Montreal Canadiens: Ranking Past 10 First Overall NHL Draft Picks

9. Alexis Lafreniere

It might not be fair to put the most recent first overall picks on this list, simply because they haven’t had as much time to prove themselves. But, adjusting to the NHL level is a reality that Shane Wright is going to have to deal with as well.

Lafreniere has taken slowly to the NHL game. He was an extraordinary talent at the QMJHL level but hasn’t been able to put up a lot of offence with the New York Rangers as of yet. He is just 20 years old, so let’s not compare him to Yakupov quite yet.

Lafreniere had over two points per game in his final Junior season. He scored 35 goals and 112 points 52 games for the Rimouski Oceanic before Covid wiped out the remainder of the season.

Since making his NHL debut, Lafreniere scored 12 goals and 21 points in 56 games as a rookie, and followed that up with 19 goals and 31 points in 79 games this season. He played good hockey in the postseason, though he didn’t explode offensively with nine points in 20 games.

It is still too early to declare Lafreniere won’t live up to his lofty expectations as a first overall pick. But the Rangers have to be getting a little restless waiting for their top selection to take off.