### Rangers Secure Alexis Lafrenière with Seven-Year Extension

The New York Rangers have solidified their roster by signing Alexis Lafrenière to a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension. The agreement, disclosed by a source to lohud.com on the condition of anonymity, ensures that the 23-year-old forward will remain with the team until the end of his age-30 season. This new deal will pay Lafrenière an average annual value of $7.45 million and includes an eight-team no-trade list from years three to seven, as reported by PuckPedia.

Lafrenière’s extension offers financial certainty for the Rangers, especially concerning one of their most electrifying young forwards. When juxtaposed with other recent No. 1 overall draft picks, such as New Jersey's Jack Hughes (eight years, $68 million) and Montreal's Juraj Slafkovsky (eight years, $60.8 million), Lafrenière’s deal appears to be a favorable bargain for the team.

With Lafrenière’s contract settled, Rangers' team president Chris Drury can now focus on extending key players K'Andre Miller and star goalie Igor Shesterkin. Shesterkin has already turned down an eight-year, $88 million offer, and Drury faces the task of managing approximately $25 million in available salary cap space to finalize the roster for the 2025-26 season.

The significance of Lafrenière's contract cannot be overstated. The young forward could have held out for a bigger payday after another strong season, but a promising start to the current season convinced him to accept the Rangers’ offer. Lafrenière, who scored his fourth goal of the season on Thursday, has seven points so far, tying him for third on the team.

Drafted first overall in 2020, Lafrenière overcame initial challenges to deliver a career-high 57 points last season, with 28 goals and 29 assists. Impressively, 51 of those points came at even strength. He also tied for the team lead by scoring eight goals in 16 playoff games. Placed alongside Vincent Trocheck and the Rangers’ leading scorer Artemi Panarin, Lafrenière's performance has soared, showcasing his development in strength and skating.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 196 pounds, Lafrenière is well-positioned to build on his previous success. As the 2024-25 campaign progresses, his contributions will be crucial for the Rangers' ambitions this season.