The New York Rangers have had some rotten luck with first-round draft picks in recent years. Either the pressure has gotten to them, or they were overly-hyped and the front office bit a little too far into the apple.
Over time, there has really only been one significant first-rounder, who also happened to be a first-overall pick, that has survived in New York. Well, barely.
Alexis Lafrenière has had just about the highest expectations out of any prospect for the Rangers in quite some time, and he has bordered the line of acceptable player and certified bust for years. The 2026-27 season is going to make a clear distinction, as he enters the second year of his lucrative deal worth $7.45 million AAV.
Can he put up a better performance next season, or will it be the final nail in the coffin? Let's talk about it.
Nothing in his way
No Artemi Panarin, no Peter Laviolette, and no expectation that the Rangers are going to be playoff contenders in 2026-27. That means, there should be no reason why Lafrenière shouldn't have a generational season, and a revolutionary one for his career.
Current Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan has proven time and time again that he can get the most out of fringe players. Lafrenière has been that for most of his six-year career, and entering his seventh campaign, the mantra has to be different. He has to be the leading scorer, has to be the guy that gets the most time on the powerplay.
Lafrenière has to live, eat and breathe offense in 2026-27, as if his NHL career depends on it.
The Rangers are going to be using their youth a lot next season, and that is fine. That should help boost Lafrenière's case, as he should look like a seasoned NHL veteran, and not comparable to a player like Gabe Perreault, who has a fraction of time in the big league's.
Hold on to your hats folks, No. 13 is going to be a man on a mission next season. The prophecy of him becoming the captain of this franchise one day might get some airtime on the media landscape, and for Rangers fans, that would be a great thing to see.
Lafrenière has to finally bust out of his cocoon, and transform into a superstar. Anything else should be considered as a sign of moving on from the second first-overall pick in franchise history.
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