Alexis Lafreniere

Lafreniere's numbers in his rookie campaign were underwhelming (12 goals, 21 in 56 games) compared to the massive expectations placed on him entering the year, but that translates to an 18-goal, 31-point pace over the course of a normal 82-game season, perfectly reasonable statistics for a 19-year-old rookie, especially when you consider he didn't post a single point on the power play. Lafreniere got better as the year progressed. He posted seven points in his final nine games and is locked and loaded for a breakout sophomore campaign in 2021-22. The trade of Pavel Buchnevich to the Blues should allow Lafreniere to move to New York's No. 1 line in addition to seeing an increase in power-play duties. Don't give up on Lafreniere yet. There's high-end upside here.

Lafreniere is a cornerstone player with the rare ability to dictate play from the wing. The first overall pick in 2020 averaged more than a point-per-game in the QMJHL when he was just 16 and was named the CHL's Player of the Year in 2019-20. Lafreniere's creativity is elite and his hockey IQ is high. He sees plays develop before his opponents do, beats them one-on-one and isn't afraid to drive the net. His hands are both lightning fast and buttery soft, and he plays hard, heavy hockey. Lafreniere's game is all but guaranteed to translate well to the NHL -- scouts have compared him to David Pastrnak. He'll be a Calder nominee -- and maybe the winner -- on the coattails of a 60-point pace this year.