Alexis Lafreniere holds the key to all-important Rangers lineup challenge

The conversation started more than five years ago from the moment the Rangers knew they were in position to draft left wing Alexis Lafrenière first overall after winning the 2020 lottery.

The team already had Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider on the left. So the question was whether the Blueshirts would be better off stacking their left wings or shifting one to the right so that Lafrenière would have the opportunity to get top-six minutes?

The debate went back-and-forth for years like the disc in a Nok Hockey game, and through the lad’s first three NHL head coaches in David Quinn, Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette. Now it is incoming coach — yep, fourth head coach in No. 13’s six-year career — Mike Sullivan to make the determination.

“We’ve been talking about this for so long, haven’t we?” Lafrenière said in a conversation with The Post after Thursday’s first training camp session. “I’m honestly comfortable on both sides. After two years on the right, you get used to it, getting reps. It doesn’t make a big difference to me. Wherever they need me, I’ll be ready.