This year, Alexis Lafrenière admits, has been hard.
“Really hard,” he said.
Just two years ago, Lafrenière — the top overall pick in 2020 — was the buzz of the Rangers run to the Eastern Conference final, with eight goals and 14 points across 16 games. Just 15 months ago, he was rewarded with a seven-year extension worth over $52 million, a tangible sign of the Blueshirts envisioning him as part of their future.
But in the present, in the middle of another rut in the middle of another underwhelming campaign, Lafrenière has been hit with a different reality. In the aftermath of The Letter 2.0, Lafrenière, still just 24, could be a piece that president and general manager Chris Drury decides to move before the March 6 trade deadline.