It’s hard to find a silver lining in the Rangers’ second conference finals loss in the last three years and fifth in the last 12 years, but there is certainly some silver lining.
None have been more noticeable or significant than the promotion of Alexis Lafreniere.
The 2020 No. 1 overall pick sent shockwaves throughout the NHL during the regular season, banging the drum to let the masses know he had finally arrived, then was one of the Rangers’ most consistent skaters in the playoffs.
It’s taken three coaches and four seasons to get to this point, but as the saying goes, better late than never.
“It’s been really fun watching him play throughout the season and watching him really develop,” his linemate Artemi Panarin said through a translator during the postseason. “It’s been fun playing on the same line as him.”
After eclipsing his previous career highs with 28 goals, 29 assists and 57 points in 82 games this season despite limited playing time on the second power play unit, Lafreniere did something that many struggle with and followed up his impressive playoff run with another strong showing.
The 22-year-old tied the team high with eight goals and also ranked fourth in points with 14, also breaking his previous postseason high.
But Lafreniere’s contributions were notable and game-changing, both on the scoreboard and in how the Rangers played their opponents.
Seven of his eight goals were either tying goals (4) or leading goals (3).
Lafreniere played with sharpness and sustained physicality, growing in confidence every time he had the puck.
After inadvertently deflecting Carter Verhaeghe’s centering pass late in the third period of the Rangers’ loss in Game 1 of the conference finals to give Florida a painful 2-0 lead, Lafreniere scored four of his team’s 12 total goals and played a key role in keeping his team competitive in the series.
After being heavily criticized for his disappointing performance as a high draft pick, Lafreniere understandably didn’t have much to say about his breakout season.
Instead, the Canadian winger repeatedly praised linemates Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, who doubters say are in any case responsible for his success.
But Lafreniere played a key role in his own right on that unit, especially when it mattered most in the playoffs.
“What we’ve seen is this guy come in and finds some real chemistry with a couple of guys and that line has been really effective and really paid off,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Lafreniere, who the Rangers head coach started in the top six at the start of the season despite a tough training camp. “His aggression on the ice, his ability to make plays and his skill level has been on display all year, but his chemistry with that line — with Panarin and, right now, with Trocheck — I think has made the team in almost every game.”
Entering the final season of a two-year, $4.65 million contract, Lafreniere’s next contract is something president and general manager Chris Drury will want to begin considering soon.
Lafreniere’s role will likely expand next season, which could include more opportunities on special teams.
That’s a silver lining worth hoping for.
