| Alexis Lafrenière | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Lafrenière with theNew York Rangers in 2021 | |||
| Born | (2001-10-11)October 11, 2001 (age 23) Saint-Eustache,Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team | New York Rangers | ||
| NHL draft | 1st overall,2020 New York Rangers | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Alexis Lafrenière (French pronunciation:[a.lɛk.sila.fʁə.njɛʁ]; born October 11, 2001) is a Canadian professionalice hockeywinger for theNew York Rangers of theNational Hockey League (NHL). Selected first overall by theRimouski Océanic of theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2017, he was awarded theQMJHL Rookie of the Year award and was named to theFirst All-Star team in his rookie season. He was selectedfirst overall by the Rangers in the2020 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the team in 2021.
Lafrenière has represented Canada internationally at the2018 IIHF World U18 Championships,2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup,2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and the2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. As the captain of theCanadian national junior team, Lafrenière led them to a gold medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Lafrenière was selected first overall in the 2017 QMJHL entry draft byRimouski Océanic. In his rookie season, he scored 42 goals, the most goals scored by a rookie sinceSidney Crosby in 2004.[1] He was awarded theRDS Cup as QMJHL rookie of the year and was named to theFirst All-Star team.[2]
Following the shortened2019–20 QMJHL season, Lafrenière was considered the consensus first overall pick for the2020 NHL Entry Draft having led the league in scoring with 112 points. He was eventually drafted first overall by theNew York Rangers on October 6, 2020, becoming their first-ever first overall pick in the entry draft era.[3][4] On October 12, Lafrenière signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers.[5]
On January 14, 2021, Lafrenière made his NHL debut with theNew York Rangers, logging one shot on goal in the 4–0 loss to theNew York Islanders.[6] On January 28, 2021, Lafrenière scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 overtime win against theBuffalo Sabres.[7] He became the first Ranger to score his first career NHL goal in overtime sinceMats Zuccarello did on January 5, 2011. Lafrenière also became the youngest player in NHL history to score their first career goal in overtime (19 years, 109 days old). The only other teenage player to do that wasCody Ceci (also 19) in 2013.[8]
On May 7, 2022, Lafrenière scored his first career playoff goal during the Game 4 of theStanley Cup playoffs against thePittsburgh Penguins. At 20 years and 208 days, he became the youngest Ranger with a playoff point sinceSteven Rice (19 years, 322 days) in 1991.[9]
On March 30, 2024, Lafrenière recorded his first NHL careerhat trick and five-point game in the Rangers' 8–5 win over theArizona Coyotes.[10]
On October 25, 2024, Lafrenière signed a seven-year $52.15 million dollar extension with the Rangers.[11][12]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing Canada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2020 Czech Republic | |
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | ||
| 2018 Edmonton/Red Deer | |
Lafrenière was the youngest player selected forTeam Canada's U18 team at the2018 IIHF World U18 Championships at the age of 16.[13] He later captained Team Canada at the2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup tournament, despite being the second youngest on the roster.[14] Lafreniere led the tournament with 11 points in five games, helping Canada win gold.[15]
In December 2018, Lafrenière was named to Team Canada's2019 IIHF World Junior Championship roster.[16] He was the youngest member on the roster and the ninth-youngest forward ever to represent Canada in the World Juniors.[17] He scored his first, and only, goal of the tournament during Canada's 5–1 win over the Czech Republic.[17] Canada was later eliminated by Team Finland in the quarterfinals.[18]
In December 2019, he was named to Team Canada's2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships roster. After a four-point performance in the team's 6–4 win against the United States in the tournament opener, Lafrenière suffered a lower-body injury the following game after colliding with Russian goaltenderAmir Miftakhov on ascoring chance in the second period.[19] He would miss two games, and came back strong, helping lead Canada to a gold medal. He was named one of the three best players on Team Canada, tournament MVP, and was named to the media all star team. He registered four goals and six assists for 10 points in five games.[20]
Lafrenière was raised inSaint-Eustache, Quebec, the son of Hugo and Nathalie Lafrenière, a first grade teacher. He has one sister, Lori-Jane, who is three years older than him and plays soccer at theUniversité de Montréal. Alexis was also a talented baseball shortstop in his youth before deciding to focus on hockey. Despite being aMontreal Canadiens fan growing up, Lafrenière's favorite player is longtimeChicago Blackhawks star forwardPatrick Kane.[21]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2017–18 | Rimouski Océanic | QMJHL | 60 | 42 | 38 | 80 | 54 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | ||
| 2018–19 | Rimouski Océanic | QMJHL | 61 | 37 | 68 | 105 | 72 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 14 | ||
| 2019–20 | Rimouski Océanic | QMJHL | 52 | 35 | 77 | 112 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | New York Rangers | NHL | 56 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | New York Rangers | NHL | 79 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 37 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 11 | ||
| 2022–23 | New York Rangers | NHL | 81 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 28 | 29 | 57 | 40 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 6 | ||
| NHL totals | 298 | 75 | 73 | 148 | 118 | 43 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 17 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Canada Red | U17 |  | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2018 | Canada | U18 | 5th | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2018 | Canada | HG18 |  | 5 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2019 | Canada | WJC | 6th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2020 | Canada | WJC | | 5 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 26 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 10 | ||||
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| QMJHL | ||
| QMJHL All-Rookie Team | 2018 | [22] |
| QMJHL First All-Star Team | 2018,2019,2020 | |
| Rookie of the Year | 2018 | |
| Michel Bergeron Trophy | 2018 | [23] |
| Paul Dumont Trophy | 2019, 2020 | |
| Jean Béliveau Trophy | 2020 | |
| Michel Brière Memorial Trophy | 2020 | [24] |
| International | ||
| World Junior Championships tournament MVP | 2020 | [25] |
| World Junior Championships tournament All-Star Team | 2020 | |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | NHL first overall draft pick 2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | New York Rangers first round draft pick 2020 | Succeeded by |