With a hot start to the 2024-25 season, scoring seven points (4G / 3A) in his first seven games, Lafreniere has been rewarded with a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension. After struggling to live up to his status as a 1st overall draft pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Lafreniere has established himself as an offensive threat in the league since the latter part of last season. The 23-year-old Lafreniere has collected 37 points (21G / 16A) in his previous 41 games after only tallying 118 points (58G / 60A) in his first 263.

Lafreniere is battling an upper-body injury, and his status for Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens is up in the air. After struggling to live up to his first-overall selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the 23-year-old Lafreniere is making a name for himself in his fourth NHL campaign, opening the 2024-25 season by scoring six points (3G / 3A) during a season-opening five-game point streak.

Lafreniere has five goals, 12 assists, 63 SOG and 10 PIMs through 36 games but will surprisingly be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. the Lightning. It is the first scratch of the season for the 2020 1st overall pick.

Lafreniere was scratched on Thursday with Filip Chytil back but will play Saturday vs. the Red Wings. It's unclear who Lafreniere will replace but he re-enters having gone pointless in his last eight games.