Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere Stepping Up

This season, Lafreniere picked up where he left off and has been the Rangers’ most productive forward. His line has consistently generated scoring chances at even strength, and he has set up linemates with cross-ice passes and capitalized on his own chances. He has driven to the front of the net and shown off quick hands and an accurate shot.

Lafreniere has also done a nice job on the power play, winning battles for pucks and making smart decisions about when to shoot and when to pass. Though the Rangers have missed Artemi Panarin on the power play after he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings last season, Lafreniere has been a bright spot, and he has secured a spot on the top unit after spending many seasons on the second unit.

It has taken some time for him to develop, but Lafreniere has played like a star early this season, and he has nine goals and 11 assists in 20 games. He has also continued to work on his defensive play, and the team can rely on him while holding leads late in close games.

Importance for the Rangers

Though Lafreniere has gotten off to a great start, many key Rangers have slumped to start this season. New York’s centers have combined for just nine goals in their first 20 games. Zibanejad scored twice in their 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Nov. 11, giving him five goals on the season, and J.T. Miller has four goals.

Third-line center Noah Laba has no goals and five assists in 20 games, and fourth-line center Joe Veleno has missed extended time with an injury. None of the centers filling in for him on the fourth line have scored a goal yet. Head coach Mike Sullivan briefly moved winger Will Cuylle to center to try to get more production from the Rangers’ third line.

The Rangers are also dealing with some key injuries on defense as Sean Durzi has missed six games with an upper-body injury and rookie Alberts Smits is also out with an upper-body injury. Durzi gave the team a second offensive-minded defenseman who could contribute on the power play and take some pressure off of Adam Fox, who has been excellent this season.

The combination of injuries and slumping players has made Lafreniere extremely important for the Rangers. He played like a star late last season, and he has continued to do so early this season. The key will be maintaining this level of play throughout the season and avoiding extended slumps.

Living up to Contract Expectations

Lafreniere got off to a hot start during the 2024-25 season and signed a seven-season, $52.15 million contract extension, but he struggled in the second half of the season. Late last season and early this season, he has exceeded contract expectations and become one of the Rangers’ best players. With several key players injured and other key players slumping, his strong start has helped the team continue to win games.