GM Chris Drury's Announcement on Alexis Lafreniere and Igor Shesterkin's Status with the club
The New York Rangers have promoted their promising young talent into the NHL and they have made impacts on the team since their arrival.
Both Alexis Lafreniere and Igor Shesterkin have been vital parts of the Rangers' core roster.
Since the exit of Henrik Lundqvist, Shesterkin has been a consistent goalie and provided the netminding needed to stay deep in the playoffs.
Whereas Alexis Lafreniere has had some growing pains since he arrived in New York, his 2023-2024 season has been exceptional, posting 57 points with linemates Vinnie Troecheck and Artemi Panarin.
What do both of these players share in common? They're set to become free agents soon and the Rangers will need to lock them down long-term.
The Rangers need to sign Shesterkin to ensure long-term stability in goal, but his asking price is upwards of $12 Million according to reports. Shesterkin is the capable backstop who has given the Rangers a chance to become Stanley Cup contenders consistently.
A long-term deal for Shesterkin could see him in Rangers blue into his 30s, as he's 28 now.
While Lafreniere's trajectory may be different, as he is just now growing into the player the Rangers need.
There's been no reports of what Lafreniere has asked of GM Chris Drury and the Rangers, but if he continues to keep his play consistent there's a chance he'll be able to ask for more money.
The longer the Rangers wait, the more they have to pay in the long run, which Drury should consider as they want to secure Lafreniere for some time as well.
| POLL | ||
Who gets the longer contract in New York? | ||
| Lafreniere | 17 | 27.4 % |
| Shesterkin | 45 | 72.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
