The Alexis Lafrenière Era Begins In New York

The New York Rangers surprised many by winning the #1 pick in last year's NHL draft lottery -- not least because they were nowhere near the worst team in the league. And winning the lottery meant winning the rights to French-Canadian teen sensation Alexis LaFreniere, who was the first player since Sidney Crosby to win Quebec Major Junior Hockey League MVP in back-to-back years. The Athletic's Scott Burnside spent some time with LaFreniere in the buildup to the current NHL season, and Scott joins us to explain what makes LaFreniere so special, how he has looked in his first two NHL games, and the unique challenges he'll face playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

Read Scott Burnside's profile of Alexis LaFreniere:

https://theathletic.com/2268371/2020/12/31/new-yor…