Casually, while the nights are getting cooler and the back-to-school sales are in full swing, a few high-caliber young players are still without a contract in the NHL.
Twelve restricted free agents have not yet agreed with their respective teams. Of the bunch, the most intriguing name is that of Trevor Zegras, Anaheim Ducks star and one of North America’s most beloved forwards. We also note those of Evan Bouchard, Shane Pinto, Jamie Drysdale, Morgan Frost… and Alexis Lafrenière.
The Quebecer, selected first overall by the New York Rangers in 2020, remains optimistic, however. Last Thursday, on the sidelines of the ProAm Gagné-Bergeron, a charity match presented in Quebec, he even seemed quite relaxed under the circumstances.
“It’s coming,” he promised. My agent and the Rangers are in discussions, I hope it will be settled in the next few weeks. »
How does he deal with this uncertainty? asked a reporter.
“That’s cool, that’s the NHL,” he replied. You have to be patient, sometimes it takes longer. »
However, he was very clear about his intentions: “I love playing there,” he said. I love the city, the fans, the arena. Playing at Madison Square Garden is amazing, especially in the playoffs. »
The appreciation is mutual, apparently: according to key informants on the circuit, Rangers have no intention of parting ways. New head coach Peter Laviolette even said in a press briefing earlier this summer that young forwards need to be “given a chance” to develop.
The reference to Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko was not even veiled. The two played about 15 minutes per game last season, while being confined to supporting roles on the power play. However, they responded with pick-ups of 39 and 40 points, respectively.
The left winger of course welcomes this remark from his coach, but he says that it will be up to him, above all, “to have a good training camp and a good start to the season”. Then to “have fun and enjoy it.”
Few Rangers players know Laviolette well, he recalled. It will therefore be up to everyone to make a good impression.
If Alexis Lafrenière is still looking for a new deal, it’s obviously because his NHL entry contract ended at the end of his third season.
As well to say that despite his 21 years, he no longer has anything of the status of a rookie, especially not after 216 games in the season and 27 others in the series.
However, it is not easy to draw up a clear assessment of his first three professional years. Drafted the same year as him, Tim Stützle, Lucas Raymond and Dawson Mercer all had more offensive success in their debuts. Especially Stützle, who has almost double Lafrenière’s points – 177 against 91. The German is also preparing to play the first season of an eight-year contract which will bring him an average salary of 8.3 million. . Lafrenière will not be entitled to this amount.
He also took more shots on net. The progression, without being spectacular, is constant.
This does not prevent Lafrenière from still wishing to reach another level on the offensive level. “I think my game has improved both ways of the ice,” he said. I would still like to have more offensive production, generate more attack. You have to be patient. It will come, I think. »
Since the beginning of the summer, he has mainly focused on improving his skating.
He and his teammates will be fired up, he says, to quickly erase their first-round playoff elimination last spring. The Rangers, who had been full of reinforcements by the trade deadline, lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.
“It was tough,” Lafrenière said. We lost against a very good team; a game 7, it can go either way… We lost that one, but it gives us experience. We are still young. We will come back even stronger. »