The New York Rangers locked in number one overall pick Alexis Lafreniere to a 7 year contract yesterday, which will carry a $7.45 million cap hit. The Lafreniere contract was a tidy piece of business for Chris Drury, locking up Lafreniere through his age-30 season at a very manageable cap hit. The Lafreniere contract was a much needed checklist item, and now Drury can focus on both K’Andre Miller and Igor Shesterkin.

1. The Lafreniere contract is a steal for the Rangers, assuming Lafreniere’s current trajectory. Last season was his breakout season, putting up 28 goals and 57 points while looking like a whole new player. Lafreniere’s slow development appeared to be a matter of coaching and skating, which neither of the prior coaches–Gerard Gallant and David Quinn–addressed. Peter Laviolette and the new coaching staff did.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as that.

2. This season, Lafreniere is off to a hot start along with most of the Rangers. Laf’s 4-3-7, all at 5v5, is second on the team in 5v5 scoring and third in overall scoring. Given his limited powerplay TOI, this is very impressive. His shooting rate will drop from its current 22%, but that’s not a big deal. Likely to hit 60 points this season, the Lafreniere contract is already a steal based on that output.

3. Under the hood of the Lafreniere contract, it’s very manageable. We know the cap hit is $7.45 million, at least $1 million under what many of us projected. It’s also pretty front loaded, with $11 million paid out in bonuses in the first 3 years. After the 2027-2028 season (3 years into the deal), $27 million of the $52.15 million, a little over half of the contract. That has trade value should the Rangers need to go that route with the Lafreniere contract.

The contract also comes with a no-move (waivers/AHL) and a modified no-trade (8 team no trade). If anything, the Lafreniere contract looks like Drury learned his lessons from the doomed Mika Zibanejad contract.

4. Make no mistake, Lafreniere is the Rangers best winger not named Artemi Panarin. It’s expected he will continue to progress and eventually take over on the top powerplay when Panarin’s contract is up. There are already calls for him to move to PP1, but mostly at Zibanejad’s expense, shifting Panarin to Zibanejad’s spot. This is a bit premature, not because of Lafreniere, but because this is still one of the top powerplay units in the game. You don’t mess with it.

If anything, the second unit has earned more time should PP1 be fighting it.

5. The Lafreniere contract is certainly a precursor for other moves. Miller’s contract is next, probably in that 7 year range at a similar cap hit. Shesterkin’s contract will probably come with an $11.5 million cap hit, at a minimum, but should carry less term since Shesterkin is already 29 years old (in December). Assuming both Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren won’t be Rangers next season, there will be plenty of cap space to fit everyone.

6. All in all, the Lafreniere contract is good for both the Rangers and for Lafreniere. The Rangers get close to point per game production–at worst–for under market value as they continue to contend for a Stanley Cup. Lafrniere gets a major pay day, plus one more big contract at 30 years old when this one is up.

Lafreniere needed the bridge deal early on, and it’s nice to see him rewarded for his improved play. Considering he was only two years from unrestricted free agency, this isn’t exactly bucking the bridge deal trend the Rangers have, but it’s a start.

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