Rangers Sign Alexis Lafreniere to Two-Year Contract

The New York Rangers re-signed former No. 1 overall draft pick Alexis Lafreniere to a two-year contract.

It took until late August, but RFA forward Alexis Lafreniere re-signed with the New York Rangers on a two-year contract, the New York Rangers announced Thursday. 

The team didn't announce the financial details of the contract, but it's reported to be worth $2.325 million annually, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday.

Lafreniere, 21, came off his entry-level deal with the Rangers since being selected first overall in the 2020 NHL draft. In the three seasons since, the 6-foot-1 left winger recorded 47 goals, 44 assists and 91 points in 216 career NHL games. Lafreniere also has 27 games of playoff experience with nine points to show for them.

Last season, the St-Eustache, Que., native had career highs for games played (81), assists (23), points (39) and ice time per game (15:13). His 16 goals ranked seventh on the Rangers.

The new contract lasts through the 2024-25 season, and he'll still be RFA-eligible once it expires. The Rangers, meanwhile, now have about $728,000 in cap space, according to PuckPedia. 

No. 1 overall picks face high expectations, and Lafreniere is no exception. Coming into the NHL during the shortened 2020-21 season due to COVID-19, Lafreniere has faced pressure for not meeting those expectations right away. 

Lafreniere's played the most NHL games of any member of the 2020 draft class, but he only ranks fourth in total points since then. He trails the Ottawa Senators' Tim Stutzle (third overall) by 86 points, the Detroit Red Wings' Lucas Raymond (fourth overall) by 11 points and the New Jersey Devils' Dawson Mercer (18th overall) by seven. Among 2020 draftees with at least 70 career games played, Lafreniere ranks seventh in points per game, with 0.42. 

The winger spent most of last season on a line with center Filip Chytil and right winger Kappo Kakko, but he also appeared with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin on occasion, according to moneypuck.com. With Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko departing as free agents after being acquired in February and with the Rangers signing Blake Wheeler, there's a chance either Lafreniere or Kakko will get that final spot in the top six if they earn it. If the former proves he can break out next season on the first or second line, he'll improve his stock significantly once it comes time to negotiate his next deal. 

Even when he turns 22 on Oct. 11, he's still years away from the likely prime campaigns of his career. But with this prove-it deal, it's now time for Lafreniere to show the Rangers why they were right to choose him first overall.