After drafting Alexis Lafrenière with the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, expectations for him were sky-high bordering on generational hype. Coming from the same junior team as Sidney Crosby, the Rimouski Océanic, Lafrenière drew lofty comparisons to the Penguins’ superstar. He was expected to be the finishing touch on the Rangers’ late-2010s rebuild and the next great player to wear the Blueshirt. To say his career has been a disappointment so far is an understatement. Following a career-high season in goals, assists, and points in 2023–24, Lafrenière was looking to build on that momentum and finally live up to his draft pedigree, but that simply wasn’t the case during the 2024–25 season.
Through his first five seasons with the New York Rangers, Alexis Lafrenière has recorded 92 goals and 101 assists for 193 points in 380 games. For a first overall pick, that production has been extremely underwhelming, resembling that of a solid third-line player rather than a top offensive threat. One positive, however, has been his durability, Lafrenière has played in 380 of 384 possible games, missing just four, all due to coaching decisions rather than injury.
Heading into his fourth season, there was serious speculation about whether he would even finish the year with the Rangers, as many considered him to be on “bust watch.” However, a move to right wing alongside Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck sparked his game, leading to a career year with 28 goals, 29 assists, and 57 points in 82 games. His performance elevated even further in the playoffs, where he posted 8 goals and 6 assists for 14 points in 16 games, showcasing his speed, physicality, and playmaking ability. It appeared his long-awaited breakout was finally here, setting up sky-high expectations for 2024–25, but it didn’t happen.
Lafrenière’s value and hype had been rebuilt, and many believed he would finally reach his first-overall potential during the 2024–25 season, but that wasn’t the case. He took a major step back from the previous year, recording just 17 goals, 27 assists, and 45 points in 82 games. The entire team struggled as well, missing the playoffs after reaching the Eastern Conference Final and winning the Presidents’ Trophy the year before. To make matters worse, Lafrenière signed a seven-year, $7.45 million AAV contract in October and his play declined shortly afterward.
Now it’s all up to Alexis Lafrenière. After the Rangers shook up their roster by trading away players like Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Chris Kreider, K’Andre Miller, and Jacob Trouba, Lafrenière could be next if he has another down year. Both Lafrenière and the Rangers desperately need each other to succeed. With an open lane to top power-play minutes, he must take advantage and finally deliver a breakout season.
The Rangers have already moved on from two-thirds of the 2022 “Kid Line,” and Lafrenière is hanging on for dear life. The 2025–26 season will be a defining moment in his career and he will either continue down a path of mediocrity or finally live up to his No. 1 pick status and cement himself as a cornerstone for the New York Rangers for years to come.