Lafreniere receiving big opportunity from Rangers

Alexis Lafreniere's rookie season has not started how many expected it would, but that could all change starting Friday night. The first overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft will be promoted to the second line, because of the injury to star forward Artemi Panarin. Panarin is considered day-to-day, but this is great news for the rookie forward looking to break out.

Lafreniere will slide up to the second line left wing with Ryan Strome centering the line and Kaapo Kakko on the right wing. It could be interesting to see Kakko and Lafreniere play together as Kakko has underperformed compared to his high expectations from when he was drafted 2nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.

The Canadian has struggled thus far during the season, but he now has the chance to play more meaningful minutes with better quality and higher skilled players than what he was playing with. Some people are going as far as calling him a bust, but it is way too early to label a player with such massive potential a bust this early in his NHL career.

Lafreniere has the maturity and swagger as well as the physical play and smarts to become an absolute stud at the NHL level. Only time will tell if he can break out and show the world what he is truly made of, and maybe this is the opportunity he needs.

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