A day following their first victory of the new season, it looks like the New York Rangers are close to signing Alexis Lafreniere to a contract extension. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the two sides have made significant progress on a deal. They held some discussions during the summer.

The former 2020 top pick is fresh off a career season that saw him achieve personal bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57). Lafreniere backed it up in the playoffs by scoring eight goals and adding six assists for 14 points. Playing with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck brought out the best in the just turned 23-year-old. He celebrates his birthday later today.

In the Rangers’ season-opening 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Lafreniere got off to a quick start. He scored his first goal and had an assist for a two-point game. Considering the confidence he’s now playing with, it isn’t far fetched to see him put up 35 to 40 goals and top 70 points. The sky’s the limit. The skill he possesses makes him a dangerous player. Not considered the fastest skater, he makes up for it with good patience to get around defenders, like he did on his goal against the Penguins.

If the Rangers sign Lafreniere to a long-term extension worth in the neighborhood of $80 million for eight years, it would be a big investment. While he hasn’t reached the level of Seth Jarvis or Lucas Raymond yet, Lafreniere hasn’t had the chance to be featured on the first power play. He’s had to play second fiddle to established veterans.

As they prepare for their home opener against the Utah Hockey Club tomorrow night, Lafreniere begins 2024-25 on the second unit, which includes Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Reilly Smith, and K’Andre Miller. If the first unit that features Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Trocheck, and Adam Fox falters, Lafreniere will be the first player tried to give it a jolt. The Rangers went 0-for-2 on the power play in their first game.

Shesterkin Starts Well

Assuming a new contract gets done, the next order of business will eventually be focusing on locking up Igor Shesterkin. He reportedly wasn’t happy that news of him turning down an eight-year offer worth $88 million leaked out. Instead of worrying about becoming the highest paid player in Rangers franchise history, he made 29 saves to shut out the Pens – becoming the first Blueshirts goalie to record a shutout in a season opener since Gump Worsley.

What happens with Shesterkin will be a storyline. He can earn that lofty $12 million number by putting together a great season. It’s doubtful the Rangers would let the 28-year-old Russian reach the market next summer. None of it matters now. The primary focus is the team having success. There are bigger goals they want to reach.