"Alexis Lafreniere is a bust. As a huge fan of Lafreniere (he is my favorite player on the New York Rangers), it's taken me far longer to say that than most. I held out hope through an up and down first season. I held out hope through a rough second season. In the 2022 postseason, I was the first one to point out his seemingly improved play. In 2024, I was the first person screaming that this was the start of a breakout for the young forward."
"Then...I truly don't know. Lafreniere got off to a great start in the first few games of the 2024-25 season, then just completely stopped producing. The drop off is reminiscent of someone regressing, but by all means Lafreniere is due to grow, not regress. Alexis Lafreniere's advanced statistics have continued to look strong, he just isn't scoring."
"With Kaapo Kakko, I saw a player who never looked like anything better than a third line forward in the NHL. There was maybe one impressive play a month, but that's about it. When the Rangers traded Kakko, I felt no remorse, only relief that we could stop pretending he would ever be more than he is. With Alexis Lafreniere, the Rangers face a different dilemma, and I think they know it. Lafreniere regularly makes "wow" plays, though most haven't been ending up in the back of the net. Lafreniere's advanced statistics are fantastic, and still point to potential for a breakout."
Alexis Lafreniere earned a long-term deal after showing signs of improvement and an early 2024-25 season surge. Scoring suddenly dropped despite continued strong advanced statistics and occasional spectacular plays. Previous seasons showed inconsistent development with a notable postseason uptick in 2022 and optimism in 2024. Comparison to Kaapo Kakko underscores a different evaluation: Lafreniere demonstrates higher upside through playmaking and improved defensive metrics, but production remains insufficient. The Rangers face a choice between waiting for a delayed breakout or moving on, balancing youth and potential against persistent scoring drought and limited defensive impact.
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