There is no secret that the New York Rangers will be looking to offload key players ahead of the trade deadline. Team GM Chris Drury recently announced that the club is headed towards a “retool” due to current struggles. Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck are the two most prominent stars linked with a move away from the Big Apple.
Another player that could soon receive a change of scenery is Alexis Lafreniere. The former top prospect has somewhat struggled since signing a seven-year, $52.1 million ($7.4 million AAV) contract extension with the Rangers. In fact, head coach Mike Sullivan even recently demoted and called out Lafreniere for his poor play.
At the time of the coach’s remarks, The Athletic’s Vince Mercogliano claimed that trading Lafreniere could benefit both sides. Lafreniere could improve on a different team, and New York could be happy to move on from the situation. On top of this, the reporter asserted that the Rangers would want a young, NHL-ready player in return if they dealt the winger.
Enter Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright. NHL insider David Pagnotta recently revealed that Seattle is open to trading the youngster to acquire a top-six forward. Wright, much like Lafreniere, was a former top-five draft pick with a high ceiling. The center has also, similarly to the Rangers star, underperformed during 2025-26 after previously posting solid numbers.
Shane Wright Would Fill Positional Need and Save the New York Rangers Money
GettyShane Wright could benefit from more time on the ice in New York.
Despite Wright’s disappointing campaign, he would likely be an intriguing player for the Rangers. After all, the 22-year-old center picked up 44 points in 79 games during his first full season in the NHL. His current struggles could be viewed as just a sophomore slump. This phenomenon has hit other former top prospects, including Carolina Hurricanes star Seth Jarvis, in recent years. Jarvis is now nearly a point-per-game player.
A particularly important aspect of a potential Wright-Lafreniere trade is that the Kraken star is a center. It is very difficult for teams to acquire centers, particularly quality young ones, and the move could help the Rangers address the situation. Wright could even be viewed as a possible long-term Trocheck replacement.
On top of filling a positional need, Wright also currently makes significantly less money than Lafreniere. The Seattle center earns under $1 million annually and is not a restricted free agent until the summer of 2028. The Rangers may have to eat some of Lafreniere’s $7.4 million AAV, but they would still have plenty of money leftover. This would be even more the case if New York moves on from Panarin and Trocheck.
Drury has not met with Lafreniere to Discuss his Future
Lafreniere’s future with the Rangers is certainly up in the air at the moment. The Athletic’s Peter Baugh recently asked the budding star if he is willing to remain with the club while they experience a transition. Lafreniere responded to the question by saying, “Of course.”
Nevertheless, the player also revealed that Drury has not spoken directly to him since it was revealed that New York will retool. This is significant because Baugh reports that the GM has met privately with other leading players within the organization. While shipping out Lafreniere could be risky, a potential swap deal involving Wright could make sense for all parties involved.
Rangers Trade Idea Would Land Highly-Rated Young Center