The New York Rangers have gotten into a steady groove through their first 16 games of action. With their most recent 2-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken late Sunday night, everything seems to be going according to plan so far.
The right players are showing up on a nightly basis, and putting on a positive and successful effort to help the Rangers win. Of course, some major pieces have yet to hit any stride this season, but they are heavily outweighed by those roster members playing great.
With 16 out of 82 games completed, the Rangers have an opportunity to showcase something that has not happened in franchise history since the 1991-92 season. There could be two team members that could exceed 100 points this season, and the best part is that they both play on opposite wings of each other.
Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere
Both Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere could join icons Brian Leetch and Mark Messier from the 1991-92 season, and each have 100-point seasons when this campaign comes to a close. These two have been on fire since the start of the season, and all signs are pointing to them getting even better as the year rolls on.
Panarin finally hit the milestone last season, after coming very close on several occasions, with 120 points. He led the Rangers in scoring and was a big part to their securing of the Presidents' Trophy last season. This season has proven that it wasn't all a fluke, with 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. That is a pace for 99 points this season., and it shouldn't shock you if he blows past that marker.
For Lafreniere, his prediction of hitting 100 points at the end of this season is not as crystal clear as Panarin's. He is a more, "it can happen", kind of case. As the experience and comfort are starting to fill into the 23-year-old skater, there is no ceiling for him this season.
Lafreniere currently has seven goals and seven assists on the year, which is below a point-per-game. But there is no denying that he will continue getting better with each passing game. Can he do it, absolutely, will he do it, we do not know.
In recent years, this is probably the closest opportunity to seeing this happen, together. Both of these skaters are among the Rangers best.