Why Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere might still approach stardom
The book is supposedly out on New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere as he enters his seventh NHL season. The […]
New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, may still have the potential to reach stardom despite being seen as a quality player rather than a franchise forward. After a disappointing start to the 2026-27 season, he has shown improvement, scoring a career-high three goals in two consecutive games.
Coach Mike Sullivan believes that Lafreniere's maturity and daily process contribute to his recent performance. Comparisons to other high draft picks, such as Sam Reinhart, Martin Necas, and Pavel Buchnevich, suggest that Lafreniere's ceiling may be higher than initially thought. Reinhart, who improved significantly after joining the Florida Panthers, scored 189 goals and 385 points in his first five seasons.
Necas, after initial regression, hit the 100-point mark with Colorado in 2025-26. Buchnevich, a former Ranger, transformed from an uncertain player to a highly productive NHL regular, scoring at least 20 goals each of his five seasons with the Blues. These examples indicate that with the right environment and development, Lafreniere has the potential to become a star player.
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