New York Rangers trade targets: Which players could be on the retool radar?

The Letter 2.0 has generated lots of chatter about which players the New York Rangers could trade away in the coming weeks and months, but we’ve haven’t spent nearly as much time discussing who they may be targeting in return.

Team president Chris Drury has yet to speak publicly about his retool plans, but his Jan. 16 message to fans stated he would prioritize “tenacity, skill, speed, and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks, and cap space.” Young seems to be the operative word here, with the Rangers dangling what Drury described as “players that have brought us and our fans great moments over the years” — a.k.a. older veterans — with the goal of landing pieces who lay the foundation for the next Blueshirts contender.

That sounds good on paper, but it will be easier said than done. Opposing general managers aren’t exactly eager to trade away their best young assets, which means Drury will have to show a level of talent evaluation and creativity that’s been lacking for much of his nearly five-year tenure.

There are a few star players he can hope will hit the market in the next year or two, but we’ve already seen the risks in waiting for that to happen. The Rangers had been circling a loaded 2026 free agent class, only to see pretty much all the big names re-sign with current clubs in recent months. Maybe they’ll finally get lucky, with Clayton Keller, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Zach Werenski among those who will be due for new contracts by 2028. But in all likelihood, they’re going to have to do this the hard way — by drafting, developing, and uncovering hidden gems along the way.

You can bet Drury and his staff are scouring every NHL roster in search of players who may jump-start that process. It could be a prospect who’s blocked on a crowded depth chart or might benefit from a change of scenery. Maybe a more experienced player who’s at a contract impasse or being priced out by an organizational cap crunch. Perhaps someone who’s been undervalued or improperly deployed but has the skills to soar in the right situation.

We’ve been doing the same thing on our end. The idea behind this story was to identify players who could be a match based on New York’s criteria, be it in the lead-up to the March 6 trade deadline, this summer or at a future date. Some on our list are admittedly more realistic than others and there aren’t many established stars, but that’s how it goes when you’re forced to shop in the discount aisle.

We focused on the teams we’re hearing the Rangers are likeliest to trade with — particularly those with varying interest in Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafrenière and Braden Schneider, who have garnered the most attention in the aftermath of the letter — while also pulling from Chris Johnston’s trade board and conversations with other hockey reporters at The Athletic. From there, we separated the names into categories based on skill levels and stages of their careers, starting with forwards and finishing with defensemen.

(NOTE: All stats listed prior to Sunday’s games.) 

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Big swings

Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues

Thomas brings much of what the Rangers need. He’s a center, an excellent skater, has offensive upside (86 points in 2023-24) and is only 26. If the Blues are truly entertaining offers on him — he’s on C.J.’s trade board — competition will be stiff. Thomas has control with a full no-movement clause that runs through 2029-30, the second-to-last year of a deal that pays $8.125 million annually.

Jordan Kyrou, St. Louis Blues

The 27-year-old Kyrou has struggled this season, but he had 30-plus goals each of the three previous years. Like Thomas, he’d infuse the Rangers with much-needed skill and is under contract long-term, with an identical deal carrying an $8.125 million AAV through 2030-31; like Thomas, he has a full no-movement clause.

Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars

A Robertson trade might only make sense this summer, when he’s a restricted free agent, if it happens at all. The 26-year-old winger recently switched agents, going from Pat Brisson to Andy Scott, who also represents Stars teammates Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen and Thomas Harley. That could bode well for his chances of staying in Dallas, but the price tag keeps going up. Robertson has racked up 30 goals through 52 games, the third-highest total in the league, and has the highest offensive ceiling of anyone on this list. If negotiations stall, the Rangers could target him as a significantly younger replacement for Panarin.

Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

The Rangers have coveted Tkachuk since he was a teenage prospect, and they were the source of Ottawa owner Michael Andlauer’s “soft tampering” comments last season. The 26-year-old winger plays the exact type of hard-nosed game Drury likes, with ample skill to boot. He still has two years left on his contract after this season, though, so the Senators presumably won’t be making any decisions in the short term regarding his future. But if there are ever signs of discontent in Ottawa, which currently sits second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, you can be sure the Rangers will inquire.

Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The pending UFA getting moved seems much less likely now that the Sabres have vaulted themselves into playoff position. He’d only make sense for the Rangers if they negotiated an extension with the deal, but even that would come with questions about the wisdom of signing a player who’ll turn 30 in May at the onset of a retool.

Middle-six veterans (and possible cap dumps)

Ross Colton, Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche would likely only move Colton if he’s a salary-cap casualty to make room for a big addition, with Panarin a target they’ve discussed internally. He plays with edge and has scored 40 points in a season before. He can play center or wing and won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 29-year-old is more of a supplementary player than one who drives play himself.

