Even as contract extension talks for the 22-year-old attacker are put on hold, New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury has made it clear that he intends to keep him in tow for the long haul. Lafrenière, who will be a restricted free agency after this season, is coming off a career-high 57-point season and is counting on himself to boost his value even more. Drury mentioned the problem during his training camp media appearance on September 17, according to USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano, but the Rangers general manager skirted specifics about the contract situation.
“I’m not going to get into any private discussions or negotiations,” Mr. Drury added. “(Lafreniere) is a very important young piece for our team, not only because of where we drafted him but because he continues to grow, and in our eyes, continues to get better and better.” Despite the importance of the winger, the Rangers are unlikely to engage in meaningful contract negotiations with Lafreniere before next season.
According to Mercogliano, the organization and Lafreniere’s team have mutually agreed to wait until next summer to seek an extension. The former first-round pick from 2020 believes that another solid season will put him in line for a more expensive contract. “Barring an over-the-top offer, Lafreniere will wait until after the season,” Mercogliano wrote on September 17.
Mercogliano based his judgment on the idea that the forward and his representatives believe his career-high season is simply the beginning of a consistent growth that will earn him more money next season than he does now. Lafreniere will focus on proving himself this season, looking to improve on his 28 goals and 29 assists. In the playoffs last season, he scored 14 points in 16 games.
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