A year after the New York Rangers pulled the plug on Kaapo Kakko’s career with the club that drafted him 2nd overall, the Rangers may be saying goodbye to another supposed-to-be-a-superstar high pick in former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. There are many possible Alexis Lafreniere trades, especially since Lafreniere has shown promise at times with highlight reel plays. But he hasn’t been able to put together a string of consistent play outside of the 2023-2024 season, which makes him frustrating to watch at times.
Lafreniere scored 58 points in that 2023-2024 season and truly showed out during the postseason. Expectations were sky high going into the 2024-2025 season, and the Rangers even inked Lafreniere to a long-term extension. Instead of getting better and solidifying himself as a key part of the Rangers future, Lafreniere has only worsened since then.
Facing a retool, the Rangers may say goodbye to the former top pick. It’s difficult to win such a trade, but the Rangers did it with Kakko, getting a decent defenseman back in Will Borgen. Still, I’ve always believed Kakko is not any better than a third-liner. Lafreniere has shown he could be a top-six forward in flashes, and I do believe in a different environment he could become that player. So let’s look at some possible Alexis Lafreniere trades, from high profile to mundane.
Andrei Svechnikov (Carolina)
Of all the possible Alexis Lafreniere trades, this is the least likely now that Andrei Svechnikov seems to have figured things out after a slow start. The Carolina Hurricanes have seemingly had an up and down relationship with the former second overall pick and also love to bet on former top prospects like Lafreniere. The Rangers would at this point likely need to add assets to get the Hurricanes to bite on such a deal, which may not be in the best interest of a retooling team. With Svechnikov playing well, this probably isn’t the best fit, but it’s a potential match in time.
Elias Pettersson (Vancouver)
While Svechnikov is unlikely, there is no way Elias Pettersson will be coming to the Rangers with JT Miller here. But if Miller winds up waiving his no-move clause, then Pettersson may become a viable option. I want to be very clear that this would never be a one for one. Elias Pettersson is a premier forward in the league. Unfortunately for the Vancouver Canucks, he is not right and he’s also their best trade chip right now. Pettersson will almost certainly be wearing a different uniform by 2027, so why not the Rangers? Adding a legitimate top-six center you can build around would be a huge get for the retool.
Sadly, this will never happen. J.T. Miller and Pettersson’s relationship was so poor in Vancouver that Miller was traded and Pettersson has not truly recovered with the organization. While Vancouver loves him and could be one of the the possible Alexis Lafreniere trades, it won’t be for Pettersson as long as Miller is a Ranger.
Shane Wright (Seattle)
Arguably the most realistic option of the possible Alexis Lafreniere trades listed here, Shane Wright is a prime target for the Rangers if Drury is willing to take a risk. Wright is a former top-5 pick who can’t seem to match expectations. The Rangers have already matched up well with the Kraken on this type of deal before with the aforementioned Kakko for Borgen trade, and the Kraken are in desperate need of a shake-up of their own roster. Imagine seeing Lafreniere and Kakko on a line again, but in Seattle?
Keep an eye on this. The biggest question is how the Rangers organization views Wright.
Mason McTavish (Anaheim)
Mason McTavish probably isn’t available, but he’s a fun potential target to talk about in possible Alexis Lafreniere trades. Recently signed a long-term extension with the Anaheim Ducks, those negotiations were reportedly heated and there may be some friction remaining. McTavish and Lafreniere’s contracts line-up well, and neither has quite reached the expectations when drafted. McTavish has had a bit more success in the NHL, but this could be a situation where the Ducks take a chance, especially if Chris Kreider and/or Jacob Trouba recommend Lafreniere.
For the Rangers, this would be a change of scenery trade that the team hopes works.