Rangers, former No. 1 overall pick not expected to negotiate extension this summer

It doesn't sound like former No. 1 overall pick Alexis Lafreniere will be negotiating an extension with the Rangers this summer. 

Vincent Z. Mercogliano of USA Today writes that he doesn’t expect the Rangers and the young forward to engage in contract extension talks this summer when the 22-year-old becomes eligible. Lafreniere is entering the second and final year of an extension that will pay him just $2.325M next season and is reportedly content with playing out the deal and negotiating an extension next summer when he will have arbitration rights. The Rangers are facing a major cap crunch this summer and could be in more trouble next July when a potential Igor Shesterkin extension will kick in.

Lafreniere looked like a potential bust early in his career, producing modest offensive success in New York. However, his offensive production has improved in each season of his career, culminating in career highs last year in goals (28), assists (29), points (57) and games (82) played.

It’s unclear if the Rangers want to lock up Lafreniere long-term but it would make sense if they did, given that another improvement in his offensive production will surely push the AAV on his next contract up dramatically. Lafreniere is not just an offensive player but is willing to get involved physically and has no issues with getting to the high-danger areas and being difficult to play against.

If he takes another big step next season, there is no way to tell what a long-term extension could look like for St-Eustache, Quebec native, or what kind of salary cap gymnastics the Rangers would need to play to fit him under the salary cap.