Rangers lines tonight: Lafreniere stays on top line and PP1

Per Vince Mercogliano, Alexis Lafreniere will stay on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad for tonight’s preseason game against the Devils. Kaapo Kakko will be on the second line with Will Cuylle, an interesting combination. Brennan Othmann will get a look with Blake Wheeler again, this time with Nick Bonino as his center.

Lafreniere will also be on the top powerplay unit, along with Cuylle, Zibanejad, Kreider, and Adam Fox. It’s interesting that Cuylle is getting that look and not Kakko, who will be on PP2 with Othmann, Wheeler, Jonny Brodzinski, and K’Andre Miller.

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that Peter Laviolette will try all combinations that he thinks will work. He will also put the kids with a shot at breaking camp with the team (Cuylle, Zac Jones) and the kids that could be midseason call ups (Othmann) in positions to succeed.