Alexis Lafrenière Is Starting To Play At An Elite Level
Alexis Lafrenière hasn’t been the player everyone envisioned when he was drafted 1st overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, but he is starting to finally turn some heads. Ever since Mike Sullivan put him on a line with Mika Zibanajed and Gabe Perrault, Lafrenière has looked like a completely different player.
He has been a point-per-game player since returning from the Olympic Break, and has given Rangers fans something to smile about in a very down year. It’s been a tough six seasons for the former top prospect, but at only 24 years old, there is still time for him to become a high-level player.
Lafrenière Is Playing Great
Lafrenière is playing aggressively and is finally not relying on his teammates to make plays for him. His offensive possessions continue to look better each day, as he has played extremely well consistently for two weeks. Among all NHL players since the Olympic Break, he’s had 6 goals (T-2nd), 10 points (T-6th), 4 5v5 goals (T-2nd), and 7 5v5 points (T-3rd).
Last night against the Calgary Flames, he had the second hat trick of his NHL career. The new line with Mika and Gabe has exceeded expectations, and the Rangers are playing great hockey coming out of the break. This is the biggest lane he’s had in his time with the Rangers, getting consistent time on the first line and the first power-play unit.
Was Panarin the Problem?
The former first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft spent the majority of his career playing alongside Artemi Panarin, who was recently dealt to the Los Angeles Kings. Heading into the draft, one of the biggest things about Lafrenière’s game was his ability to make plays on his own and play at a very fast pace. Panarin was the complete opposite, playing a slow, more patient style. Since he was traded, Lafrenière has looked better.
It’s hard to put the sole blame on Panarin, given that the Rangers have completely botched Lafrenière’s development early on. Keeping him on the third and fourth lines and not giving him time on the power play is what held him back. New York did this with many other top prospects over the years, including Kappo Kakko. Regardless, this is the first time he’s played consistently well, at a point-per-game pace.
Important Stretch For the Rangers
As we get closer to the end of the regular season, a very important stretch lies ahead in the rest of March and April. Let’s forget the wins and losses for a second and instead prioritize developing young players like Gabe Perrault, Alexis Lafrenière, Will Cuylle, and others. If they keep winning with the young pieces producing, the fanbase cannot take it as a negative.
Reality is, the NHL Draft Lottery is a disaster. No matter how high your odds are, things always seem to go the opposite way. The New York Islanders are living proof, jumping up all the way to first overall after heading into it with the 10th-highest odds. This Rangers team could really be turned around quickly if the young talent continues to develop and if they can somehow land a high pick on top of that.
They have a ton of draft capital this year, and General Manager Chris Drury needs to take advantage of it and hit on every single one possible. Gabe Perrault already looks to be a hit, and he’ll have two first-round picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. After a disappointing Trade Deadline where they held onto top asset Vincent Trocheck, the Rangers are playing better, and the fanbase finally has something to be happy about.
