Alexis Lafreniere's Mixed Bag: Rangers Need More Consistency
The New York Rangers have been searching for consistency in their game, but one player who has been particularly underwhelming is Alexis Lafreniere. In his sixth NHL season since being drafted first overall by the Blueshirts in 2020, Lafreniere has left much to be desired on both sides of the puck.
While Lafreniere's offensive statistics suggest he's doing everything but scoring, his lack of finish has been notable, and his defensive lapses have been costly. "I think it's been a little bit of a mixed bag," head coach Mike Sullivan said after practice Wednesday at Rogers Place. "He's had some games where he's had strong games, one of those talented guys that can create something out of nothing." However, Lafreniere's defensive performance has been particularly concerning, as he's on the ice for seven five-on-five goals against, tied with Mika Zibanejad for the second most on the team.
Lafreniere's offense has shown promise, ranking second on the team in expected goals share during five-on-five play (61.10) and second on the team in five-on-five shots on goal with 20. However, his defensive performance has been a major concern, as he owns a team-worst minus-nine rating.
The Rangers need Lafreniere to be more consistent if they want to succeed this season. "It's not like he hasn't had opportunities to score goals," Sullivan said. "Our message to him is just make sure we're playing the game the right way, focus on the process. The by-product of that will be you're going to get opportunity, and when opportunity presents itself, take advantage."
The Rangers' power play has been a bright spot for the team, but Lafreniere's performance in this area has been inconsistent. He had a notable scoring chance against the Penguins earlier in the week, which ended up being on the scoreboard.
Despite his struggles, Lafreniere is still one of the most talented players on the Rangers' roster. If he can find a way to stay focused and play the game the right way, he has the potential to be a top-six forward for years to come. Until then, the Rangers will have to rely on their other skilled players to fill the void left by Lafreniere's inconsistent performance.
The New York Rangers have been searching for consistency in their game, but one player who has been particularly underwhelming is Alexis Lafreniere. In his sixth NHL season since being drafted first overall by the Blueshirts in 2020, Lafreniere has left much to be desired on both sides of the puck.
While Lafreniere's offensive statistics suggest he's doing everything but scoring, his lack of finish has been notable, and his defensive lapses have been costly. "I think it's been a little bit of a mixed bag," head coach Mike Sullivan said after practice Wednesday at Rogers Place. "He's had some games where he's had strong games, one of those talented guys that can create something out of nothing." However, Lafreniere's defensive performance has been particularly concerning, as he's on the ice for seven five-on-five goals against, tied with Mika Zibanejad for the second most on the team.
Lafreniere's offense has shown promise, ranking second on the team in expected goals share during five-on-five play (61.10) and second on the team in five-on-five shots on goal with 20. However, his defensive performance has been a major concern, as he owns a team-worst minus-nine rating.
The Rangers need Lafreniere to be more consistent if they want to succeed this season. "It's not like he hasn't had opportunities to score goals," Sullivan said. "Our message to him is just make sure we're playing the game the right way, focus on the process. The by-product of that will be you're going to get opportunity, and when opportunity presents itself, take advantage."
The Rangers' power play has been a bright spot for the team, but Lafreniere's performance in this area has been inconsistent. He had a notable scoring chance against the Penguins earlier in the week, which ended up being on the scoreboard.
Despite his struggles, Lafreniere is still one of the most talented players on the Rangers' roster. If he can find a way to stay focused and play the game the right way, he has the potential to be a top-six forward for years to come. Until then, the Rangers will have to rely on their other skilled players to fill the void left by Lafreniere's inconsistent performance.
... one minute he's a superstar creator, and the next he's giving up goals for fun 
. I think the biggest problem is that his game feels so unbalanced - he's either a goal-scorer or a guy who creates scoring chances, but not really both 
. He needs to find that sweet spot where he can be both physical and creative at the same time... and also maybe work on taking those high-quality shots he has 
. Until then, I'm gonna keep rooting for him to figure it out 
... I mean, he's got so much talent but he just can't seem to get it together. I remember in freshman year of high school, we had that one player who was super promising but just couldn't put the puck in the net no matter how hard he tried 
️. It's like he's stuck on the cycle and needs to break free from that mentality. But you know what? The coach is right 
... if he can just focus on playing the right way, he'll get his chances and score some big goals. And when we have power plays, I'm sure he'll make a difference 
!
it's like a whole new world of gaming and productivity! I mean, I'm all for supporting the Rangers, but Alexis Lafreniere needs to step up his game if they wanna make a push for the playoffs this year. Consistency is key, you know? It's not just about him scoring more goals, but playing smart defense too 
. Sullivan's right on the money with that "play the game the right way" vibe - let's get Lafreniere locked in and see what happens! 
. The coaches are trying to tell him to focus on the process, which I get, but it's hard when you've got that much talent pouring out of you 
.
we need see that guy show up every night, not just every other game 