Seravalli: Lafreniere and Rangers working 8-year deal worth more than $8 million AAV

[SnowblindNYR]

They both deserve their money.

Those who complain about Igor are ungrateful, but Lafreniere has probably been our second or third best forward since the start of last year, including the playoffs. But he doesn’t get PP1 time because that unit works and is never changed. It deflates his point totals. Lafreniere had 57 last year and nearly all of it was even strength.


That was the best hockey of the stretch, but he’s been playing great since the start of last year. That wasn’t anything far above the other games.

I know I shit on Igor a lot but even if you think he's elite and the best goalie in the league why is it some crazy take that your asset allocation shouldn't be so slanted towards a goalie? If your goalie is your best player your team isn't good enough to win the cup.

Draft position really means nothing when they reach the NHL.

After one season sure you can say he’s adjusting, but when he keeps letting down in pretty much every aspect, no the “he’s about to breakout”, “watch the games”, “advanced stats” etc start to just be blind homerism

I mean it took Laf quite a bit of time too. Lots of players are late bloomers. And yeah at some point draft position means little but all things being equal especially early in his career it's definitely a data point. There's a reason someone gets drafted high.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I know I shit on Igor a lot but even if you think he's elite and the best player in the league why is it some crazy take that your asset allocation shouldn't be so slanted towards a goalie? If your goalie is your best player your team isn't good enough to win the cup.

Would I prefer to have McDavid or MacKinnon over Igor? Probably. I don’t disagree with the idea that you’d rather have that elite 1C than goaltender, but you’re dealt the hand you are. Teams can win the Cup with an elite goaltender. They can also not win the Cup with an elite center. The best players in the league are very hard to acquire. When you have one, you don’t just decide they aren’t a good fit for your mix. You don’t haggle with them over money. You haggle with members 4-20 of your team over money.

If you can’t make it work with them, you need to rebuild. There is no plausible scenario where the Rangers ditch Igor after this season and we are a Cup Contender. If it happens, we need to start rebuilding and deciding who can be part of a Cup Contender in 5+ years, which means everyone older than Fox (at the least, and maybe him too) needs to go.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Would I prefer to have McDavid or MacKinnon over Igor? Probably. I don’t disagree with the idea that you’d rather have that elite 1C than goaltender, but you’re dealt the hand you are. Teams can win the Cup with an elite goaltender. They can also not win the Cup with an elite center. The best players in the league are very hard to acquire. When you have one, you don’t just decide they aren’t a good fit for your mix. You don’t haggle with them over money. You haggle with members 4-20 of your team over money.

If you can’t make it work with them, you need to rebuild. There is no plausible scenario where the Rangers ditch Igor after this season and we are a Cup Contender. If it happens, we need to start rebuilding and deciding who can be part of a Cup Contender in 5+ years, which means everyone older than Fox (at the least, and maybe him too) needs to go.

I'd love to see what was the last that team won the cup with a goalie as their best player though. Devils in 2003?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I'd love to see what was the last that team won the cup with a goalie as their best player though. Devils in 2003?

Is Igor our best player? If we say Fox is the best player, does that change the equation?

And even if Igor is paid higher than Fox next year, Fox would become highest paid whenever his salary is up.

Seems like this whole "can't have a goalie as your best player or highest paid" is a silly storyline.

 

[Sun God Nika]

laf will be anywhere from a 60-90pt winger with a rising cap ceiling there is very little risk in this for the rangers. He definitely is not worth it today

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Is Igor our best player? If we say Fox is the best player, does that change the equation?

And even if Igor is paid higher than Fox next year, Fox would become highest paid whenever his salary is up.

Seems like this whole "can't have a goalie as your best player or highest paid" is a silly storyline.

Fox signed his contract not that long ago. And Igor clearly thinks he's the best player as he wants the highest salary specifically. I think with Igor as a 12 million dollar player, this good but flawed team that most people think has its ceiling as an ECF team losing in 6 is the best he's going get unless Perrault in a few years ends up being another Panarin but good in the playoffs. Our roster will have more holes than Toronto's with Igor getting paid that much money. I also don't think he's clearly the best goalie in the league. The last two seasons he needed to go on an epic run just to finish the season with an above average save %. And I'm sorry despite us leaving him to dry he gave up too many shitty goals in the ECF last year. He's not really all that much better than Swayman. I know I get hysterical about him, he's not a scrub but he's not a guy that's head and shoulders better than other goalies making 8 mill.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Fox signed his contract not that long ago. And Igor clearly thinks he's the best player as he wants the highest salary specifically. I think with Igor as a 12 million dollar player, this good but flawed team that most people think has its ceiling as an ECF team losing in 6 is the best he's going get unless Perrault in a few years ends up being another Panarin but good in the playoffs. Our roster will have more holes than Toronto's with Igor getting paid that much money. I also don't think he's clearly the best goalie in the league. The last two seasons he needed to go on an epic run just to finish the season with an above average save %. And I'm sorry despite us leaving him to dry he gave up too many shitty goals in the ECF last year. He's not really all that much better than Swayman. I know I get hysterical about him, he's not a scrub but he's not a guy that's head and shoulders better than other goalies making 8 mill.

