New York Rangers former 1st-overall picks recent performance is creating a ton a concern
Photo credit: Bleacher Report
The New York Rangers have an issue in forward Alexis Lafrenière, who after a dynamite 2023-2024 season, has once again disappeared. The question remains, can he produce in critical moments for the team? We remain skeptical.
The New York Rangers were stunned by Alexis Lafreniere's 2023-2024 season which saw him produce 57 points, and earned a nice new contract for his efforts.
The efforts included a solid post-season performance from the former 1st overall pick, as he'd play an elite-two way game that kept the Rangers in the hunt till the very end.
He'd post a career-high 28 goals and would follow up an excellent regular season performance with 14 points in 16 games during the playoffs and a run to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Panthers.
However, it seems he has once again ghosted his team this year and failed to produce at the level we know he can play.
Scoring only 20 points in 45 games this season, despite being placed on a dynamite top line with Artemi Panarin, and Vincent Trocheck.
It remains to be seen whether or not he can continue to maintain his spot in the lineup despite his egregious play this season.
He's failed to shoot the puck enough to produce the kind of points we saw last season, with a drastic 2.6 shots per game, down to only 2.0.
Even during the game against the Blue Jackets, his lackadaisical play would only lead to a goal by chance when Artemi Panarin deflected his long shot off into the net.
Can Lafreniere Produce In Difficult Times?
The tough truth the Rangers will have to figure out is whether his 2023-2024 season was a fluke, producing 57 points alongside 102-point Artemi Panarin, and 77-point player, Vinnie Trocheck.
That forward unit was a juggernaut, among the best in the NHL as it powered the Rangers to the Presidents Trophy.
Now that forward group seems to be a blur as they've yet to be able to push the Rangers to the heights they were last season.
And Lafreniere's detachment from the Rangers' offense is fully on display, as he seems disinterested and lacks the two-hundred-foot game to stop high-danger chances as well.
His lack of backchecking has allowed 33 high-danger goals allowed this season per Natural Stat Trick.
Can the Rangers depend on Alexis Lafreniere to produce at a high-level? It seems doubtful this year.
| POLL | ||
MARS 12 | 1118 ANSWERS New York Rangers former 1st-overall picks recent performance is creating a ton a concern Will forward Alexis Lafreniere find his game again with the New York Rangers? | ||
| Yes | 489 | 43.7 % |
| No | 629 | 56.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
