Lafrenière was selected first overall in the 2017 QMJHL entry draft by Rimouski Océanic. In his rookie season, he scored 42 goals, the most goals scored by a rookie since Sidney Crosby in 2004.[1] He was awarded the RDS Cup as QMJHL rookie of the year and was named to the First All-Star team.[2]
NHL
Following the shortened 2019–20 QMJHL season, Lafrenière was considered the consensus first overall pick for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft having led the league in scoring with 112 points. He was eventually drafted first overall by the New York Rangers on October 6, 2020, becoming their first-ever first overall pick in the entry draft era.[3][4] On October 12, Lafrenière signed an entry-level contract with the Rangers.[5]
On January 14, 2021, Lafrenière made his NHL debut with the New York Rangers, logging one shot on goal in the 4–0 loss to the New York Islanders.[6] On January 28, 2021, Lafrenière scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres.[7] He became the first Ranger to score his first career NHL goal in overtime since Mats Zuccarello did on January 5, 2011. Lafrenière also became the youngest player in NHL history to score their first career goal in overtime (19 years, 109 days old). The only other teenage player to do that was Cody Ceci (also 19) in 2013.[8]
On May 7, 2022, Lafrenière scored his first career playoff goal during the Game 4 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins. At 20 years and 208 days, he became the youngest Ranger with a playoff point since Steven Rice (19 years, 322 days) in 1991.[9]
On March 30, 2024, Lafrenière recorded his first NHL career hat trick and five-point game in the Rangers' 8–5 win over the Arizona Coyotes.[10]
On October 25, 2024, Lafrenière signed a seven-year $52.15 million dollar extension with the Rangers.[11][12]
In December 2018, Lafrenière was named to Team Canada's 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship roster.[16] He was the youngest member on the roster and the ninth-youngest forward ever to represent Canada in the World Juniors.[17] He scored his first, and only, goal of the tournament during Canada's 5–1 win over the Czech Republic.[17] Canada was later eliminated by Team Finland in the quarterfinals.[18]
In December 2019, he was named to Team Canada's 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships roster. After a four-point performance in the team's 6–4 win against the United States in the tournament opener, Lafrenière suffered a lower-body injury the following game after colliding with Russian goaltender Amir Miftakhov on a scoring chance in the second period.[19] He would miss two games, and came back strong, helping lead Canada to a gold medal. He was named one of the three best players on Team Canada, tournament MVP, and was named to the media all star team. He registered four goals and six assists for 10 points in five games.[20]
Personal life
Lafrenière was raised in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, the son of Hugo and Nathalie Lafrenière, a first grade teacher. He has one sister, Lori-Jane, who is three years older than him and plays soccer at the Université de Montréal. Alexis was also a talented baseball shortstop in his youth before deciding to focus on hockey. Despite being a Montreal Canadiens fan growing up, Lafrenière's favorite player is longtime Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane.[21]
