"Earning Bust Label": New York Rangers Former 1st-Overall Draft Pick Could Find Himself Traded Real Soon
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The New York Rangers selected Alexis Lafreniere 1st overall in 2020. The hype surrounding him made it seem like the Rangers had hit the lottery. Yet his best season came in 2023-24, where he'd score 57 points after years of struggling. Could Mike Sullivan rejuvenate his career, or will he truly be a bust?
The New York Rangers intended to make Alexis Lafreniere a cornerstone of the franchise after hitting the lottery in 2020. But throughout the majority of his career, aside from 2023-24, he's delivered despair.
For a team that's hellbent on making it to the playoffs, we've seen little progression with the forward until he was placed on the same line as Artemi Panarin. He'd later regress in 2024-25, scoring 45 points. A meager production for someone who was a priority in the draft.
Is it honestly time to start calling Lafreniere a bust?
Think of other first-overall picks. Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nico Hischier, to name a few. They all have impacted their teams significantly. They have plenty of hardware among them. MacKinnon has a Stanley Cup to his name.
Lafreniere is missing what other first-overall players lack: at least when it comes to Nathan MacKinnon, Stanley Cup hardware.
Alexis Lafreniere's Potential: A Game Changer?
Since his arrival in the NHL, he's played a total of 380 games in the league and tallied 193 points. A respectable level of production, but not what you'd expect a 1st overall player to produce at.
Connor Bedard has played two seasons in the NHL and produced 128 points in that time frame.
While it might be kind of harsh with how we're examining his production, he's still 23 and could have potential that the team hasn't tapped into, or, for that matter, Mike Sullivan hasn't.
That's why the Blue Shirts signed him to a seven-year, $52.15 million contract last season. The hope is that he can blossom into a player like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins became for the Edmonton Oilers.
There isn't enough evidence to suggest that Lafreniere will develop into a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or https://www.nhl.com/redwings/player/patrick-kane-8474141, but there could be another level to his game.
It's safe to say, he could earn the title of a "bust" if he doesn't turn it around this year. Half a decade in the NHL without a 40-goal season, and little sign of progression is alarming.
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