Heading into the 2020 NHL Draft, there was little – if any – doubt that the Rangers would be taking 18-year-old Canadian winger Alexis Lafreniere with the number one overall pick.

But that didn’t make things any less special for the Quebec native when he heard his name called first overall.

“It was an unreal feeling,” Lafreniere said on his conference call with reporters. “Obviously, the New York Rangers are a great organization, and, for me, I’m really honored to join them. When I heard my name, we’d been waiting for a long time, so it was something really special for me and my family, so we’re all really excited.”

Playing with Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Lafreniere has been a goal-scoring machine since he began playing in 2017-18, scoring 42 goals as a rookie and following it up with seasons of 37 and 35 goals in his next two seasons.

“I told myself that I had to work hard and to keep getting better, and that’s what I did and we’re here today and I’m getting drafted with the New York Rangers,” Lafreniere said. “It was kind of a dream growing up, just to be drafted, and just being drafted with such a great team, it’s amazing to me.”

The Rangers finished the 2019-20 season with a 37-28-5 record, good for 79 points and the 11^th seed in the Eastern Conference. Thanks to the NHL’s new playoff format this season, the Rangers made the playoffs but were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in three games in their Qualifying Round series.

And though they didn’t have the best odds going into the NHL Draft Lottery, things shook out the Rangers' way, and now they find themselves with a premier young talent, eager to get his career started in the Big Apple.

“I’m really excited to join the New York Rangers,” Lafreniere said. “Can’t wait to see the fans. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the fans and about the building, so I’m really excited to arrive in New York in the next maybe couple months, and I hope we’re going to have a good season, and I’m really honored.”

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