It’s a conversation that has followed Alexis Lafrenière for what feels like his entire career on Broadway, but this time, the noise feels different. The perennial “what if?” surrounding the 2020 #1 overall pick has morphed into a tangible buzz across the NHL. According to trusted New York Rangers insider Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Lafrenière is “surely available” this offseason. While that can range from passively taking calls to actively shopping, Brooks sources around the league indicate that General Manager Chris Drury is more engaged on this front than ever before.
The idea of moving a 23-year-old former consensus top pick is never an easy pill to swallow. However, the Rangers are in a precarious spot. They have a clear and present need to bolster their blue line, and the trade market for top-four defensemen is notoriously expensive. This is where the whispers get louder. Brooks astutely connects the Lafrenière situation to the future of defenseman K’Andre Miller, another young Ranger whose name is churning in the rumor mill. The logic follows that if the return for Miller doesn’t fill the Rangers’ defensive void to their satisfaction, Lafrenière becomes the high-value asset used to get that deal done.
The $52 Million Question: Performance vs. Potential
Complicating any potential move is Lafrenière’s brand-new, seven-year contract extension that carries a hefty $7.45 million average annual value. That deal was signed after a career-best 2023-24 campaign where he tallied 28 goals and 57 points, looking every bit the top-line threat the Rangers envisioned. The organization bet big that this was his true form. Unfortunately, his performance this past season was a significant regression. With only 17 goals and 45 points in 82 games, the inconsistency that has plagued his young career returned, making that new cap hit look daunting.
From a front-office perspective, this is the ultimate crossroads. Do you chalk up the down year to an anomaly, perhaps the pressure of the new contract or struggles of his linemates, and bet on the massive potential? Or do you view his breakout season as the outlier and decide to move on before his trade value potentially diminishes further under that cap hit? My personal insight is that Drury is leaning toward the latter. The regression, combined with the team’s pressing needs on defense, has created a perfect storm where trading Lafrenière is no longer just a “what if,” but a legitimate strategic option.
What Could a Lafrenière Trade Look Like?
So, if the Rangers pull the trigger, what’s the return? They won’t be giving him away. Despite the down year, he is still a young, powerful winger with elite offensive instincts and a 28-goal season under his belt. Teams in a rebuild or on the cusp of contention, like the Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, Chicago Blackhawks, or even his hometown Montreal Canadiens, would surely have interest in a player who could be a core piece for the better part of a decade.
The Rangers’ target would be a young, cost-controlled defenseman with top-pairing potential. It would likely be a “hockey trade” involving more than just two players, but Lafrenière would undoubtedly be the main piece heading out of New York. The draft is approaching, and the conversations that happened at the NHL Combine are setting the stage for a potentially franchise-altering move for the Blueshirts.
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