Quebecer Alexis Lafrenière is playing big this year, starting the New York Rangers’ training camp where he will have a unique opportunity to showcase his talents on the ice on Thursday night.
In fact, as USA Today reported earlier in the day, head coach Peter Laviolette plans to use the 21-year-old forward in his starting lineup during the preseason game against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden. The first pick of the 2020 National Hockey League Draft will play alongside Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
Several media outlets believe that the 2023-2024 campaign will decide Lafrenière’s future in the Big Apple. To date, he has accumulated 91 points in 216 career games. During the first-round series against the Devils last spring, the No. 13 pick was suspended for seven games.
With the presence of Laviolette replacing Gerard Gallant on the bench, the forward was able to regain his touch from the junior ranks, where he scored 100 or more points for two seasons.
In his opening matchup on Sunday, Lafrenière hit three shots in a 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins.