Lafrenière signs new deal with Rangers

This just in, the New York Rangers have officially signed forward Alexis Lafreniere to a two year contract worth a reported $2.325 million per season.

The 21 year old Lafreniere put up 39 pints in 81 games with the Rangers last season, the best output of his young career. Chosen 1st overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Lafreniere has yet to live up to his draft pedigree. He has looked tentative at times and, frankly, ineffectual on both the offensive and defensive side of the puck. The Rangers are counting on him, and 2019 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko, to finally break out in 2023-24. The team's future rides on the shoulders of these two young men. 

Read below for the official press release announcement from today's signing:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with forward Alexis Lafrenière on a two-year contract extension.

Lafrenière, 21, set career highs in games played (81), points (39), and assists (23) in 2022-23. The St-Eustache, Quebec native tabbed three power play goals last season, one of six Rangers to reach the mark.

In 216 career NHL games, Lafrenière has posted 47 goals and 44 assists for 91 points and a plus-5 rating. Since the start of his first NHL season in 2020-21, his 41 goals at 5-on-5 are tied for the second-most on the Rangers (tied with Panarin; Kreider is first with 47). In 2021-22, he notched 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points. All 19 of his goals were even-strength, the second most on the Blueshirts that season. In his rookie campaign in 2020-21, Lafrenière played in all 56 games for the Rangers, registering 21 points (12G-9A). He became the first teenager to skate in each of the Blueshirts' games in one season in franchise history and his 12 goals were the third-most by a teenager with the Rangers in one season in franchise history.

Lafrenière was originally selected by the Blueshirts in the first round, first overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

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