Seemingly on the verge of a break-out, Alexis Lafreniere and the New York Rangers have come to terms on an extension which would keep 'Laffy' in the Big Apple for seven more seasons.
The going rate is just $7.45 million per season, or a grand total of $52.15 million over the course of the contract. This new deal would keep the St-Eustache native in Manhattan until he's 30 years old.
Lafreniere, 23, has seven points (4+3) over his first seven games so far, and is coming off of a breakout play-off run which saw him tally 14 points (8+6) over just 16 games.
The former 2020 first overall pick has struggled over the past few seasons, with his development stagnating across his first three NHL seasons.
Despite rumours of interest from teams like the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers stuck by Lafreniere giving him a two-year bridge deal at just $2.65 million as they tried to work out the kinks with him.
With the bump in salary, came a bump in both ice-time and production as he went on to put up career best numbers last season scoring 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points over a full 82 game season.
Should Lafreniere continue his upward trajectory, he'll be far away from any further discussion about his selection being a disappointment -- and his new contract extension might look like a steal as soon as it begins.
Although only time will tell if he can get to the level he was at during his three seasons of dominance with the Rimouski Océanic.
He played in the QMJHL for three seasons amassing an astounding 297 (114+187) over just 173 games with the team.
Lafreniere was a two-time CHL player of the year, one-time CHL rookie of the year, three time QMJHL first-team all-star, two time QMJHL MVP, he won gold at the Hlinka-Gretzky and the World Juniors -- the latter of which he also won tournament MVP.
Next up on the agenda for the budding superstar is the chance to represent Team Canada men's team for the first time in his career should he get selected to the team's four nation's face-off roster.