2025 Rangers Season Previews: Alexis Lafrenière

When you think of the core of this New York Rangers team, the names that come to mind are likely Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and J.T. Miller. However, now more than ever, Alexis Lafrenière needs to make this team his and emerge as a key part of its identity following a year of both team and individual disappointment. 

Previous Performance

A common theme when we look back on last season is that very few members of this Rangers team had anything that resembled a halfway decent season. Alexis Lafrenière is no exception to this. And while that is certainly something to be concerned about, it’s important to keep in mind the state of the team last season. Lafrenière spent the majority of the season with his usual linemates in Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin. This is a line that historically has had some real success with each other, but like most things last year was a bit of a disaster. On the one hand, Panarin was still one of the Rangers top performing forwards. But on the other hand, Trocheck had a terrible season that truthfully hasn’t been spoken about enough. Therefore while some of the blame certainly falls on Lafrenière, he isn’t solely responsible for his line underperforming. 

To top things off, Lafrenière still hasn’t gotten a full chance on any special team units, so while his 45 points seem underwhelming and a step in the wrong direction, there are still some limitations regarding how he is utilized. On the bright side, this is the second season in a row he’s appeared in all 82 games, third consecutive where he’s played in at least 81. He may not have had that explosive offense kind of season we've hoped to see from him just yet but at least we know he has the durability to play through full seasons worth of hockey.

Still, that drop off from the 2023-24 season to 2024-25 where he went from 57 points to 45 isn’t ideal by any means. Especially with 28 of those points being assists and only 17 being goals. It also hasn’t helped that this lackluster season came after signing to a massive seven-year contract extension that will keep him a Ranger through 2032. For a contract of that magnitude, there needs to be results and frankly, Lafrenière hasn't performed to that standard he established the year prior.

Expectations

Point blank, the expectation is that Alexis Lafrenière will be better this season because he absolutely has to be better if he wants to continue to be a New York Ranger. This is a pivotal year for him and the team for a number of reasons, but specifically for Lafrenière, he only has two seasons before his contract earns some trade protection. Granted it’s only an eight team no-trade list, but if the Rangers are going to include him in their long term plans, he needs to prove to them that he is an integral piece to what they are looking to build here. 

When push comes to shove, Lafrenière bears the burden of having been a first overall draft pick. The expectations for him are always going to be sky high because of where he was drafted and, because of that, the expectation has to be for him to have a career year this upcoming season. He’s going to continue to get top six minutes, he should get a legitimate chance on the top power play unit, so the time for him to take on a bigger role and make this team his is now. 

In terms of an actual number, it’s no secret he needs to be better than last season, but simply hitting the 50 point mark isn’t going to qualify as a success anymore. Lafrenière needs to hit the 60-point mark for the first time in order for this season to truly be considered a success. At 23 years old, Lafrenière is far from his ceiling and is just now entering his prime window.  

Predictions

82 GP—31 G—37 A—68 PTS

Before really explaining those predictions, there are two key assumptions that I’m making regarding Lafreniere’s upcoming season. The first of which is he will remain in a top six role, likely on that “second” line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. Secondly, and most notably, this has to be the year he permanently lands a spot on the team’s top power play unit. Those two things, along with the fact that the team has to have a better season than last year, should equate to Lafrenière easily having a career year. And, if he doesn’t, the Rangers have much bigger problems on their hands. 

At his best, Lafrenière has played the game with a certain swagger that results in him being that 100-point player he was in junior. Rangers fans have gotten tastes of this, but it couldn't be more clear that the time for him to turn into that player in a full-time role is this season. With a chance to be a consistent part of the team's top power play unit, along with him likely staying on that line with Panarin and Trocheck, we should hopefully see plenty more highlights like this from Lafrenière this coming season.

And of course, this one too.