By: Mike Rifkin
The New York Rangers agreed to terms with former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere on a two-year contract worth four million dollars. Lafreniere, the first overall pick in 2020, had a career-high 39 points in 81 games last season. Lafreniere’s contract is similar to the 2019 second-overall pick Kappo Kakko signed last summer. Kakko, like Lafreniere, put up a career-high 40 points last season along with 18 goals, which is also a career-high.
People will say the offensive numbers haven’t been there from these two, but that can change this season. Both should get an opportunity to play in the top six this season. Lafreniere is third on the team in Strength Goals since entering the league, trailing Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin. When you get a top-two pick in the draft, it usually means the team stinks. The Rangers didn’t pick in the lottery because the NHL handled the COVID-19 pandemic. The other thing we’re talking about is two guys who are 21 and 22, respectively; they’re still young and now can have an opportunity to flourish this season. But the thing people don’t talk about is how they have become complete players. They finish checks and are responsible defensively; if both players continue to grow with more minutes, 20 goals from both isn’t out of the question. The Rangers can have a special season if both players take that next step forward.
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