They are both still yet to sign contract extensions, but Chris Drury has Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafrenière in his long term plans for the Rangers.
The New York Rangers have two glaring question marks going into the 2024-25 season and that is the contract extensions of both Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafrenière.
Shesterkin and Lafrenière are set to become free agents next summer as it’s critical the Rangers get these situations settled.
According to The New York Post’s Mollie Walker, Chris Drury said that he hopes Shesterkin and Lafrenière are with the Rangers for a long time.
While we are dealing with two top-notch players, these contract negotiations couldn’t be more different.
Walker reported earlier this summer that there’s reason to believe that Shesterkin’s camp is aiming for as high as $12 million a year, which would make him the highest paid goalie in the NHL.
With what superstar players are making in today’s game, Shesterkin is pretty reasonable to request that sort of lucrative contract, but it doesn't come without its risks for the Rangers.
Shesterkin is 28-years-old, so a long term contract that could take him well into his thirties would be financially straining for New York.
However, Shesterkin is the main reason why the Rangers are Stanley Cup contenders in the first place, making it hard for the organization not to give into his demands.
Meanwhile, Lafrenière is beginning to emerge into a star of his own as he continues his development path.
It’s unclear what Lafrenière’s asking price is, but by the way he keeps getting better, it’s safe to assume that he’ll require a pretty hefty contract.
The more time the Rangers wait to strike a deal, the more the team will ultimately have to pay the 22-year-old forward because his value is only going up.
It’s encouraging to hear Drury saying positive things about Shesterkin and Lafrenière. Both deals should be able to get done, it’s just a matter of time.
The Rangers are playing with fire though and Drury must try to get these contracts settled sooner rather than later.
