Alexis Lafreniere signs contract extension
(Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

The New York Rangers have locked up their rising star Alexis Lafrenière. The team announced a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension for the young forward on Tuesday.

The deal, which carries an average annual value of $7.45 million, keeps the former first-overall pick in Broadway Blue through the 2031-32 season.

At just 23 years old, Lafrenière has blossomed into exactly the player Rangers fans hoped for when he was selected first overall. After facing early criticism and whispers of being a potential bust, he silenced doubters with a breakout 2023-24 season. Laffy posted career-highs across the board with 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points in 82 games.

Even more impressively, he elevated his game when it mattered most. During the Rangers’ 2024 playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final, Lafreniere led the team with eight goals.

“It’s a confidence that built last year to him being one of our best players in the playoffs,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette remarked earlier this month.

Lafrenière’s growth has been evident, with his ice time increasing to a career-best 17:51 per game this season.

The contract structure favors Lafrenière early on, with a front-loaded approach that includes signing bonuses. In the first year, he’ll receive a $2 million base salary plus an $8 million signing bonus.

The deal also includes an eight-team no-trade clause for the final five years, giving Lafrenière some control over his future.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 22: New York Rangers Right Wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) is pictured prior to Game 1 of the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals between the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers on May 22, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

Rangers General Manager Chris Drury expressed satisfaction with the deal, noting that it provides cap flexibility while securing a key piece of the team’s core. “Alexis has shown tremendous growth, and we believe he’ll be a cornerstone of our franchise for years to come,” Drury stated.

Lafrenière’s extension puts him in good company among recent top draft picks. His cap hit falls just below the $7.6 million that Montreal committed to 2022 top pick Juraj Slafkovsky. It’s also near the $8 million that New Jersey’s Jack Hughes, the 2019 first overall pick, earns annually.

With this signing, the Rangers have locked up a crucial part of their young core. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the pending free agency of star goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

While the Rangers still have work ahead with their star goalie, securing Lafrenière long-term is a major win.

The once-hyped prospect has grown into a legitimate NHL star, and Rangers fans can look forward to watching him light up Madison Square Garden for years to come.