New York Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere, the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, had a disappointing series against the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs. In the seven games played, Lafreniere recorded no goals, no assists, no points, no penalty minutes, and no net takeaways, falling very short of expectations after a decent regular season.
During the regular season, Lafreniere scored 16 goals and notched 23 assists for a total of 39 points in 81 games played. However, his lack of production in the playoffs contributed to the Rangers’ disappointing series and Game 7 loss, during which they were shut out 4-0.
The rest of the Rangers’ “kid line” also struggled to make an impact during the series. Filip Chytil managed 1 goal and 3 assists in the seven games, while Kaapo Kakko contributed 1 goal and 1 assist. The underperformance of these young players highlights the challenges the Rangers face as they look to develop a competitive roster for future seasons.
The Rangers even had Lafreniere in the top 6 while Patrick Kane was dropped into the bottom 6 at one point in this series.
As the Rangers regroup and plan for the next season, they will undoubtedly be counting on Lafreniere to bounce back and fulfill the potential that made him the first overall draft pick. With experience under his belt and a taste of playoff hockey, Lafreniere will have an opportunity to learn from this experience and grow as a player in the years to come.
