2020-2021 -The original problem for Laf (age 19, first season) was he was a left wing and the Rangers had CK and Panarin as the top 6 left wings. 2021-2022 Buch traded to make room for Kakko, Panarin 22g/74a/96pts and CK goes insane with 52g, with 25ppg, Zib has 15ppg fed by Panarin/Strome/Fox. The right wings that season were Laf/Goodrow/Kakko/Hunt/ Gauthier and then they picked up Vetrano and Copp for the playoffs because the right wings were not cutting it. There is still no way laf moves ahead of CK and Panarin. Panarin drove the offense and laf pretty much deferred to him when he finally locked up a RW slot with the Trocheck line.

Source: New York Times March 13, 2026 21:04 UTC