Rangers rising star among top NHL wings under 23
Though he may not yet be considered one of the best wingers in the NHL, Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers is clearly on the rise after a breakout 2023-24 season. In fact, NHL.com listed him as one of the 10 best wings under the age of 23.
The 22-year-old forward likely didn’t sniff this list a year ago. But after scoring an NHL career-high 28 goals and totaling 57 points in the regular season, and then tying for the Rangers lead with eight goals in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games, last season, Lafreniere is firmly entrenched on that NHL.com list this year.
If he continues his upward trend into stardom, the former No. 1 overall pick might just land at the top of the under-23 grouping next summer. That’ll likely help him add a few more dollars to his bank account, too, considering Lafreniere is due to be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of this upcoming season.
Lafreniere can’t become an unrestricted free agent until after the 2026-27 season, but the Rangers could be thinking about a long-term deal next summer if Lafreniere successfully builds on his breakout campaign.
There’s no doubt Lafreniere benefitted by playing on a line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck last season. And coach Peter Laviolette deserves credit for committing to Lafreniere in a top-six role right from training camp despite unfulfilled promise over his first three NHL seasons.
But it takes a special player to play with the best players in the world. And Lafreniere proved more than capable last season, fitting in seamlessly with Panarin, who had 120 points (second most in a singles Rangers season), and Trocheck, an NHL All-Star who had a career-high 77 points.
He was consistent, physical and more confident. Lafreniere also broke out with a five-point game (three goals, two assists) against the Arizona Coyotes late in the season and carried that swag in to the playoffs. There, Lafreniere was a force through three rounds, twice scoring two goals in a game and leading the Rangers with four goals in the Eastern Conference Final six-game defeat when no one else found a way to produce against the Florida Panthers.
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Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere joins impressive group in NHL.com under-23 list
Lafreniere is joined on NHL.com’s list by an impressive group of talented forwards. One other former No. 1 overall pick joined Lafreniere, that being Juraj Slafkovsky of the Montreal Canadiens, who was the top selection in the 2022 draft.
Also, Quinton Byfield, who was chosen No. 2 after Lafreniere in 2020 by the Los Angeles Kings, is on the list. Like Lafreniere, Byfield found his stride last season after being considered a disappointment his first three in the NHL. The rugged forward broke out with 20 goals and 55 points in 2023-24.
Only two players on the list scored more goals than the Rangers winger did in 2023-24. Lucas Raymond, the Calder Trophy runner-up in 2021-22, scored 31 goals for the Detroit Red Wings last season. He also led the Red Wings with 72 points in 82 games. Matt Boldy of the Minnesota Wild scored 29 goals last season, and finished with 69 points in 75 games.
Also included was Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, who equaled Lafreniere’s output with 28 goals last season; 21-year-old William Eklund of the San Jose Sharks; fellow 21-year-old Dylan Guenther of the Utah hockey club; Nils Hoglander of the Vancouver Canucks; and St. Louis Blues forward Jake Neighbours.
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