Rangers select top prospect Alexis Lafreniere with No. 1 pick
The New York Rangers drafted dynamic phenom Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Alexis Lafreniere
Position: Left wing
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 192 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Rimouski (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 35 | 77 | 112 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Lafreniere was the consensus presumptive top pick dating back to 2019, and for good reason.
He's the two-time defending CHL Player of the Year and the first to claim the honor in back-to-back seasons since Sidney Crosby. As such, Lafreniere is widely projected to be the NHL's next generational talent.
The Rimouski Oceanic captain is expected to play in the NHL right away and appears more than ready, having excelled not just in the QMJHL but also under the added pressure and stakes of international play.
Despite suffering an injury at the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship, Lafreniere returned and racked up 10 points in five games. He was named tournament MVP, best forward, and a tournament All-Star after leading Canada to the gold medal.
Lafreniere is as elite a prospect as they come, and he should be a foundational player for a Rangers team on the rise.
What they're saying
"He has truly elite skill and some of the best hands I've ever seen," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "Lafreniere has made some of the most creative plays I've seen in the past few years, and with his skill, he's always a second away from a scoring chance. He beats defenders in unique ways and catches them off guard with the moves he makes."
"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," ESPN's Chris Peters wrote in June. "He has a physical edge and initiates contact more than most top picks of recent years, separating players from the puck with regularity."
"There's a completeness to his game that simply says 'pro,'" wrote Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino. "There's a quiet confidence that will allow him to overcome first overall pressure and excel at what he's best at."