Alexis Lafreniere building on last season’s breakout with Rangers
Alexis Lafreniere is not only continuing where he left off in his breakout 2023-24 season, but the New York Rangers forward is on his way to even more production this season.
The 23-year-old has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 17 games and is on pace for 68 points (33 goals, 33 assists). That would eclipse the NHL career highs he set across the board last season (57 points; 28 goals, 29 assists) in 82 games.Â
This season his totals include four primary assists, 57 chances for, 14 high-danger chances, and 263:51 TOI, the fourth most by a skater on the Rangers. He’s been a consistent force ever since opening the season with a goal and assist in the 6-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Lafreniere had a four-game point streak end in a 4-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. But he enters the game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday tied for third on the Rangers in points, and is third in goals and even-strength points (12).
He also has a team-high 21.2 shooting percentage, so the Rangers would love if Lafreniere would shoot even more. He has taken only 33 shots on goal in 17 games.
But there’s no question his star is on the rise. And that seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension Lafreniere signed recently certainly is not quelling his hunger on the ice.
“I think just holding on to pucks maybe a little longer,” Lafreniere told Vince Mercogliano earlier this week. “Try to carry pucks a little more. It’s still something I want to do more of. I want to always be moving with the puck, making more and more plays.”
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Lots to like with Alexis Lafreniere on Rangers top line
So that 18-point increase from his previous career-best last season? You can bet Lafreniere wants to blow past it this season. Just as badly as the former No. 1 overall pick wants to be a big-time player, which he showed in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, playing his best in the most important games, tying for the Rangers lead with eight goals and adding six assists in 16 postseason games.
That was all made possible with the help of linemates Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin, of course. They form one of the most dominant lines in the NHL at 5v5, recording 54 goals in 73 regular season contests, and 11 goals together in the playoffs last season.
This season, that line’s skated in 15 games together, combining for 10 goals and a 51.34 percent scoring chances for percentage 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. Though they own a 13-6 advantage in chances off the rush, that line has struggled to defend better and has only an xGF of 49.03 percent.
Lafreniere is minus-5. Trocheck is even. And Panarin is only plus-2 despite leading New York with 16 even-strength points.
Still, there’s the magic they create together, like that sweet Panarin feed that set up a Lafreniere tap in against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. The chemistry is there, and the good’s always going to outweigh the bad on that line.
Lafreniere is a massive part of that. He has 85 points (43 goals, 42 assists)Â in his past 115 games, including the 2024 playoffs.
He is achieving all this while playing just a limited 21:02 on the power play in total this season. However, he has still registered two goals on the man advantage. For comparison, Chris Kreider has skated 50:16 on the power play and rounded out last season with 288:17 time at 5v4.Â
Unlike Kreider, Lafreniere plays on his off-wing. The left shot skates on the right wing and has not looked out of place in this position since the move last training camp. It may not be quantifiable, but that is another addition to his resume that should not be overlooked.
David Quinn couldn’t get the most out of him as a rookie, and Gerard Gallant did not give him many chances to shine, but Peter Laviolette and his staff put Lafreniere in a position to succeed on the top line. And he’s growing into an NHL star, taking off with that opportunity.Â
If Lafreniere has an uptick in production in any stretch this season he could reach the 80-point plateau. It’s all green lights for the emerging talent.
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