The New York Rangers were initially worried about star winger’s condition after he sustained an upper-body injury in their last game, the extent of which was unclear. Though he missed practice, his return to the ice suggests the injury may not be as severe as feared.
Alexis Lafreniere returns to Rangers practice
Mollie Walker of The New York Post reported that Alexis Lafreniere did not participate in Monday’s team practice but skated individually afterward. She also noted that Lafreniere took part in the Rangers’ morning skate on Tuesday, suggesting he might be available for their game against the Montreal Canadiens that night.
Lafreniere has been enjoying a breakout season so far, building on his career-high 57 points in 2023-24. This season, he’s performing like a point-per-game player, with six points (three goals and three assists) in five games, showing no signs of slowing down.
Staying healthy will be key for both Lafreniere and the Rangers, as he’s become one of their most vital and dynamic offensive players. He could return to the lineup for the Rangers’ upcoming game against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
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Five possible landing spots if the Rangers don’t bring back Igor Shesterkin
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin seems poised to remain with the New York Rangers for the foreseeable future.
Respected hockey journalist Elliotte Friedman has hinted at this in recent episodes of “32 Thoughts: The Podcast,” suggesting that the Rangers are already leaning toward offering Shesterkin a contract extension. The 28-year-old is currently in the final year of his four-year, $22.67 million contract ($5.67 million AAV).
For now, his future remains uncertain, leaving the possibility open that Shesterkin could explore free agency. If that happens, here are five teams that might pursue him.
Toronto Maple Leafs
You can never dismiss possibilities when it comes to a success-hungry organization with a passionate fanbase and the financial power to back it up.
Toronto’s cap situation hinges largely on forwards Mitchell Marner and John Tavares, both of whom have expiring contracts that currently take up around 25% of the team’s cap space.
From Shesterkin’s point of view, joining Toronto would mean playing for the wealthiest organization in the league, alongside a Stanley Cup-winning coach, Craig Berube (who won with the Blues in 2019), and one of the NHL’s top talents in Auston Matthews.
Utah Hockey Club
Utah, formerly Arizona, has spent years stockpiling draft picks and prospects, allowing them to have in-house replacements for almost any unrestricted free agent. With plenty of cap space, no long-term commitments at goaltender, and a desire to make a big impact in their new market, Utah is in a prime position to finally end its rebuild.
For Shesterkin, this could be an ideal fit. He’d join a young, rising team with plenty of assets to keep improving the roster around him, while also being able to meet his contract demands.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal appears poised to contend with its impressive group of young scorers, though the team faces defensive challenges, some of which are masked by current goaltender Samuel Montembeault.
Jeff Gorton, Montreal’s executive vice president of hockey operations, has a strong connection to Igor Shesterkin, having been the assistant GM of the Rangers when they drafted the Russian netminder in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft. Later, as Rangers GM, Gorton was instrumental in bringing Shesterkin to North America. However, in May 2021, Rangers owner James Dolan unexpectedly and abruptly fired Gorton.
Beyond personal ties, the Canadiens are one of the NHL’s most storied franchises, but they have faded into mediocrity and irrelevance in recent years—a situation that the organization will not tolerate for long.
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit, one of the NHL’s most storied franchises, is facing the possibility of missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
The Red Wings have enough NHL talent to remain competitive, and their prospect pool is well-stocked. GM Steve Yzerman has been patient throughout the rebuild, but that approach might soon shift, as many top prospects are nearing the point of joining the organization. The pressure to push for a return to contention is growing.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago offers a combination of qualities from the other teams on this list. As a massive market and an Original Six franchise, it boasts a well-stocked prospect pool, ample cap space, and a fanbase that is weary after a decade filled with last-place finishes and early playoff exits.
The Blackhawks also have a standout asset: a once-in-a-generation scorer in Connor Bedard, making them one of the few teams, alongside Toronto, that can provide such a talent.
However, there is concern regarding the $7.55 million commitment to goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit for next season. If Chicago can offload at least one of those players to acquire Shesterkin, it would be a worthwhile pursuit.
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