The New York Rangers have already taken care of one piece of big business. News emerged that Alexis Lafreniere signs a new contract with the Blueshirts. The 24-year-old signed a deal for seven seasons and just over $52 million. This works out to an average cap hit of $7.45 million per season and the deal runs through the end of the 2031-32 season.
The #NYR $7.45M AAV extension with Alexis Lafrenière comes in with a cap hit a shade below the $7.6M AAV given to #habs Juraj Slafkovský, a fellow No. 1 overall pick.
Slafkovský signed for eight years while Lafrenière opted for seven.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 25, 2024
Alexis Lafreniere Signs New Deal with Rangers
Lafrenerie has only played for the Rangers over his five-NHL career. This season, the St-Eustache, Quebec native has four goals and three assists for seven points in seven games this season. He has a Corsi for of 58.3 and a relative Corsi of 8.9.
The former first overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft has 79 goals and 76 assists for 155 points in 305 career games. Lafreniere netted a career-high 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points in 82 games in the 2023-24 campaign. The Rangers forward has taken off in the last two seasons under head coach Peter Laviolette.
He’s also represented home country of Canada on the international level where he’s won gold at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championships and the 2018 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Both tournaments were held in Alberta.
What It Means
Signing Lafreniere to a long-term deal is a huge boost to the roster. This deal is a long-term commitment, but Lafreniere at this contract number may turn out to be an absolute bargain.
There’s still some worry about signing players like Igor Shesterkin and K’Andre Miller. However, this one big thing that Rangers’ General Manager has checked off his to-do list. Drury can turn his attention signing Shesterkin and Miller before they get to July 1.
Lafreniere has blossomed into an important player for the Rangers. This contract will help keep him in the lineup for a number of seasons. He’ll figure prominently into the Blueshirts’ plans for a long time.
Main photo by: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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