The Rise And Fall Of Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafrenière has shown flashes of brilliance and flashes of disappointment.

The Rangers won a big – aren't they all? – game in Columbus on Saturday and that should have been cause for at least moderate jubilation.

But as The Maven pored over the commentaries one name caught my attention – it was Alexis Lafrenière.

And – unlike peanuts at your favorite bar – they were not complementary.

Old Pal Sean Avery offered this: "Lafrenière's lack of effort on the backcheck was inexcusable – in back to back games."

Veteran Rangers columnist Rick Carpiniello likened Lafrenière's laziness to onetime Ranger Kevin Hayes.

"Lafrenière's level of laziness has surpassed Hayes," Rick noted. The Athletic's Arthur Staple: "Lafrenière looked gassed on the backcheck."

The quality plunge in Lafreniere's play since he was gifted with a substantial new contract earlier in the season is disturbing to say the least. (From the flick "Take The Money And Run!")