2020 NHL Draft: Alexis Lafreniere Headed to the Big Apple

As expected, the New York Rangers picked 18-year old Alexis Lafreniere with the no. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft. Lafreniere, who plays left wing from QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic, was the consensus top prospect of this year’s draft class.

He put together an impressive season for Rimouski while also starring for Canada’s national team in the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. Lafreniere led the QMJHL in scoring with 112 points scored in 52 games in a shortened season. He was voted as the league’s MVP for the second consecutive year for his efforts.

Most Prized Prospect

Born in Saint-Eustache in Quebec, Lafreniere was the most prized NHL prospect. He was the top-ranked North American skater by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. Lafreniere becomes the first Canadian to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft since Connor McDavid was Edmonton’s top overall pick in 2015.

After he was selected first by Oceanic in 2017, he won QMJHL Rookie of the Year honors while also making the First All-Star team during the 2017-18 season. His 2.15 points per game average this season was the highest across the top three junior leagues in Canada since Conor McDavid put up 2.50 points per game in his final season in the OHL in 2015. Lafreniere will finish his stint with Quebec’s top junior circuit with 297 points scored in 173 games played.

Lafreniere was also named as the Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year for the second straight campaign. By winning that award, he joins Sidney Crosby as the only players in league history to achieve the feat.

The 6-1 winger bounced back from a mid-tournament injury to lead Canada to the gold medal at the World Junior Championships. He earned MVP honors after scoring 10 points in five games played.

Good Fortune

Winning this year’s draft lottery was a result of good fortune for the Rangers. This year’s draft lottery had two phases because of the unique playoff format. The first Phase in June involved the seven teams which did not qualify for the expanded postseason plus a “placeholder pick” for the eight teams that will be eliminated in the qualifying round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Interestingly, the placeholder pick won the lottery, therefore a second phase would be held to determine which team picks first overall.

The Rangers had the 18th best record in the NHL this past season. They made the playoffs as part of the expanded postseason setup. But after they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes, they became one of the 8 eliminated teams that were eligible to pick first overall in the 2020 Draft. During Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery, lady luck smiled on them as their ping pong ball was picked.

After winning the Lottery, Rangers manager Jeff Gorton refused to commit to drafting consensus top pick Lafreniere, saying they had to interview him first. But everyone knew that was just formality. Lafreniere’s unique combination of elite skill and physicality is something that doesn’t come along every year. Considered a generational talent, there was no doubt that Lafreniere would go no. 1 in the draft.

Final Piece of the Puzzle?

Lafreniere is believed to be the final piece of the New York Rangers’ rebuilding puzzle. The Rangers have assembled an impressive prospect pool in the last three seasons after a massive revamp. With sound decision making and a lot of good fortune, New York’s rebuild looks way ahead of schedule.

He joins a team that includes one of his favorite players in Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin, one of the most promising goalies in the league in Igor Shesterkin, last year’s second overall pick Kaapo Kakko, and defenseman Adam Fox who finished fourth in last season’s Rookie of the Year voting.

After missing the playoffs in 2017 and 2018, the Rangers finished nine games above the .500 mark this season with a 37-28 record. They were swept 3-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Qualifying Round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. But after earning their first playoff berth and first winning season in three years, it was a successful season for the Rangers.

New York is currently in the middle of the SportsBetting.ag odds board to win the 2021 Stanley Cup title at +2800 but with a young and talented core, they are a team to contend with in the future.