The Tampa Bay Lightning are counting on a veteran core to pull off the first Stanley Cup three-peat in almost 30 years — but maybe weren’t expecting to be routed by the youngest team left in the playoffs.
The Rangers stormed the Lightning in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, a statement win anchored by New York’s “Kid Line” of Alexis Lafreniére, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil — all 22 or younger — who contributed three assists and five total points.
While superstars like Chris Kreider, Igor Shesterkin, and Mika Zibanejad rightly command most of the headlines, New York’s fourth line are showing clutch production at a relative bargain for a team with a $67.4 million salary cap.
- Chytil scored two goals in Game 1 and has seven total in the postseason — T2 for most in franchise history for players 22 or younger.
- Lafrenière (9 PTS) surpassed Niklas Sundstrom for the second-most career playoff points by a Rangers player 20 or younger.
- Lafrenière ($3.8M AAV), Kakko ($3.3M), and Chytil ($2.3M) account for only $9.4M of New York’s total cap — or roughly 14%.
All three are homegrown talent: Lafrenière was the first overall pick in 2020, Kakko second overall in 2019, and Chytil the 21st pick in 2017.
With an average age of 26.7 years, the Rangers could be the first Cup winners with an average age younger than 27 since the Canadiens in 1993 (26 YRS, 91 D).
They’re slight favorites (-125) to make their first Stanley Cup Final since 2014.
