The New York Rangers and forward Alexis Lafrenière have agreed to a seven-year, $54.15 million deal, according to Frank Seravalli.
This contract was expected to be finalized for a couple of days, as multiple reports indicated that the Rangers and Lafrenière were closing in on an agreement. Lafrenière is one of the young emerging stars in the NHL, and overall, this contract is a big win for the Rangers, as they secured him with an AAV of $7.45 million, which is below the initial expectation of around $8 million AAV. He is off to a hot start this season for the New York Rangers, tallying 4 goals and 3 assists for a total of 7 points in the team's first few games.
Last year, Lafrenière finally broke out, showcasing why he was selected first overall by the New York Rangers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He registered 57 points and 26 goals last season, both of which were career highs. He was also a key contributor in the playoffs, scoring eight goals, providing six assists, and totaling 14 points in 16 games.
The left-handed Lafrenière scored his fourth goal of the campaign last night against the Florida Panthers, also scoring against Detroit, Toronto and Pittsburgh. Lafrenière rang the puck around the boards to Adam Fox on the far side of the ice. Fox won a board battle and picks a pass out in front to Lafreniere, and the Quebecois winger beats Sergei Bobrovsky to score against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
The contract is a 7-year deal that will take Lafrenière into his age 30 season, allowing him to secure another big payday during his career. This deal is a significant win for the Rangers, especially considering comparable players like Tim Stützle and Juraj Slafkovský, who received contracts around or over $8 million AAV. The Rangers now have their former first overall pick and cornerstone player locked up, and they will next focus on Igor Shesterkin's contract.
