Mike Sullivan Showing Confidence in NY Rangers Emerging Star

In turn, head coach Mike Sullivan is showing a lot more confidence in him, deploying him in situations where playing defense is the No. 1 priority.

“Sometimes just the maturation of a player, they start to gain a certain perspective on what it takes to win,” Sullivan said, via Peter Baugh of The Athletic (subscription required). “I think Laf’s commitment to play on the defensive side of the puck might be an indication of that perspective.”

One play in particular against the Islanders stands out when detailing his improved defense. Engaged in a board battle with Matthew Schaefer and Adam Pelech behind the net, Lafreniere was able to get the puck loose and slid a pass back in front of the net, where Oliver Bjorkstrand unleashed a hard slap shot.

He got the puck past Semyon Varlamov for the first goal of the game. It was just the beginning of the scoring for Lafreniere, who would record a hat trick in the game. He scored in the second period on Varlamov, showcasing an impressive snap shot that drew the attention of Mika Zibanejad.

“His ceiling, I don’t think he’s touched it yet,” Zibanejad said. 

The last of his hat trick scores came with an empty net after the Islanders pulled Varlamov to try and get back into the game. 

Having the opportunity to score twice with an empty net proves just how confident the coaching staff is in Lafreniere. It is the equivalent of being on the penalty kill unit, playing a man down in a 5-on-6 situation to preserve a lead.

Tied for the team lead with five points through five games, the breakout campaign is in full swing for Lafreniere.