The New York Rangers and the primary total choice of the 2020 NHL Draft, Alexis Lafreniere, have agreed to a long-term contract extension. As soon as the winger’s $2.325 million common annual worth (AAV) bridge deal expires following this season, he’ll be making $7.45 million AAV by 2031-32—he agreed to a seven-year deal per Elliotte Friedman.
7x$7.45 for Lafreniere
Consists of the bells and whistles…up-front bonuses and a few commerce safety as soon as he’s eligibleNYR get some necessary work completed https://t.co/jAkO30nY25
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 25, 2024
Solely at even energy this season, Lafreniere has seven factors (4 objectives, three assists) in seven contests. His lack of power-play utilization undermines simply how good of a participant he’s been—the 23-year-old is immensely gifted. Nevertheless, there was once some worries about how he was performing within the early levels of his profession. Let’s revisit these days.
After back-to-back 100-point campaigns within the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in his draft minus-one and draft yr, Lafreniere proved himself as a top-end prospect. The Rangers have been very happy to pick out him with their prime decide, one which they have been awarded regardless of ending 18th within the NHL standings. Immediately thrust right into a gifted lineup, he didn’t fairly carry out to the lofty expectations he was given in 2020-21. He had 21 factors in 56 video games.
In his subsequent two campaigns, Lafreniere hit the 30-point mark twice (placing up 70 whole in 160 video games), however he wasn’t precisely checked out because the league’s subsequent celebrity at this stage. After that, he signed the two-year deal he’s at present on. Then, he confirmed a little bit of magic in 2023-24.
The Rangers’ dominant prime power-play unit was off-limits for Lafreniere, however he nonetheless scored 57 factors (28 objectives, 29 assists). In New York’s run to the Jap Convention Closing, he was certainly one of their greatest gamers with 14 factors in 16 video games. Getting into the 2024-25 season, there have been some expectations—he has lived as much as them.
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Most of the NHL’s star gamers depend on power-play manufacturing to place up excessive level totals, however Lafreniere has been doing that when no person is within the penalty field. He is likely one of the prime even-strength scorers within the league, so don’t be shocked if he continues his upward trajectory into 100-point territory sometime if he will get extra motion on the person benefit. That final result would make this contract one of many greatest steals within the sport.
