Lafreniere becoming 'more complete player' for Rangers

NEW YORK -- Mere minutes after Alexis Lafreniere completed the third hat trick of his career on Tuesday, the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft was asked what personal goals he set for himself during the offseason.

"Win the Cup," the New York Rangers forward said following a 5-2 win against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

More than six years have passed since the Rangers won the NHL Draft Lottery and the right to choose Lafreniere, the consensus top pick in 2020 who became the first Quebec-born player to go No. 1 since goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003. 

With 255 points (119 goals, 136 assists) in 467 games since then, Lafreniere hasn't exactly produced what many would expect from a No. 1 draft pick. Last season, he matched his NHL career-high 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists) he had in 2023-24, when the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Florida Panthers in six games. He played a pivotal role in that postseason run, getting 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 16 
Stanley Cup Playoff games.

But the Rangers haven't been back to the postseason since, including a last -place finish in the East in 2025-26. It's the biggest reason why Lafreniere -- who also had an assist Tuesday and was plus-4 in 18:54 of ice time -- wasn't thinking about individual production over the summer. He just wants to help his team right the ship any way he can.

"I don't have any numbers or anything," Lafreniere said. "I try to keep playing better, keep working on my game, both sides of the puck, and being a more complete player."

The ones who simply looked at the stat sheet after the game Tuesday will tell you two of Lafreniere's first three goals this season were scored into an empty net 32 seconds apart late in the third period. But what mattered most to him was the trust Rangers coach Mike Sullivan placed in him to help protect what was until that time a one-goal lead. 

Lafreniere's last shift lasted 1:12, scoring twice and helping the Rangers (4-1-0) win their fourth straight since a 3-0 loss at the Boston Bruins in their season opener on Sept. 29.

They outshot the Islanders 12-5 in the third.

"It means a lot," Lafreniere said. "You always want to be out there late in games, whether you're down one, up one, whatever it is. It's good to be out there and just kind of focus on what we're doing good right now and try to keep doing it.

"We're playing well and we're playing pretty good with the lead right now. That third period, I don't think we gave up anything really. I feel like we're playing winning hockey, especially with the lead. That helps us a lot."

Sullivan was more than willing to speak about Lafreniere's ability to produce after his team's latest victory. It's a dimension to his game the coaching staff tried to solidify last season after the 2026 Winter Olympics in February, when he had 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) and was plus-8 in his last 25 games. 

"We felt he had some breakthrough moments in the second half of last year with just his overall daily process," Sullivan said. "I think there's a little bit more of a maturity to his approach every day that I think is helping him, just his intentions and how he's playing the game. … I think he led the League last year post-Olympic break in deflection goals at the net-front (six), which suggests he's getting inside and he's playing a down-low game.  

"He's such a talented player. He creates off the rush; he's always had that element of his game offensively. Where we tried to challenge him was when they take the rush away, now what? Can we grow and develop your grind game down low? You can create offense different ways -- you're capable, you're strong. He's a lean guy, but he's hockey-strong."

There's still time for Lafreniere to continue to improve in all areas. He turns 25 on Oct. 11 and is only in the second season of a seven-year, $52.15 million contract ($7.45 million average annual value) he signed with the Rangers on Oct. 25, 2024.

He's found chemistry early this season with linemates Mika Zibanejad and Gabe Perreault. On Tuesday, Zibanejad made a nifty pass from his knees in his own end up to Lafreniere, who skated down the left wing and ripped a wrist shot over Semyon Varlamov's glove 25 seconds into the second period to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

"His ceiling, I don't think he's touched it yet," Zibanejad said. "I think he's growing and just the way he's playing, every game, I feel like the skill and everything, you see that. You see in on display, but just the maturity of how they play and how they buy in to how we want to play. I think everyone (is). That's another step in their development and I think they're doing a good job of that, so I'm happy to see it." 

And in the third, with the Rangers looking to secure another victory, Sullivan turned to Lafreniere to help when 
needed most.

"He's got to continue that offensive element, because he's capable," Sullivan said. "Now, it's just on the other side of the puck, just his conscientious game away from the puck, positional play in the defensive zone.

"If you notice, we're using him 5-on-6. That's a responsibility, that's a privilege. But we think he's a guy that's very capable there, so we're challenging him there to bring a defensive conscience in those situations. He gets rewarded with some empty-net opportunities. We're not just handing that stuff to 'Laf.' We think he's earned that, and that's why we've given him that opportunity. "I think his overall game, his complete game on both sides of the puck, continues to grow and develop."

He may not finish among the NHL leaders in scoring, but that doesn't mean Lafreniere can't set career bests this season.

He'll only enjoy it, though, if the Rangers are still playing beyond their regular-season finale on April 10. 

"I hope so, but like I said, I'm not thinking about numbers or whatever," Lafreniere said. "I just want to play good and play the best two-way game I can play."