For years, the hockey world has debated the ceiling of Alexis Lafrenière and pondered his status as a No. 1 overall bust. On Monday, the NHL added a new entry to the ongoing debate by naming the 24-year-old winger its First Star of the Week, an immense honor and a milestone fans have hoped to see much sooner. But regardless of the timing, Lafrenière and the Rangers will take any win they can get.
Lafrenière didn't just lead the league in scoring this past week, he dominated it. In four games, he racked up five goals and two assists for seven points, fueling a perfect 4-0-0 run for a Rangers team that has suddenly become the hottest story in the league following the Olympic break.
Driving the results
While the Rangers’ retool has been defined by moving veteran assets, Lafrenière is proving that the internal promotion is well underway. Once criticized for being a "passenger" who was only capable of success while riding shotgun with Artemi Panarin, his week was punctuated by a level of clutch play that the organization has been waiting to see consistently.
The breakout wasn't just about point padding, it was about being the primary engine for the offense. In the March 9 rout of Philadelphia, he notched a goal and an assist, including the game-winner. On March 10 against Calgary, he recorded his second career hat trick, featuring his team-leading fifth game-winning goal of the 2025-26 season. He followed that up with another multi-point performance against Winnipeg, providing a critical assist on the tiebreaking goal. He was kept off the board against the Minnesota Wild, but everyone has an off night.
A reward for newfound consistency
Perhaps the most encouraging development is that Lafrenière has finally found his rhythm over an extended stretch. Since January 31, he has compiled 15 points (nine goals and six assists) in just 11 games. If you go back to the start of the new year, the 2020 top pick has 24 points in 24 games along with a 57.28 GF%, a 50.68 CF%, and a 52.75 xGF% per Evolving-Hockey.
This is the type of consistency fans have been waiting for. With 44 points in 66 games this season, he is on pace for a career-high and is currently in the middle of the best individual month of his NHL career. To rewrite his career narrative, he’ll need to sustain this level of play, and for the first time in a long time, there is every reason to believe he can.
The potential face of Letter 2.0?
As the Rangers continue to evaluate their roster for 2026-27 and beyond, Lafrenière is making a case for being the most untouchable piece of the puzzle. Adam Fox's future with the team is unknown. Igor Shesterkin is a rock in goal, but the prime of goaltenders is hard to calculate. Gabe Perreault is showing signs of briliance, but this is just his rookie season. That leaves Lafrenière in a spot to claim an important position he was seemingly destined for. It’s easy to forget that he was a back-to-back winner of the CHL Player of the Year Award in 2019 and 2020, a feat only achieved by one other player: Sidney Crosby.
While his career to this point hasn't lived up to those lofty expectations, he is finally changing the narrative by thriving in a primary role. He’s had spurts of brilliance before, but it feels different this time. In what has been an otherwise disappointing and often depressing season for the Blueshirts, Lafrenière’s arrival as a bona-fide top-flight scorer is a victory worth celebrating. Time will tell if this is the new reality, but for now, the "bust" label is officially on life support.