When will the Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere agree on new deal?
It’s been 93 days since the New York Rangers were eliminated by the New Jersey Devils and Alexis Lafreniere still remains unsigned.
That matches Igor Shesterkin before he inked his first standard player contract (SPC) on August 9, 2021. Of course, the league was dealing with a global pandemic that shortened the upcoming 2021-22 campaign to just 56 games with a mid-January start date.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the current Blueshirts that recently signed their first SPC and how long from the Rangers last game it took to get done.
Related: Alexis Lafreniere needs a new gear
New York Rangers first SPC
Since 2021, six current players from last season’s roster have inked their first SPC after signing their entry-level contract with the Blueshirts.
| Player | First SPC | Signing Date | Days From Season’s End |
| Adam Fox | 9 x $9.5M | 11/1/21 | Exended in-season |
| Filip Chytil | 2 x $2.3M | 7/29/21 | 82 |
| Igor Shesterkin | 4 x $5.6M | 8/9/21 | 93 |
| K’ Andre Miller | 2 x $3.8M | 7/11/23 | 78 |
| Kaapo Kakko | 2 x $2.1M | 7/28/22 | 47 |
| Ryan Lindgren | 3 x $3M | 5/10/21 | 2 |
Only Adam Fox was extended during the season and that was after winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman in his sophomore year. His defense partner Ryan Lindgren was signed just 2 days after the completion of the 2020-21 season.
It should also be noted that both players were obtained in trades and signed ELC’s within a month of being acquired.
When it comes to players drafted by the Rangers, Kaapo Kakko inked his deal 47 days after the team was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final. Meanwhile, Filip Chytil is on his second SPC with the team but his first took 82 days to sign.
The most recent signing occurred this month when defenseman K’Andre Miller inked his bridge deal on July 11. Thanks to a career year of 43 points in 79 games, he became a priority this summer for a cap-strapped Rangers team.
Note: Zac Jones inked his first SPC with the Rangers on June 16, 2023 for 2 years at $812,500. He was not included on this list as he played the majority of last year with the Wolf Pack.
When will Alexis Lafreniere sign?
Lafreniere, 21, recorded 16 goals and 39 points in 81 games this past season. There’s also been plenty of trade speculation since December and that will crank up if he remains unsigned as camp nears in September.
In a recent interview, the first overall pick in 2020 didn’t seem to concerned about a trade and was confident an agreement would be reached.
“I don’t worry about rumors,” he told Le Journal de Montreal. “I’m happy with the Rangers.”
For his career, Lafreniere has posted just 91 points in 216 regular-season games which is low for a number one selection and why these rumors persist despite both parties being vocally positive. Multiple sources believe Lafreniere is set up for a bridge deal in the neighborhood of $2.1 to $2.5 million.
As for when he will sign, it could be today or during camp. What previous history shows is that the Rangers will take their time if needed.
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