Three reasons why Lafreniere will be a success on Broadway
Another star is on his way to the New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere looks destined to succeed in The Big Apple.
Yes, you were not dreaming on Monday when the New York Rangers won the 2020 NHL Lottery Draft and the chance to draft a generational talent.
It was another huge moment for this franchise who have made giant strides over the last year or so, and their offense is about to look a hell of a lot scarier if that is even possible.
Of course, a lot can happen between now and the 2020 NHL Entry Draft in October but it would be a huge shock if the Blueshirts didn’t select Lafreniere with the No.1 overall pick.
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Adding a player with elite playmaking ability, impeccable character and a high compete level to a core already featuring the likes of Igor Shesterkin, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad should only accelerate a return to the glory days.
It also adds more depth given that Lafreniere would become the third stud left winger on the roster alongside Panarin and Chris Kreider, and the mind already boggles at the thought of Lafreniere and Panarin on the ice together.
Overall, the Rangers would take another significant step forward by drafting a ready made talent in the ilk of Lafreniere, who will provide an instant offensive spark and yet another potent weapon to add to the power play.
But, will Alexis Lafreniere succeed in The Big Apple?
All number 1 overall picks enter the league with some pressure on their shoulders, and there will be a lot of attention on an 18-year-old who is being mentioned in the same conversations as Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
And, as we are all well aware of, the spotlight is just that much brighter in New York with a plethora of talk shows and never-ending newspaper columns heaping on the pressure.
However, we’ve come up with three reasons as to why Alexis Lafreniere will only shine on Broadway at the World’s Most Famous Arena…
1. Marketability
There is a lot of glamour attached to a No.1 pick and a lot of expectation too given that they are the immediate face of the franchise.
It won’t be any different with Alexis Lafreniere.
But the soon to be 19-year-old appears to be built for the big stage and many hockey experts have already opined that he’ll be perfect for the New York Rangers.
After all, he boasts a high compete level and is said to be a born winner which will immediately endear him to Blueshirts the world over.
Lafreniere also seems to have the mentality to be able to handle the pressures of New York and everything that comes with playing in such a fierce market where the spotlight is always on.
As such, he’ll be able to handle being marketed as a star and that’s exactly what the Rangers will do.
From a last name that is just made for the sport of hockey to a skillset that should take the NHL by storm from day one, Lafreniere is a branding dream and he’s a perfect match for the Rangers.
Jerseys should fly off the shelves and there will be a hell of a lot of promotional opportunities around Lafreniere, which should help to make him a star and a success in New York.
2. High-octane drive
Everything you read about Alexis Lafreniere the player and the person just impresses you.
Blessed with a real will to win and a drive to be the very best in his profession, Lafreniere has the perfect makeup for a No.1 overall pick.
As mentioned in the previous slide, his character and mentality should help him to navigate the pressures that come with playing in a New York market.
But, more important than that, the generational talent plays with a real edge and isn’t a player who relies just on his dazzling skill.
No, the 18-year-old plays with a real edge and he loves to throw a huge hit in order to open up a game and give his teammates a jolt of energy.
New Yorkers love grit and Lafreniere will bring that by the bucketload.
He’ll drive to the net, he’ll get to the dirty areas and he’s going to win battles all over the ice and do what it takes to win.
That kind of play will not only win the respect of his teammates from the get-go, but it will also get Rangers fans to fall in love with him pretty damn quick.
And, if that wasn’t enough, Lafreniere boasts the elite kind of skill that could make him one of the most exciting young talents in the National Hockey League.
He’ll have a plethora of talented teammates to create for, while the 112 points he put up in just 52 games for Rimouski suggests that he’ll have no trouble getting on the scoreboard on a nightly basis either.
The winger already boasts an impressive resume having been crowned the MVP for Canada at the 2020 World Juniors, along with winning CHL Player of the Year on two occasions and CHL Rookie of the Year.
Given that he plays a style of hockey that is perfectly suited to North America and won’t have to adapt to a new culture, expect Lafreniere to be ready to go in the NHL from day one and also make an immediate impact.
He certainly has all the tools in his arsenal needed to light it up for the New York Rangers from the get-go, and his drive and burning desire to succeed should allow him to do just that.
3. Cadre of talent
The New York Rangers are building an impressive crew. A real impressive crew.
After stockpiling what was a barren farm system, the Rangers are now an organization flush with talent and Alexis Lafreniere will only add to that.
And that’s why Lafreniere will be a home run in New York.
Hockey is a real team sport and we’ve seen in Edmonton with Connor McDavid that one star doesn’t translate to success or Stanley Cups.
That won’t be the case for Lafreniere in The Big Apple.
He’ll be surrounded by a boatload of potent weapons including his favorite player to watch in Artemi Panarin, and Kaapo Kakko is still destined to be a star in this league despite an up and down rookie year.
Plus, there’s more help on the way.
It's a good take. 👀#NYR | @artemiypanarin pic.twitter.com/BJI5xUjaOi
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 11, 2020
Vitali Kravtsov should finally make the full-time leap to the NHL in 2020-21, and defenseman K’Andre Miller could crack the roster after making Training Camp prior to the restart.
Add recently signed center Morgan Barron into the mix, coupled with the fact that the Rangers have another pick in the First Round in 2020, then Lafreniere will have plenty of help.
He’ll also be given every opportunity to make the kind of impact previous No.1 draft choices McDavid and Auston Matthews made in their rookie years given that he’ll have the likes of Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider around him.
Zibanejad is quickly establishing himself as a top center in the NHL and Head Coach David Quinn could decide to put out a stacked top line of Lafreniere, Mika and Panarin, which is just ridiculously entertaining to think about.
Next. How will Lafreniere fit into the lineup?. dark
Whatever the line combinations, however, this Rangers team is starting to look loaded and they will only get better over the coming years given their stacked farm system and the draft capital they have at their disposal.
That should ensure that Alexis Lafreniere has all the tools available to him needed to live up to the hype and become the next big sporting star in New York City.