While Igor Shesterkin’s upcoming contract has dominated recent headlines in New York, the Rangers are also aiming to secure another important player from their core this season.
Discussions have taken place between the Blueshirts and Alexis Lafreniere, the former No. 1 overall pick, about an eight-year deal that could be worth approximately $8 million annually for the 23-year-old, as reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
He mentioned on Thursday, “With his strong start to the season, including two points in Wednesday’s game for New York, there has been notable progress in talks over the summer. Although discussions had to be temporarily paused while the Rangers focused on finalizing Shesterkin’s contract before the season began, this is a significant time for Lafreniere as the team looks to manage its future salary cap effectively.”
Lafreniere is in the last year of a contract that pays him $2.325 million for 2024-25 and will become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, with the option to go unrestricted in 2027.
Seravalli added, “At just 22 years old (turning 23 on Friday), Lafreniere has only begun to realize his potential after a productive last season and an impressive playoff performance for New York. It’s crucial for the team to secure him, and this is likely to be one of the most significant contracts he will have the chance to negotiate.”
There are several options being considered for Lafreniere and the Rangers, but it’s clear that if he re-signs in New York, his average annual value will not be under $7 million, depending on the length of the deal. Lafreniere had a breakout season with the Rangers last year, building strong chemistry with players Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, resulting in a total of 28 goals and 57 points over 82 games.
