To be a sports executive in today’s world is to accept that, like athletes, your job performance is always up for review. When you take over a franchise in the middle of an announced rebuild, sprinkle in some draft lottery luck and, just for good measure, put it in the pressure cooker of New York City, it can loom extra-large. For General Manager Chris Drury and his team of Rangers front office executives, the jury will always be out. But last weekend’s announced signing of budding superstar Alexis Lafreniere to a 7-year $52.5 million contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $7.45 million is a nice bit of work indeed.
Lafreniere is off to a hot start, with 4-4-8 in 8 games. On that point per game trajectory, the contract will look like a bargain in short order. Comments made by Lafreniere after the contract was announced indicate that both sides feel good about it. As Rangers fans know from the Igor Shesterkin negotiations, it is not always possible to come to such an agreement so far ahead of the deadline. As such, congratulations are in order for both sides.
For Drury, it is another piece of the work that will define his front office legacy. In the salary cap era, with so many moving parts and such parity, wins like the Lafreniere deal must feel extra-special. Having a homegrown talent who is finally beginning to thrive signing what is effectively a hometown discount before he needs to and just as his career is really taking off is a huge vote of confidence for the organization.
While tough decisions are never too far from anyone’s mind in NHL front offices, it is important to acknowledge when deals come together smoothly. Too bad they can’t all go like this, but it is impossible to fault players for wanting to maximize their earnings and front offices must constantly negotiate the hard cap. For Drury et al, a big (and getting bigger) piece of the puzzle went nicely into place. But it serves as a reminder that building a team capable of winning the Stanley Cup is a never-ending process. Perhaps Drury had a moment to savor the victory, but even a few days later, he is undoubtedly on to the next one.
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