Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers-igor-shesterkin-jacob-trouba-kandre-miller-adam-fox-artemi-panarin-alexis-lafreniere] forward Alexis Lafreniere [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/rangers-alexis-lafrenieres-playmaking-skills-emerge-in-loss-to-canucks] is on track to record the most points in a single season of his NHL career. The 22-year-old is on pace to record 47 points (20 goals, 27 assists) in 82 games. He has 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 44 games. A factor in the calculation was a five-game point drought from Dec. 9 to Dec. 16. If he can avoid long stretches of goal or point droughts, he can easily hit the 25-goal and 50-point threshold. With Artemi Panarin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers-artemi-panarin-on-nerves-coming-into-this-season-creating-offense-and-playing-with-alexis-lafreniere] on pace to record a career-high in shots on goal, and a career-high in goals, and Vincent Trocheck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/new-york-rangers/exclusive-new-york-rangers-vincent-trocheck-talks-hockey-fights-cancer-face-offs-and-alexis-lafreniere] producing at a point-per-game pace, Lafreniere should hit a hot streak at some point in the second half that will boost his totals. A sign of growth for No. 13 is his ability to drive play for the Rangers second line. Although he plays with a veteran, do-it-all-pivot in Trocheck, and a superstar in Panarin, he's not sitting in the back seat. His ability to carry the puck has created an offense that allows his linemates to get open, a skillset not seen on Broadway in his previous three NHL seasons. He's also averaging 17:21 a night, a jump from 15:13 last season and 13 minutes in each of his first two seasons. It would be a statement for the 2020 first-overall draft pick if he could hit the 50-point mark. Comparisons are often drawn between Lafreniere and players like Jack Hughes and Tim Stutzle. The Quebec native currently ranks eighth in points by an under-23 NHL skater. He would likely be higher on that list, but he does not skate on the team's top power-play unit. That says even more about the uptick in his production this season. Lafreniere is also tied with Chris Kreider for second in the team in even-strength goals with nine. Panarin leads the Rangers with 19 even-strength goals. TOP STORIES:
