NEW YORK | Alexis Lafrenière blocks a Danton Heinen shot in his own territory. He drives away the pain by shaking his right leg. He quickly forgets his discomfort when Barclay Goodrow recovers a loose puck following a missed shot from Chad Ruhwedel.
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There is a chance of revival. Lafrenière reads the game well and he decamps with Filip Chytil, who has just taken a pass from Goodrow. The Rangers have a two-on-one.
Lafrenière picks up Chytil’s relay as he rushes towards Tristan Jarry, with Ruhwedel chasing him and Marcus Pettersson failing to block the threat. He places the puck on his backhand, he pulls out a small fake and he beats Jarry between the pads.
First appearance of the match, first goal for Lafrenière. Number 13 celebrates its 14e net of the season by hugging his line partners, Chytil and Goodrow.
The Rangers won 5-1 once morest the Penguins on Friday at Madison Square Garden. The top class of the 2020 draft ended his evening by inheriting the title of the third star of the meeting. He waved to the crowd before handing a puck to a young fan.
“Laffy, Laffy, Laffy,” chanted Rangers faithful.
It was exactly the type of evening that Lafrenière dreamed of having in the uniform of the “Blue Shirts”. Since his debut last year in Manhattan, there have been some great moments, but probably not as often as he hoped.
“It was good to score on my first appearance,” Lafrenière told the Montreal Journal following the game. After that, it’s always easier to make plays, you have more confidence. I was playing in a new trio tonight and I liked our meeting. »
“Alexis was very good tonight (Friday), added Gerard Gallant, head coach of the Rangers. I made some good line changes! But I’m happy for Laffy. As I said the other day, it is not unfortunate to be part of this trio. He had a strong game on the left wing, a position where he feels better. »
Managing expectations
There are always expectations for a first-round pick. Even more for a top pick overall. Lafrenière must juggle this reality. If he has an undeniable talent, he is not a generational talent like Sidney Crosby (2005), Connor McDavid (2015) and Auston Matthews (2016).
“There’s no doubt that it’s difficult,” Gallant admitted two hours before the game once morest the Penguins. Alexis has already scored 13 goals (14 now) and he is only 20 years old. It’s not a bad season. I would even say that it is very good for a guy of this age. But the stories are more often negative. It is said that he is not able to reach another level. There is a good example in New Jersey with Jack Hughes. It was in his third season with the Devils that he really took off. »
“For me, it’s a matter of time for Laffy, continued Michel Therrien’s former assistant with the Canadian. He’s a good kid, he works hard and he has talent. I’m not worried, not for a second. I repeat myself, but he has 13 goals and he hardly ever plays on the power play with a team like the Rangers. Sometimes he gets the last 20 seconds on the second wave. It is his reality. He will learn, he will become more mature. »
Sometimes a burden
After the Penguins’ morning practice at Madison Square Garden, Mike Sullivan offered an analysis virtually identical to Gallant’s.
“No doubt a first overall pick adds pressure,” the Penguins coach said. When you get drafted top of the class, it comes with expectations. Sometimes it’s not always fair. But that’s part of the reality of hockey. There is a first choice in total every year. Whether it’s fair or not, it can sometimes become a burden. You are always associated with that. »
In his second season in the universe of the Rangers and the NHL, Lafrenière does not feel like he is overwhelmed by this famous pressure.
“I focus on myself,” he replied. I want to act like a pro, I train hard and I work well in practices. I seek to learn from the older members of the team. I like to watch them play and ask them questions. »
To learn from the older ones, the number 13 can look in the direction of Chris Kreider, a big winger and a powerful skater. At 30, Kreider is having his best season with the “Blue Shirts”. He has already hit the target 44 times and he should reach the 50 goal mark for the first time.
Alexis Lafreniere
- 20 years old, left winger
- 6 pi 2 po, 196 lb
- 1is total picks in 2020 by rangers
2020-2021
- 21 points (12 b, 9 p) and 56 matches / -7 / 13 min 53 s
2021-2022
- 23 points (14 b, 9 p) and 63 matches / -1 / 13 min 57 s
Jack Hughes
- 20 years old, center
- 5 pi 11 po, 175 lb
- 1is total picks in 2019 by the devils
2019-2020
- 21 points (7 b, 14 p) and 61 matches / -26 / 15 min 52 s
2020-2021
- 31 points (11 b, 20 p) and 56 matches / -3 / 19 min 04 s
2021-2022
- 52 points (22 b, 30 p) and 45 matches / -16 / 19 min 34 s
Behind Panarin and Kreider
At training yesterday morning in Tarrytown, a quiet suburb bordering the Hudson River northwest of Manhattan, Alexis Lafrenière is wearing a green sweater.
Green is the color of the third trio. Filip Chytil and Barclay Goodrow have the same vest. For Lafrenière, it’s a return to the left wing following a long audition on the right wing alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
On his return to the left flank once morest the Pittsburgh Penguins, the former Rimouski Oceanic prodigy scored a goal and fired two shots in an easy 5-1 win.
“I was happy to come back to my natural side,” said Lafrenière following the game. I can play left wing and right wing. There are several options for our coaches, we have a good depth. »
When he talks regarding depth and options, the Quebecer refers to Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider. The first leads the Rangers with 74 points and he has a monster contract at 11.643 million until the end of the 2025-2026 season. The second has already scored 44 goals.
“Laffy plays good hockey,” recalled Gerard Gallant. I don’t see it as going from the first line to our third line. It’s more than he spends playing on the right wing to the left wing. He is more comfortable on the left. I can’t beat Kreider, who is having the season of his life. And Panarin, even though he is right-handed, prefers to play on the left flank.
“We are very strong on the left wing, he continued. It’s not that Laffy plays badly on the right wing, but we want to help him by putting him on his strong left side. We want to build our team. It’s nothing once morest the youngster. »
Patience
First round pick (6e in total) of the Ottawa Senators in 2011, Zibanejad did not immediately become an impact player in the NHL. It was when Pierre Dorion made the mistake of trading him to the “Blue Shirts” in July 2016 in a pact for Derick Brassard that he reached another level.
“I was already a young player in the NHL too, launched the Swede with a smile on his face. I know you can walk around in the formation and it’s not always easy. Alexis plays well. He is improving with several details in his game. He responded in the right way on Friday with a very good game. He played with the same energy and passion. It’s a sign that he can help, regardless of his linemates. »
“Laf is incredible in this second half of the season, he has raised his game,” added defender K’Andre Miller, who lived with Lafrenière last year. We will need him in the playoffs. »
Lafrenière has written his name on the scoresheet in his last five games, recording one goal and four assists. It is the longest streak of meetings with at least one point in his young career.