Conor Garland, Vancouver Canucks

The 29-year-old Garland has twice had 50-plus points in a season. He’s only 5-foot-10 but has some snarl and is friends with captain J.T. Miller. He would come with long-term security ($6 million AAV through 2031-32) but wouldn’t make the Rangers younger.

Matias Maccelli, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 25-year-old winger came over in an offseason trade with the Utah Mammoth and got off to a slow start, fueling speculation that the Maple Leafs might try to move him before he hits RFA this summer. But that’s cooled down lately, with Maccelli’s play improving and Toronto moving him up in its lineup.

Andrew Mangiapane, Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers have been looking to offload the 29-year-old winger, who hasn’t fit with their lineup and has been an occasional scratch since coming over as a UFA last summer. The Rangers could weaponize their cap space by offering to take on the final year of a $3.6 million AAV contract, then flip him as a rental at next year’s deadline.

Evan Rodrigues, Florida Panthers

Rodrigues would make sense if the Panthers try to shed money to fit Panarin at the deadline, but that feels unlikely given their position in the standings and depleted asset pool. He could also be a trade option over the summer if Florida needs to clear cap space in free agency. He’s 32, but only under contract for one more year and has thrived in a grinding third-line role for back-to-back Stanley Cup champions.

Young forwards still establishing themselves

Mavrik Bourque, Dallas Stars

Bourque, a 2020 first-round pick, makes sense as part of a return if the Stars were to target Panarin.

Bobby Brink, Philadelphia Flyers

The Rangers could look for trades with teams that have a surplus of players at one position. The Flyers check that box with wingers. Brink, 24, is a pending restricted free agent and consistently capable of scoring double-digit goals.

Pavel Dorofeyev, Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights surely want to hold the 25-year-old winger, who’s poured in 22 goals already this season, but they have one of the NHL’s tightest cap situations and will be looking to use some of their limited space to extend newly acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson. It would take a haul, but Dorofeyev is a pending RFA with arbitration rights who’s in line for a big raise.

William Eklund, San Jose Sharks

Eklund wouldn’t come cheap, but the Sharks are stacked with young forwards and may be willing to part with one in a deal that addresses other positions. He’d bring a level of skill the Rangers desperately need: he logged a 58-point season in 2024-25 and is only 23.

Barrett Hayton, Utah Mammoth

Hayton is an RFA with arbitration rights after the season. It’s unclear if the Mammoth would consider moving him, but he’s in the midst of a down year after scoring 20 goals in 2024-25.

Kent Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Perhaps the Rangers could catch the Blue Jackets’ attention if they dangled Lafrenière to give both players a fresh start. Johnson has had a disappointing 15 points in 50 games but posted 57 points in 2024-25. He was the No. 5 pick in 2021. Cole Sillinger could be another potential Columbus target.

Marco Kasper, Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings would presumably only dangle Kasper if they’re targeting someone like Trocheck. Kasper is only 22 and finished 10th in Calder voting last season with a 19-goal, 37-point campaign. He was a healthy scratch earlier this season, suggesting there’s some level of disappointment with his play, but he’s picked things up lately with six points in his last five games and carries notable upside as a top-10 pick.

Connor McMichael, Washington Capitals

The pending RFA’s scoring has dipped (30 points through 53 games) after what appeared to be a breakout 57-point season in 2024-25. The 25-year-old center could be part of New York’s ask with the Capitals believed to have interest in Panarin.

Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets

The 2020 first-round pick would be difficult to pry away, but he’s in the midst of a down year (15 points through 37 games) and heading toward an RFA summer with arbitration rights.

Jack Quinn, Buffalo Sabres

This seemed more realistic a couple months ago when the Sabres were toiling outside of the playoff race, but they’ve picked things up, as has Quinn. The 2020 first-round pick has never hit 40 points in a season, but could be on his way after collecting eight in his last nine games to up his total to 30. Isak Rosén, another first-rounder who’s been blocked by Quinn and others, could be another option.

Mackie Samoskevich, Florida Panthers

If the Panthers decide to go for Panarin — a big if, as discussed earlier — Samoskevich would make sense as a prime return piece because of their lack of draft picks. The 2021 first-rounder appeared in playoff games during Florida’s most recent Stanley Cup run.

Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken

Wright had to answer trade questions recently after his name popped up on the rumor mill. The No. 4 pick in 2022 is still only 22 and had 44 points last season. He’d be a way for the Rangers to get younger down the middle, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently suggesting a change-of-scenery swap involving Wright and Lafrenière.

