Alexis Lafreniere

Lafreniere showed promise in 2023-24 when he set career highs with 28 goals and 57 points across 82 regular-season outings. It helped that he spent the season playing primarily alongside elite forward Artemi Panarin after serving mostly on the third line over his first three seasons, but regardless, Lafreniere seemed to be inching towards being a high-end forward in his own right. Unfortunately, the 2024-25 campaign was a regression as he finished with 17 goals and 45 points in 82 appearances. He started well enough, supplying eight goals and 16 points through his first 19 games, but he slipped and never quite found his rhythm again. The Rangers collectively disappointed last season, so Lafreniere isn’t the only one who needs a fresh start. The 2020 first-overall pick still has potential even if he hasn’t lived up to it yet. He’s a gamble, but one that might pay off. Read Past Outlooks