers were going forward, I think that’s the first place they would look. (Jeff) Gorton, who is vice-president, drafted him and Martin St-Louis, whom I love, is doing a good job. He is a smart trainer.
“With the young players in Montreal, I think he would have an opportunity, on the first two lines, to relax and concentrate on playing. He seems to handle the pressure well. If he went anywhere, the Canadiens with Martin St-Louis behind the bench, it would be a good destination if the two clubs might conclude a fair exchange.
Duguay thinks an established player built for the playoffs might serve as the bait to whet the appetite of Rangers GM Chris Drury. The latter did not hesitate to compromise for the spring ball and this trend should continue this year following a presence in the final of the East in 2022.
“Last year, they reached the final of association because they acquired four different players, recalls it with accuracy while evoking Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano, Tyler Motte and Justin Braun. Guys with speed and aggressiveness.
The likeable 65-year-old Ontarian even goes so far as to suggest the name of a Habs veteran who might interest Drury: “a ‘guy’ like… Gallagher!”
Photo credit: Ron Duguay in an interview with TVA Sports
“It’s the heart of Canadians,” he says. That’s what New York lacks. The Rangers are easy to play once morest. They have good players, but they are not tough. Gallagher, I love him!”
The author of these lines specifies that the annual salary of $ 6.5 million that Gallagher will pocket until 2027 would complicate such a scenario if a percentage is not retained or if the CH does not take an imposing salary in return.
“They would only need it for two years to try to win the cup. That’s all!” he exclaims with a contagious smile.
Would Josh Anderson be more marketable? In any case, nothing indicates that Lafrenière is on the market at the time of writing these lines.
Obviously, the situation might change in view of the playoffs or during the next amateur auction when teams will have fewer constraints with their payroll. If so, the Rangers would almost certainly demand a first-round pick as well as a prospect.
If he was in Drury’s shoes, Duguay would have traded Lafrenière last summer, a few weeks following he offered good hockey in the playoffs.
“From what I’ve seen of him in the playoffs, he worked hard and he was tougher. I was like, ‘I don’t see him as a great player (in New York), trade him now!
In defense of Gallant
While head coach Gerard Gallant has often drawn criticism for losing patience with young players, if only to send a message, Duguay was keen to defend his former Detroit Red Wings teammate.
“I love Gerard Gallant. He is a very good person. The issue with a manager these days is that he feels immense pressure to win every game. It is this meeting that might determine whether or not he will reach the playoffs.
Photo credit: Photo Martin Chevalier
“He drives to win. Knowing how he is with young players, he has a very good understanding, because he has already been too. With Alexis, I think he did a good job. He has already given him quality ice time on the first two lines.
Gallant made a cheeky decision by sending the former Rimouski Océanic to the press bridge in Tampa on December 29. The day before the sentence, he transferred him to the fourth line in training. Journalists assigned to Rangers coverage wondered if more than just punishment should be read between the lines. Gallant countered that he “has to be better.”
Three days later he inserted it on the third line with Filip Chytil and Jimmy Vesey at Sunrise, where he used it for 11:48 – his lowest time of the season.
Not a “flop”
Before facing the Canadiens on Thursday, Laffy had seven goals and 17 points in 38 games.
As for performances, Duguay notices that Lafrenière has been playing with more robustness since last year, which is what his coach asked him to do. Like many observers, he does not believe the winger is a flop at 21 years old.
On the other hand, he is of the opinion that the Rangers have set their sights on the Quebecer in the very first row of the vintage because of a “weaker” vintage and which did not offer “no concession player”.
According to him, it is his speed, even improved, that is hurting his performance in his third campaign and that will prevent him from belonging to the NHL’s elite. His confidence also needs to recover.
Photo credit: Twitter screenshot
“I like the ‘kid’, but it hasn’t been easy for him to score goals and produce at the level that was expected of him. He’s a good player, a good playmaker, smart, and he’s able to put the puck in the net.
“It didn’t unlock for him, even though he’s still very young.”
Fortunately, Rangers fans aren’t hard on Lafrenière.
“They see that he is working to improve.”
Wild nights in Manhattan: the second part of the interview with Ron Duguay will be published Sunday morning on TVASports.ca.
