Rangers team president Chris Drury has a lot on his plate this offseason, but signing winger Alexis Lafrenière to an extension doesn’t seem to be on the to-do list.
All indications are that the two sides will postpone negotiations until next summer, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to lohud.com, part of the KeynoteUSA Network.
Lafrenière is about to enter the final year of a contract that pays him a modest $2.325 million a year and will be eligible for an extension starting July 1. For the Rangers, it makes sense to lock him up before the price rises further. which has fueled speculation that they will make efforts to achieve this in the coming weeks. But the 22-year-old seems content to let that deal expire, at which point he will become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
That stance could change if a compelling offer is made, but the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft is preparing to make a strategic bet that his career-high 57-point season was just the beginning. And if he takes another step next season, he’ll be in position to make an even bigger payday.
New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) skates against the Florida Panthers during the first period of game one of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-KeynoteUSA Sports”>
Count Pedro Laviolette among the believers.
“To me, his confidence grew throughout the year,” the Blueshirts head coach said on the day of the breakup on June 4. “I would certainly like to see that build next year as I take on more responsibilities and look to grow from this year.” . “It was a really good year for him and we hope he is better next year.”
Lafrenière became one of the five forwards that Laviolette leaned on and trusted the most, along with veterans Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad. He ranked third among that group in total goals with 28 and second behind Panarin with 26 at even strength.
That was due, in part, to his rise to a consistent top-six spot on the NHL’s highest-scoring line with Panarin and Trocheck, whom Lafrenière repeatedly credited for his success. But the foundation was laid during an offseason dedicated to developing what his personal trainer and strength coach Stéphane Dubé called “separation speed.”
By improving his skating, the 6-foot-1, 194-pounder was able to create more space to let his world-class skill shine. And when the ice inevitably tightened, his added lower-body strength helped him work on key scoring areas. His 92 individual high-danger scoring opportunities at five-on-five ranked first on the team, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Lafrenière appears poised to build on those numbers in his age-23 season, particularly if the Rangers follow through with their plans to increase his power-play time and overall usage.
“I think he’s capable of getting more minutes,” Laviolette said. “I think he’s capable of more minutes within a game. … There’s definitely room to grow with him in regards to his minutes and the areas where he can be used and touch the puck, like the power play.”
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Lafrenière averaged a career-high 17:16 ice time last season, but only 1:16 came on the power play. It was difficult to find a spot for him on a loaded top unit, but it will be difficult to last much longer if he continues his rise.
The playoffs bolstered his case, with his eight even goals and 56.31 xGF% in the 16 games leading the team by significant margins.
While stars like Kreider, Panarin and Zibanejad went quiet in the Eastern Conference final, Lafrenière posted team highs in goals (four), shots (17) and scoring chances (20) for the series, while taking the second to Trocheck in hits (24) and committing only one draw. (Panarin and Zibanejad combined for 20.)
“I thought their playoffs were great,” Laviolette said. “He was productive. He was physical. He showed. He was an impact player for us.”
Trocheck called Lafrenière “a superstar in the making,” which would be great news for the Rangers. But it could also lead to a complicated negotiation this time next year.
Many are predicting a cap crisis for the 2025-26 season, when a perfect storm of contract situations will come to a head. That’s when Igor Shesterkin’s extension should take effect, with negotiations already underway for a deal that is expected to make him the highest-paid goaltender in the league. It’s also when Lafrenière and defenseman K’Andre Miller will receive significant raises, as well as being the final year of expensive deals for Panarin and captain Jacob Trouba that are worth a combined salary cap hit of nearly $20 million.
It will be a difficult situation, at least for a year, but there is no doubt that Lafrenière will be a top priority if his upward trend continues. The final figure of the contract will depend on the type of season he has, which adds some risk to the decision. But by waiting until next summer, the number 13 is giving himself the opportunity to maximize his value.
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