The New York Rangers and former No. 1 overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere, have sealed the deal on a two-year contract worth a cool $4.65 million. It’s official! The Rangers made the announcement on a sunny Wednesday, ending the summer saga of negotiations between the team and their budding star.
Lafreniere, who was the top pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, took a little time to hit his stride in the NHL, but it seems he’s now found his rhythm in the big league. Over the past couple of seasons, he’s notched up an impressive 35 goals, 33 assists, and 70 points in 160 games. Not too shabby, right?
Now, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether Lafreniere can crank it up a notch. At just 21 years old, this two-year contract is his golden ticket to prove himself and potentially secure a blockbuster deal in 2025. The sky’s the limit!
In the previous season, Lafreniere often skated alongside fellow young guns Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko on the Rangers’ third line. These three whiz kids, all under 24, combined forces to rack up an impressive 124 points in the 2022-23 season. If the Rangers want to make a serious push for the Stanley Cup, the continued development of this young trio will be absolutely pivotal.
Before this contract was inked, Lafreniere was one of the biggest restricted free agents left hanging without a contract. The honor now seems to belong to Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks, who has an impressive record of 49 goals and 139 points in 180 career games. The saga of the RFAs continues!
So, there you have it, sports fans and hockey aficionados. Lafreniere’s future is looking brighter than ever, and we can’t wait to see him light up the ice for the Rangers in the coming seasons. Stay tuned for more thrilling NHL action!
