I always hate writing stories like this, because I worry about unknowingly putting bad vibes into the universe and tempting fate, but in this case I think we can start to say that this version of Alexis Lafrenière is the one the New York Rangers have been waiting for.
The same Alexis Lafrenière who fans were anxious about heading into this season, and the same Alexis Lafrenière who took some heat for playing softball during the summer when he should have “been working on his game.”
Through 13 games Artemiy Panarin, and I’ll have a story on him soon, has been far and away the best player to step on the ice in a Rangers sweater.