Lafreniere's Late-Season Surge: Real Growth or Blip?

It's March 28th.

I'm Corey with The Story.

This is NHL News Today, driven by AI and built for fans.

New York Rangers' winger Alexis LaFernière is lighting it up late in the season, with

22 goals and 51 points in 73 games.

His best totals yet.

The Rangers got knocked out of playoff contention on Wednesday and look headed for a bottom three finish

as they commit to a full retool.

That shift means less pressure on the roster, especially after trading Artemi Panorin on

February 5th.

Since then, the 24-year-old has 10 goals and 19 points in just 17 games, tying for 12 in

league points and 7th in goals.

His shooting percentage hit 23.3% and he's thriving with more power playtime.

Fans and analysts are buzzing about whether this is real growth or just a pressure-free blip,

like Alex Gouchenyuk's explosion with Montreal back in 2015-16 that never stuck.

LaFernière's new net front roll fits his 6-foot-2 frame perfectly.

He's deflecting pucks like crazy, with 8 power play goals smashing his old.

Career high.

Dig deeper, and his 5 on 5 playstays solid, Rangers outscore opponents 45-40 when he's on,

with strong expected goals and high danger chances.

Share him with Mika Zabanahad and Gay Perio in that line's clicking.

Zabanahad shoots, Peril sets up, LaFernière drives the net and 4 checks, hard.

His defense has leveled up too.

Bottom line, this surge feels the sustainable high shooting percentages hold for net front

guys by Zach Hyman or Chris Criter and LaFernière's 8.

Goals and 16 playoff games last year prove he handles the spotlight.

At his age, 30 goal, 70 point seasons look very much in play as the Rangers rebuild.