Rangers' 2020 Draft Class Profound Impact On The 2023-2024 Season
The New York Rangers 2020 draft class has helped the club solidify it's identity as a contender.
Alexis Lafreniere (2020, 1st Overall)
The New York Rangers won the draft lottery in 2020, immediately signifying they would select the QMJHL stand out Alexis Lafreniere.
Entering his fourth NHL season, Lafreniere signed a two-year, $4.65 million bridge contract to prove himself. It is believed that his performance measuring stick would be on this season, making the contract easy to move this summer if the 2020 first-overall pick underperformed.
Lafreniere was moved up and down the lineup, but since he reunited with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panairn the line has become the Ranger's most effective unit this season and one of the best in the entire NHL.
Combined, the trio has amassed 36 goals in 56 games played together, generating 829 chances (Natural Stat Trick).
The 22-year-old game has excelled on both ends of the ice, leading to increased production and flashes of brilliant skill. He has posted 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 65 games played with limited power-play time, matching his career high in 81 games last season.
Braden Schneider (2020, 19th Overall)
The New York Rangers defense is solidified with interchangeable top pairing defenders in Jacob Trouba, K'Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren, and 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox.
Schneider's steady third unit minutes are often glossed over. The Rangers initially traded up in a swap with the Calgary Flames to hop the New Jersey Devils in order to select the stand out WHL defender.
Nicknamed "Baby Trouba" by many members of the organization, the 21-year-old rearguard has brought a physical brand of defense even with a rotating door of partners over the last three seasons.
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"This kid is a stud dude. I love his physicality. I think he's providing some competition for guys playing above him in the lineup and he will," Mike Rupp stated on The Blue Crew podcast. "He could do a little bit of everything. This kid could bring some heat."
This season, Schneider has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) and averages 14:58 TOI per game. The defender still untapped potential in the attacking end, but is serviceable as a defensive defender alongside the offensive Erik Gustaffson.
Will Cuylle (2020, 60th Overall)
Cuylle racked up 45 points (25 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games for the Wolf Pack last season before making the Rangers roster out of training camp this fall.
With injuries to Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko, Cuylle has remained the club's staple checking line forward at just 22 years old.
Standing at 6'3, Cuylle plays a rugged game in the trenches and generates play of the cycle. That has helped him tally 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in 65 games as a rookie.
He has not missed this season. Despite his crucial role, his relentless play and conditioning have not wavered.
Matt Rempe (2020, 110th overall)
Perhaps what seals the deal on how effective the 2020 draft class has been for the Rangers is not the only first overall pick in Rangers history, not the steady third-pairing defender, and not the reliable checking line attacker, but the phenomenon that is Matt Rempe.
Whether you call it "Rempsanity" or "Rempemania", the shared experience of watching one of the largest Rangers in history controversially assume the role of NHL villain has been the story no one expected but no one can escape.
As I pen this I can state, that I have never seen a New York Ranger on ESPN's Pardon The Interruption outside of playoff conversations. That was until Rempe's first career suspension four-game suspension.
Will he learn how to comfortably bring the energy in his massive frame, or run himself out of the league?
Based on how he has played in 10 games, it appears he can play hockey at the NHL level as a fourth-line regular. His ascent into not just Rangers lore but NHL history has been a unique and exhilarating ride.