The NHL Continues To Get Everything Right As Rangers Win The Lafreniere Sweepstakes

Minas Panagiotakis. Getty Images.

They nailed the 24-team return-to-play format. Nailed the start of the draft lottery with the excitement of a "mystery team" getting the first overall pick. Nailed their bubbles & player safety while other pro sports are still scratching their heads. And now they nail the lottery finale by selecting an original six, major-market squad with their arrow already pointing straight up as the victors of the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes. Completely random, fairly and unbiased. Well done, Bettman. Well done.

Just look at the size, speed, vision, hands, effort, passion…this kid is the real deal. Almost all of the recently highly successful teams (Penguins with Sid and Geno, Blackhawks with Toews and Kane, even the Caps with Ovi and Backstrom) have had a pair of stud top picks that have stayed with their franchises from the jump and transformed them into champs. Are Kakko and Lafreniere the next dynamic duo? Stay tuned…