Last week we discussed potentially trading Alexis Lafreniere and Braden Schneider as part of the Rangers’ ongoing retool. Much of the recent media focus has centered on who might be leaving New York, but far less attention has been paid to what could come back in return. Today begins a look at potential trade partners, starting with scouting the Detroit Red Wings. The fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider, Vincent Trocheck, and/or Alexis Lafreniere is an interesting one.
The fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider is a logical starting point for several reasons. Since Steve Yzerman’s return as general manager in 2019, the Red Wings have executed a true teardown rebuild built on draft capital and patience. They’ve consistently held first-round selections, frequently owned multiple picks in the top two rounds, and have generally avoided sacrificing prospects or futures for short-term veteran help. Holes have instead been addressed through free agency, allowing the prospect pool to grow deep and layered.
Even so, the rebuild has not fully translated to results. Detroit has missed the playoffs for a decade, and aside from Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, few Yzerman draft picks have become clear top-end drivers. Still, with the Red Wings now hovering around postseason contention, this may be the moment they shift from accumulation to consolidation and use that depth to make targeted, structural upgrades.
The fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider
If Detroit is ready to take a competitive step, then the fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider profiles as a clean solution. Yzerman historically avoids overpaying for rentals or aging veterans, and the Red Wings still lack defensive stability beyond Seider. Behind him sits a rotating mix of veterans—Travis Hamonic, Ben Chiarot, and Jacob Bernard-Docker—alongside developing youth.
Simon Edvinsson appears solid in his second season on the left side. Axel Sandin-Pellikka is producing offensively as a rookie but, at age 20, remains predictably raw defensively. Albert Johansson is logging meaningful minutes yet still looks more like a mid-term project than a finished piece. Further down the pipeline, William Wallinder (AHL) and Anton Johansson (SHL) offer promise but are not immediate answers.
That environment makes the fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider’s profile (a young, cost-controlled, right-shot stability) particularly appealing for a team trying to transition from rebuild to competitive.
How Trocheck might fit
The fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider is clear, as is the fit for Vincent Trocheck. Leading into the Olympic roster freeze, multiple reports suggested Detroit was searching for a legitimate second-line center. Andrew Copp has filled that role for years, but his production and usage more closely resemble a third-line matchup center.
Offensively, the Red Wings remain top-heavy. Team metrics such as goals for and high-danger chances sit near league average, underscoring the need for another reliable offensive driver down the middle. This is where Vincent Trocheck would represent a meaningful upgrade.
Detroit does, however, possess young center depth it could consider moving. Marco Kasper, the 8th overall pick in 2022, saw his ice time dip in his second season and projects as a pace-driven, defensively responsible middle-six center rather than a true offensive engine.
Nate Danielson, selected 9th overall in 2023, offers a similarly strong two-way foundation. His reports mention smooth skating, positioning, and hockey IQ, while carrying a safer floor than pure upside.
Further from NHL readiness is Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, a Norwegian 2024 first-round right winger with a pro frame, heavy shot, and physical north-south game. Currently developing in the AHL after coming through Sweden, he represents longer-term upside rather than immediate help.
It’s worth noting Detroit was pursuing Trocheck before he chose to sign with the Rangers.
How Lafreniere might fit
Detroit is a far less natural landing spot for Alexis Lafrenière. The Red Wings’ most pressing structural needs are at center and right defense—areas Lafrenière does not address. Just as importantly, Detroit already faces a crowding effect on the wing, a position group they are more likely to trade from than add to.
Final thoughts
Taken together, Detroit illustrates the core balance of the Rangers retool. The most logical trade fits are not driven by name value, but by structural need. The fit in Detroit for Braden Schneider aligns cleanly with Detroit’s defensive imbalance, while Trocheck directly addresses their search for a true second-line center. Lafrenière, despite his pedigree, solves neither problem. If the Rangers were to package these two together, you’re likely getting Johansson, Kasper, and a second rounder, maybe a 1st (but protected), or some variation of that.
As we continue surveying potential partners, that principle will remain constant: The most realistic deals are the ones where roster logic does the heavy lifting.