Not long ago, many New York Rangers fans and people in the hockey world thought that Alexis Lafreniere was a bust.
That appears to no longer be the case. According to various reports and league sources, the Blueshirts and Lafreniere are close to finalizing a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension.
The deal has yet to be finalized (as of 8:40 p.m. on Friday, October 25), but this is certainly good news for the player, the team, and their fans. Lafreniere, 23, has come a long way since the Rangers took him with the number one overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
He had high expectations from the get-go, and he initially struggled to find his footing in the league. He had just 52 points in his first two seasons combined (31 goals and 21 assists).
Lafreniere then had 39 points in his third season. While that point total was better, it still was not exactly what the Rangers and their fans were looking for from him.
Things changed for Lafreniere in a big way last season. New head coach Peter Laviolette put him in the top six on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin.
Lafreniere went on to establish career highs in all offensive categories:
- 28 goals
- 29 assists
- 57 points
- Five game-winning goals
- Six power play points
- 217 shots in goals
- 17:16 minutes of ice time per game
Lafreniere is off to another great start this season. He is currently (as of Friday, October 25) tied for third on the team in scoring with seven points on four goals and three assists.
Again, the deal is not finalized, but things are progressing in that direction, as it looks like Lafreniere will be a Blueshirt for the foreseeable future.
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