Swayman was an RFA. Swayman would get 10 if he was a UFA.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Swayman was an RFA. Swayman would get 10 if he was a UFA.

So should Igor. 10 million and I wouldn't complain. Igor is not 2 million dollars better than Swayman.

 

[EXTRAS]

Laf coming out hot and being like "maybe I'll wait on that extension" lol

 

[quietbruinfan]

I'd love to see what was the last that team won the cup with a goalie as their best player though. Devils in 2003?

Bruins in 2011

 

[EXTRAS]

So if the Rangers sign laf for 8 and shesty for 12 who on their team do they trade or let walk?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

So if the Rangers sign laf for 8 and shesty for 12 who on their team do they trade or let walk?

8M Trouba and 4M Lindgren.

 

[OneSharpMarble]

They should get a bit of a discount because they're regular season champions.

 

[Craig Button]

Just trade him to Calgary and take Hubes with 50% retention

 

[Habs Halifax]

Interesting deal after a 57 pts season and 4 pts in 3 games so far (14 pts with 8 goals in 16 playoff games as well). I always believed in this kid. Even when other Habs fans were calling him a bust and using the "French card" as the only reason why I was interested in him (I'm not even French...haha).

We are in another era with a looming cap increase to come. Salaries will rise because of this and fans will take a few years to catch up (as always). This reminds me of when the Oilers and Leafs locked up their young talent but then Covid came around and derailed any growth for a few years.

Probably worth $6M today and $10M in year 8. $8M seems reasonable for someone who is improving and heading into cap growth years. Could end up being a value contract half way through that contract.

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

RIP

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Interesting deal after a 57 pts season and 4 pts in 3 games so far (14 pts with 8 goals in 16 playoff games as well). I always believed in this kid. Even when other Habs fans were calling him a bust and using the "French card" as the only reason why I was interested in him (I'm not even French...haha).

We are in another era with a looming cap increase to come. Salaries will rise because of this and fans will take a few years to catch up (as always). This reminds me of when the Oilers and Leafs locked up their young talent but then Covid came around and derailed any growth for a few years.

Probably worth $6M today and $10M in year 8. $8M seems reasonable for someone who is improving and heading into cap growth years. Could end up being a value contract half way through that contract.

Well he's in PPG territory for probably the last 50 games or so including the playoffs and he gets no PP1 time. And 57 points with no PP1 time is pretty good. I think his fancy stats are good too.

But for example someone might looks at the 4 points by Panarin and Trochek today and say that Laf's 1 point (I believe) wasn't that great. But 3 of the 4 points came on the PP for those guys.

 

[Bradely]

I'd love to see what was the last that team won the cup with a goalie as their best player though. Devils in 2003?

Well 2011, 2012 and at least 2021.

Thomas, Quick and Vassilevski come to mind quickly

 

[Digital Kid]

I hope the NYR understand that the salary management system maximum is not likely to be $176m until the 2040s, so signing every player to $8m plus might not work.

 

[67 others]

8M Trouba and 4M Lindgren.

I would take Trouba on the sharks in a heartbeat just to help add some snarl and a veteran during this rebuild. Not likely a chance in hell he waives his clause to play for us though

Our Right D is currently Cody Ceci, Jan Rutta and Benning LOL

I mean, our left D isn't great either, but its....pretty bad on the right side.

 

[notDkristich]

yes, please sign that contract. seems like a steal for Laf

 

[Albatros]

Not a fan of risk/reward with these numbers even if it's well possible he'll be worth the contract.

 

[Fatass]

Lafreniere comes across as one of those guys who will take less to stay with the club who supported him while he was struggling. He’s loyal and a natural leader.

 

[TheFinalWord]

8M Trouba and 4M Lindgren.

Except you then have to replace both players. They likely won't be paid league minimum, so even at a low $2M each, you still need to find another $4M to cut.

 

[TGWL]

I hope the NYR understand that the salary management system maximum is not likely to be $176m until the 2040s, so signing every player to $8m plus might not work.

NYR don't have that talent to worry about too many more 8m contracts.