At this point, it doesn’t seem that the New York Rangers will trade Alexis Lafrenière by the March 6 trade deadline. Still, that doesn’t mean that President and General Manager Chris Drury should hang up the phone immediately when a team calls about him.
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Not too long ago, it felt like Lafrenière was an emerging superstar and living up to the hype as a first-overall pick. That was especially after his breakout 2023-24 season, when he had 14 points in 16 playoff games.
But he’s been a major disappointment since, and it could lead to Drury at least listening on him ahead of next Friday’s trade deadline. There are players out there that would make sense—yet the Blueshirts need to be careful not to make a critical mistake in a possible return.
How the Rangers Can Get Burnt
Given what Lafrenière is capable of with his skill set and that he’s still just 24, the Rangers need to get something similar back if the decision is made to deal him.
Now, of course, that’s within reason. You won’t get back Macklin Celebrini or a young superstar, but there’s a specific player that needs to be avoided—an older veteran that’s in his 30s or approaching that threshold.
Although this should be obvious, the last thing the Rangers need to do is include him in a package that fetches back rental Alex Tuch, even if he comes back with an extension. The same goes for other non-star players with more term that might be available, including Nazem Kadri, Jake DeBrusk and Brayden Schenn.
One Type of Player That Should be Target
If the Rangers are seriously considering trading Lafrenière, there are two specific types of players that the organization should target.
One is someone similar to the Quebec, Canada, native, specifically a player who’s young, has shown signs of flashes, yet has struggled to produce as of late.
The name that comes to mind immediately is Shane Wright, who was drafted fourth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft. Last season, it looked like the Burlington, Ontario, native was only going to get better, posting an impressive 44 points in 79 games during his rookie campaign. However, there’s been a regression this season, with only 23 points in 58 games so far.
The Rangers in the short term might be downgrading by swapping Lafrenière and Wright one-for-one—but consider a few things. One, the 2025-26 season is a lost one for the Rangers. Plus, Wright is two years younger and plays arguably the most important position in hockey—center. This is a deal you can see making sense for Drury.
Another interesting name that comes to mind is Matvei Michkov, the seventh-overall selection by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023. After his rookie season in 2024-25, where he posted 63 points in 80 games, it felt like the Russian was destined to become a superstar. However, he has followed it up with a miserable 2025-26, where he has just 31 points in 57 games.
Things have escalated to the point where Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere had to come out publicly and state that Michkov “is not going anywhere,” according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"Matvei Michkov is not going anywhere."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 4, 2026
Daniel Brière spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday's game regarding Rick Tocchet's recent comments on Matvei Michkov. pic.twitter.com/RM5Ylt7WSt
But what if Drury did the unthinkable and offered Lafrenière straight up for Michkov? While unlikely to happen given the division rivalry, it’s at least something to think about and a type of player the Rangers should be targeting.
The Other Type the Rangers Should Explore
The other type of player involves acquiring an older player who’s in his mid-20s or younger than 30 but is an established star. These are tougher to find, but some names might be available that should at least spark some interest.
Who might be available under this profile? The St. Louis Blues could be an interesting target if Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou are willing to waive their no-trade clauses. Jason Robertson is another name to keep an eye on if the Dallas Stars aren’t willing to meet his demand on the next contract. However, that may be a discussion for the offseason, as the Stars appear positioned safely in a playoff spot now.
Brady Tkachuk and Elias Pettersson are other names to keep an eye on. However, the latter option is far less likely, given the reported feud between J.T. Miller and the Swede when they were both in Vancouver together.
However, making a play at one of these big names will likely require the Rangers not only sending Lafrenière the other way but also another asset or two in addition.
The conclusion is simple: If the Rangers are going to trade Lafrenière, they need either a young player with big upside coming back or an established superstar. The Rangers cannot afford to give him away for an older known commodity who isn’t quite a superstar.
If the organization can’t get either, they should hold onto him. An encouraging sign, Lafrenière has posted four points over his last four games, and the hope is that the trend continues because the Rangers need him now and in the future.
