3 NY Rangers players who surprised us in an unforgettable 2023-24 season

Alexis Lafreniere shattered some personal bests

We knew Alex Lafreniere would break out, thanks to the solid yet unspectacular performances he’s given fans in the past. His points total increased each season since he first stepped onto the ice with the Rangers, with 21 in 2020-21, 31 in 2021-22, and finally, 39 last season. This year, that total increased to 57 points and a remarkable 28 goals. 

While it’s true the Rangers were one of the NHL’s highest-scoring teams, it still reflects just how much Lafreniere has grown over the past season. Not only did his points total increase, but he also played top-six minutes with an average total ice time of 17:16, further foreshadowing that he could be a 70-plus points producer in the near future. 

He didn’t land anywhere near as many body checks, but Lafreniere made up for it with 45 takeaways, which helped either himself or the Rangers create more opportunities in their offensive zone. And remember, this was just his age-22 season, so we can honestly say he’s not even in his prime yet. 

If general manager Chris Drury can keep this championship-caliber team together and Lafreniere keeps growing, expect this unit to stick around the top of the league for a while. Lafreniere will be a lot of fun to watch as the best seasons of his young career approach.