The conversation surrounding Alexis Lafrenière each offseason since the Rangers drafted him first overall in 2020 has largely centered around one question:

Is this his ceiling?

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For a No. 1 draft pick, what Lafrenière has shown through his first six NHL seasons pales in comparison to his counterparts who went first overall in the years before and after him. Every moment or stretch of traction has been fleeting. The expectations have never come close to being met.

Amid an offseason focused on retooling, however, Lafrenière remains a pivotal player.