Alexis Lafreniere of the Rangers on his unique NHL debut

It won’t be the Garden party that Alexis Lafrenière envisioned when the youngster from Saint-Eustache contemplated his NHL debut once the ping-pong ball is mounted bearing the Rangers logo in the second week of August.

His parents will not be in the building. His sister will not be in the building. Neither did the 19-year-old’s extended family and friends. What’s more, those closest and dear to Lafrenière won’t even be able to come together to watch TV from a centralized location in his home province.

The COVID-19 restrictions in force are also strict in Quebec. There is a curfew from 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Indoor gatherings are strictly limited.

“They all have to be separated for sure,” Lafrenière said after the club’s last ice preparation for Thursday’s opener against the Islanders. “I’m sure everyone will watch, my friends, my family, for sure it’s going to be exciting for them too.

“I can’t wait for my first game.”

The lack of media at camp, coupled with the lack of exhibition games, may have dampened the hype as Lafrenière prepares for his debut. Indeed, as the camp progressed and K’Andre Miller made his way not only on the roster but also on a pair of matches alongside Jacob Trouba, 21-year-old Wisconsin is become the shiny new toy.

Still, that doesn’t alleviate the spotlight that will be formed on Lafreniere, who is set to become the first No. 1 draft selection in the Rangers Draft to play for the Rangers. The franchise’s only other top pick, André Veilleux in 1965, failed to make it to the NHL.

“Obviously there are a lot of nerves, but I’m really excited and can’t wait to see my first game in the NHL,” said Lafreniere. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time, so it’s going to be a special moment for sure.

“My first shift, maybe I’ll try to get a quick one, then we’ll go from there.”

Lafrenière has a ticket to play on the third row with Filip Chytil, 21, who has 144 regular season NHL games to his name, and Julien Gauthier, 23, a 17-game Big League regular-season veteran. Babes in the woods. But they are hardly alone.

Indeed, the Blueshirts will open with eight players aged 23 or under and another half-dozen 24 or 25. The Tarrytown training center and the Garden have become youth centers. It’s reminiscent of two earlier eras in franchise history in which a group of kids developed into a unit and were instrumental in the team’s rise.

In the 1970s, the group included Ron Greschner, Ron Duguay, Don Murdoch, Dave Maloney, Don Maloney, Pat Hickey, Mike McEwen, Lucien DeBlois, Dave Farrish, John Davidson (acquired in a trade after his second season) and Nick Fotiu .

The Post’s Rangers Podcast, “Up In The Blue Seats”, returns with its first season on Thursday.

And then there was Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Mats Zuccarello and Henrik Lundqvist to carry the banner in and through much of the 2010s.

Each of these eras culminated with a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, the first in 1979, the next in 2014. This group, completed by artists like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Trouba and Ryan Strome, aims ultimately to be taken to the next step.

But first. A start from Lafrenière. Kaapo Kakko, the second overall selection of 2019, on the second row, where he started last season with Kreider and Strome. Igor Shesterkin makes his first NHL opening night start. A battle against the finalist Islanders of the conference. In an empty arena.

“We’re going to be one of the younger teams in the league again, but the older guys that we have and the guys who have experience have really helped the young guys and I think it’s going pretty well.” , said Kreider, the club’s senior point-of-service member. “What I’ve seen are guys who could’ve been 18, 19, 20 last year and some guys in their first year seem a lot more comfortable on the ice and in the gym.

“I think the group has been together long enough that everyone is comfortable. New guys are welcome and fit in straight away. What is exciting is the potential of this group and the potential for each individual to grow on a day-to-day basis throughout the season.

Lafrenière, who will share an apartment with Miller this season, said he has made adjustments as the camp has progressed and he and his line mates have become more familiar with each other’s trends.

“I think I’ve improved from day one,” said the No.13. “Guys are a lot faster with you and you have to make decisions faster so you have to be ready to play as soon as you get on. the washer.

“This is what I am working on and always trying to improve myself. I’m just trying to get better and better every day. “

Thursday is day 1 for Lafreniere and day 1 for the Rangers. The parties in Manhattan will be postponed, but there’s a good chance a loud one or two will be heard around Quebec.