It’s been a news-filled couple of days around the National Hockey League.
A young player committed long-term to one of the best teams in the league, the Penguins sent their starting netminder on a conditioning stint, and the hardest in-game slapshot was recorded on Friday.
Let’s dig into that in the latest Around the NHL!
Alexis Lafrenière signed a seven-year extension
The most notable news piece of the past couple of days concerns the New York Rangers, who re-signed 23-year-old Alexis Lafrenière to a seven-year deal worth $52.15 million, or $7.45 million annually.
Lafrenière was selected first overall in the 2020 draft and scored 47 goals and 91 points in 216 games through his first three seasons. However, he had a breakout season in 2023-24, scoring 28 goals and 57 points in 82 games, both career-highs. In the postseason, Lafrenière scored eight goals and 14 points in 16 games.
The 23-year-old has carried that success into 2024-25, scoring four goals and seven points in seven games before signing the extension.
Jett Luchanko assigned to the Ontario Hockey League
Going from one young player to an even younger player, the Philadelphia Flyers sent Jett Luchanko to the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
Luchanko was selected 13th overall in the 2024 draft by the Flyers. He turned 18 toward the end of August, making him the youngest player in the National Hockey League this season. Luchanko was held pointless in his four games, picking up a minor penalty and a -3.
Last season with the Storm, the right-shot centre scored 20 goals and 74 points in 68 games. He’ll benefit from playing his aged-19 season in the OHL, compared to the Flyers as they’re off to an Eastern Conference-worst 1-5-1 record this season.
Tristan Jarry assigned to the American Hockey League for a conditioning stint
Sticking with teams in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins sent Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League team for a conditioning loan.
It’s been a tough start for Jarry to begin the 2024-25 season, posting an .836 save percentage and a 5.47 goals-against average in three games. In fact, he’s been outplayed by rookie netminder Joel Blomqvist, who has a .911 save percentage and 3.34 goals-against average in five games, saving 46 of 50 shots he faced in Friday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.
With that being said, Jarry had found success before, like in 2021-22 when he had a .919 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average. Last season, he finished with a .903 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average, starting the season off well, before his stats took a nose dive in the second half.
Michael Kesselring registers the hardest shot since the introduction of NHL Edge
On Thursday evening, Utah Hockey Clubs’ Michael Kesselring broke the NHL Edge in-game record with a 103.77 mph slapshot.
NHL Edge was introduced in the 2021-22 season, and obviously, there have been harder shots measured. The all-time record was set by Zdeno Chára, who registered a 108.8 mph blast during the 2012 All-Star Skills competition. With that being said, it’s a different environment without the normal pressures of a game.
Kesselring was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by the Edmonton Oilers. After three seasons in the Oilers organization, he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Bjugstad (who later returned to the Coyotes). In three National Hockey League seasons, Kesselring has seven goals and 28 points in 82 games, with a career-high five goals and 21 points in 65 games in 2023-24.
So far this season, the right-shot defenceman has two goals and four points in eight games played.
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