Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Rangers select Alexis Lafreniere with first overall pick
October 6, 2020, 7:22 PM ET [344 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
The Rangers, to the surprise of no one, selected Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski, first overall. Ever since August 10, when New York was fortunate enough to see their ping-pong ball at the top of the chute, Lafreniere was to be the team's selection. In fact, regardless of who won the lottery, Lafreniere was all but certain to hear his name first overall,










If you don't know about Lafreniere already, you have been living under a rock. But if you do need a few scouting reports, I will aim to please here along with some highlights. I wrote this on August 10 and clearly it applies today.

Vince Mercogliano gave a nice quick snapshot view of Lafrenière"
The 18-year-old Canadian forward lit it up for Rimouski Oceanic this season, leading the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 112 points (35 goals and 77 assists) in 52 games. Lafrenière, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound left winger, also had 10 points (four goals and six assists) in five games for the gold-winning Canadian team in the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

He's noted for his playmaking ability — no surprise considering his lofty stat totals — with strong hockey IQ, skating ability and a highly competitive attitude. Those skills, coupled with his size and willingness to use his physicality, lead scouts to believe he can step into a middle-six role right away. Although, as with most young prospects, he'll have to prove he can hold up defensively.

If the Rangers were to have the good fortune of getting Lafrenière, it's easy to envision him plugging in on their third line behind their top-two left wingers, Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider.


Chris Peters, ESPN

The choice is simple at No. 1. Lafreniere is the best player available and will make the Rangers better as early as next season. Even if the team has a Hart Trophy finalist at the same position, you can't have too much skill and offense. And Lafreniere plays a different style and will improve New York's forecheck with his physicality, competitiveness and skill down low.

There is no debate at this point as to who should go No. 1. It's Lafreniere by a significant margin. Over the past 20 years, only two players 18 years old or younger had a points-per-game average higher than Lafreniere's 2.15 this season: Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Drouin. Lafreniere thinks the game at a high level, with elite anticipation and an understanding of what to do with the puck immediately after he gets it. He has a physical edge and initiates contact more than most top picks of recent years, separating players from the puck with regularity. We've seen Lafreniere's emotions get the better of him at times, but he has a competitive fire. He wants the puck at all times, in all situations. And he has the skill and hands to make things happen when he has it. Few other players exude the level of confidence Lafreniere has shown over the past two seasons.


The Draft Analyst
The crown jewel of the 2020 draft class, Lafreniere delivered a season for the ages of any major junior player, let aloneone who is only 18 years old. After dominating the under-18 Ivan Hlinka and winning the 2019 CHL Player of the YearAward, Lafreniere won the QMJHL scoring title and earned MVP honors at the U20 world junior championship (10 pointsin 5 games) in leading Canada to gold. Not only is he a virtual lock to become the first French-Canadian skater to go firstoverall since Vincent Lecavalier in 1998, but he joined Sidney Crosby as the only two pre-draft prospects to win CHL MVPmore than once. Lafreniere also is a team-first leader who has made a profound impact on Rimouski, turning them from a59-point doormat in 2016-17 to back-to-back playoff seasons of 90+ points. 

A gifted and versatile scoring winger with outstanding hockey sense and the ability to elevate his game when the situationcalls for it, Lafreniere possesses many traits that scream elite and potential NHL superstar. From his deadly wrist shot tohis superior playmaking and vision, the St. Eustache native checks every block imaginable when it comes to possessingthe puck. What makes Lafreniere unique, however, is his insanely high compete level, tenacity on the puck, physicality,and selflessness. Play him on a line with equally heralded or accomplished prospects, and he’ll make it a point to tap intotheir strengths rather than make himself the center of attention. 

Lafreniere is an excellent skater in all directions, but his powerful stride allows him to separate from opponents in openice. It’s rare to see a winger nearing 200 pounds of any age to be able to turn on the jets immediately following a physicalbattle, but Lafreniere’s foot speed, long stride, and expert anticipation places him in open ice with a numbers advantagemultiple times a period, let alone an entire game. Playing in a junior league has something to do with that, but there is noreason to believe his escapability in close contact won’t translate to success within the trenches of NHL warfare, wheretime and space are earned the hard way. Lafreniere can tailor his game to fit any style of play, and his ability to playphysically causes significant matchup problems for smaller opponents. 

Lafreniere can be used in every situation, and his ability to dominate the puck no matter the in-game environment createsswaths of open ice for his mates. Lafreniere is an incredibly unselfish player, and his youthful exuberance when coupledwith his physicality reveal a player of the throwback variety. Lafreniere seems to understand and execute set-plays on oroff the puck, and he can be counted on as a reliable and tenacious forechecker who creates turnovers in the neutral zone. 

Although the volume of high-end prospects being developed out of the QMJHL has slowed down, Lafreniere is at the verytop of an elite crop of Quebec Leaguers poised to garner the attention of scouts from all over North American and Europe.The top slot among 2020 draft hopefuls was Lafreniere’s to lose for several years, and never once did he relinquish it. 

Biggest Strength: Playmaking: Lafreniere’s vision and passing skills are at the forefront of his game. 

Needs Improvement: Discipline: Lafreniere has a history for throwing dangerous elbows and dirty hits near the boards. 

Bottom Line Lafreniere was the best player in Canadian major junior in each of his two seasons prior to the draft and he willundoubtedly become an instant fan favorite for the team lucky enough to draft him. A future superstar


Dobber Prospects Deep Dive:



Lafreniere Rimouski Highlights:



NHL Now panel discusses Lafreniere:



Join the Discussion: » 344 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Jan Levine
» Rangers take on Blues as entire team is put on notice by Drury
» Rangers end road trip w/ dud, falling 6-2 to the Oilers on Sat., Berard up
» Rangers close out Western road trip tonight against the Oilers
» Rangers fall 3-2 to Flames after getting outplayed and out hustled
» Rangers continue road trip in Calgary against the Flames