The Rangers had a top-two pick in successive drafts in 2019 and 2020, the kind of lottery fortune designed to alter a franchise’s fortunes if those selections pan out favorably.
Neither Kaapo Kakko, taken second overall in 2019, nor Alexis Lafreniere, the following year’s top pick, were immediate stars for the Blueshirts.
The latter finally enjoyed a breakout in his fourth NHL campaign while aligned mostly with All-Star linemates Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, posting career highs in goals (28), points (57) and shots (217) while appearing in all 82 regular-season games.
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