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Three reasons why Lafreniere will be a success on Broadway

By Andrew Steele-Davis

Alexis Lafreniere #11 of Team White laughs with teammates following the final whistle of the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team Red. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Alexis Lafreniere #11 of Team White laughs with teammates following the final whistle of the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game against Team Red. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Alexis Lafreniere #11 of Team White and Quinton Byfield #55 of Team Red battle for the puck during the first period of the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Alexis Lafreniere #11 of Team White and Quinton Byfield #55 of Team Red battle for the puck during the first period of the 2020 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

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.

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