There was an interesting Top 10 list posted on X (formerly Twitter) Monday, and as often is the case, it sparked a fairly robust debate.
David Singer, the creator of hockeyfights.com who goes by the profile name of “Singsy24,” gave his ranking of the No. 1 overall picks from the last 10 NHL drafts. And as he explained, it was a fairly straightforward analysis of what each player individually brings to the table.
“My rankings are based in what they’ve done, what they are doing now, and what their projections are,” he wrote.
So in Singer’s estimation, here is how the players in question should be listed:
- Auston Matthews
- Jack Hughes
- Rasmus Dahlin
- Nico Hischier
- Macklin Celebrini
- Matthew Schaefer
- Conor Bedard
- Juraj Slafkovsky
- Owen Power
- Alexis Lafreniere
As one could imagine, Singer’s undertaking generated a wide gamut of responses, some in agreement, many with criticisms and suggested alterations. But interestingly, very few respondents appeared to take issue with the bottom of the list. There were some who thought Power and Lafreniere could switch positions, but overall, the lack of argument over putting Lafreniere last seemed pretty striking.
Yeah, some comments took note of Singer’s New Jersey Devils fandom in offering their critique, but that was more in light of his Hischier/Devils love than any Lafreniere/Rangers hate.
“Worst part is I know your hating and thats why laf is the bottom but ur also not hating cause its literally true,” one commenter stated.
So what does this ultimately mean for the New York Rangers and Lafreniere, the now-24-year-old first-overall pick from the 2020 draft?
Alexis Lafreniere’s Slow Start Resurrects ‘Is He a Bust’ Debate
Lafreniere stands 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, a left-winger with the physical gifts, shot, speed, vision. After some early growing pains, Lafreniere had a breakout in 2023-24, with 28 goals and 29 assists in 82 games, and he added 14 points (8 goals, 6 assists) in 16 playoff games that season, which fed into a growing narrative that Lafreniere was finally coming into his own.
But the “is he a bust” chatter has returned in full force, supported by the argument that one good year doesn’t erase the swings, the expectations, the contract extension, and the subsequent regression. After the 57-point season came a 45-point season (17 goals, 28 assists) in 2024-25, and in 2025-26 he’s off to a rough start — just one goal and two assists through 10 games, a minus-10 differential, the offense stagnating.
Here’s the core of the debate: On one side, Lafreniere has the tools and one major breakout season to his name. On the other side, he has arguably under-delivered in the window when the Rangers were aggressively trying to contend.
The fact that he signed a seven-year, $52.15 million extension beginning in 2025-26 only raises the stakes. That kind of commitment demands consistent top-line production. And yet the offense around him has regressed, and his own consistency is lacking.
Put another way: the Rangers believed they were capturing a rising elite piece. Many now wonder if what they have instead is a “solid” player with upside — but not the franchise-changing forward they hoped for when they used the top pick on him. And when the rest of the roster shows signs of wear and the future looms, his asset value becomes a critical question.
Which points to the broader picture for the Rangers.
Rangers Should Consider Trading Alexis Lafreniere, Artemi Panarin
First: they’re off to a disappointing start this season, offense sputtering, lines not producing, and a roster that looks increasingly like it’s on borrowed time. Second: Their veteran star Artemi Panarin is entering the final season of his seven-year contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent in July 2026. The sense of urgency is real: if the Rangers don’t give him the belief of a contender, he’ll be gone. Third: the 2026 draft class is shaping up to be stacked, with deep talent at forward, defense, even goalie — meaning that dropping into a full-rebuild or retool might be viable.
Stitching these facts together, the plan of action becomes clearer: the Rangers should consider trading their assets — including Lafreniere while his value still has upside, and Panarin before he walks — and pivot into a future-building mode rather than chasing a fleeting contention window with a roster past its peak.
Lafreniere may still develop into the player they hoped; but the optics of him not yet fulfilling that top-pick promise combined with the team’s fragility suggest he may yield more value as a trade piece than as an ongoing anchor. Given his contract is already in place for years, his trade value might be at its peak now — better to move him when contending teams see the tools, than later when the narrative hardens.
Panarin, meanwhile, offers a “win-now” piece for a contender as a rental or short-term addition. The Rangers can recoup picks and young players, reposition their timeline, and plunge into the 2026 draft with full focus.
In short: The narrative around Alexis Lafreniere isn’t fixed—he’s not definitively a bust, but he hasn’t become the producer the Rangers envisioned. And time is running out for this group to dial into relevance.
With the roster ageing, the cap expanding, and the draft opportunity looming, New York’s front office would be wise to shift gears: trade while you can, rebuild with purpose, and reset the expectation clock. The dream of building around Lafreniere might still exist — but the smarter move today may be to move on and build anew.
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