Reclamation projects

Samuel Helenius, Los Angeles Kings

The 23-year-old center has yet to find his footing with the Kings but brings the physicality and size Drury covets at 6-6, 225 pounds.

Dominic James, Tampa Bay Lightning

A 2022 sixth-round pick with blazing speed (99th percentile in max skating speed, per NHL Edge), James has moved up in the lineup with Brayden Point hurt but will have a tough time finding consistent TOI when the Lightning get healthy.

Brad Lambert, Winnipeg Jets

The 2022 first-round pick is another burner with a scoring track record at the junior level, but he’s struggled to earn opportunities with the Jets. A similar situation to Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann.

Hendrix Lapierre, Washington Capitals

A 2020 first-round pick who hasn’t panned out in D.C. and will be an RFA with arbitration rights this summer.

Fabian Lysell, Boston Bruins

The 2021 first-round pick has yet to receive much of a look with the Bruins, but he’s been productive for AHL Providence with 34 points (14 goals and 20 assists) across 35 games this season. The Rangers could offer a chance to play regularly at the NHL level.

Lukas Reichel, Vancouver Canucks

The 2020 first-round pick was traded from Chicago to Vancouver in October, but he’s since been demoted to the AHL. His stock has plummeted, but the 23-year-old winger could be worth a flyer for a low price.

Nicholas Robertson, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 24-year-old winger has never taken off for the Leafs and will be an RFA with arbitration rights this summer. A fresh start could be in the cards.

Alex Turcotte, Los Angeles Kings

A top-five pick in 2019, Turcotte has never eclipsed 25 points in a season and seems ripe for a change of scenery.

Defensemen

Bowen Byram or Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres’ resurgence makes an in-season trade unlikely, but they have decisions coming with their blue line. Byram has only one year left on his deal, and Buffalo will need to decide if it wants to pay big money to a trio of lefties in him, Power and Rasmus Dahlin. The captain feels the safest, but either Byram or Power would hold serious appeal if made available this summer or next season.

Simon Benoit, Toronto Maple Leafs

The 27-year-old has one year left on his contract at only $1.35 million. He’s a bottom-pair guy but checks the need for left-handed D and size (6-4, 210).

Declan Chisholm, Washington Capitals

The 26-year-old was acquired from the Wild over the summer but has been crowded out of the lineup by a deep D corps.

Samuel Girard, Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche will need to make hard choices with their defensemen this summer, which could lead to them listening on Girard, who is under contract through 2026-27 at a $5 million AAV. The 27-year-old is small (5-10, 170 pounds) but a strong skater capable of moving the puck. He could bring some more offensive depth to the blue line behind Adam Fox and run the second power-play unit.

David Jiricek, Minnesota Wild

The Wild acquired the 2022 top-10 pick from Columbus in November 2024, but he’s since played more games with AHL Iowa than the NHL club. If Quinn Hughes re-signs, they might decide they are OK on the blue line and throw him into a package for Trocheck.

Tyler Kleven, Ottawa Senators

The 2020 second-round pick is a big (6-5, 225) strong lefty who’s blocked from moving above Ottawa’s bottom pair by Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot. Perhaps the Rangers view the 24-year-old as someone who could elevate into their top four.

Kevin Korchinski, Chicago Blackhawks

The 21-year-old was the No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft, but he’s yet to find his footing at the NHL level. He’s a lefty puck-mover, which the Rangers could use, so maybe there’s a world where the Hawks value a physical righty such as Schneider in exchange. (Although that might not be enough to convince New York.)

Mason Lohrei, Boston Bruins

The 24-year-old has not been a good defensive fit for the Bruins, which is why they may be willing to offload a contract with one more year remaining at $3.2 million before he hits RFA. The 6-5, 218-pounder is left-handed and skilled for his size.

Pavel Mintyukov, Anaheim Ducks

Mintyukov’s situation seems to have stabilized after he got scratched earlier in the season, but the Ducks have a crop of young defensemen that might not all get the minutes they want. If he becomes available at some point, he’d make sense as a Drury target, given his age (22), draft pedigree (No. 10 in 2022) and ability to contribute on the power play. Olen Zellweger is another option from Anaheim.

Alexander Nikishin, Carolina Hurricanes

It would be tough to pry away a 24-year-old rookie who most scouts believe has All-Star potential, but it’s certainly worth trying with the Hurricanes sniffing around on Panarin and Trocheck. They’d probably say no, but it can’t hurt to ask.

William Wallinder, Detroit Red Wings

The 2020 second-round pick is yet to make his NHL debut, which indicates he could be on the table in the right deal. Albert Johansson, a 25-year-0ld fellow lefty who’s on Detroit’s NHL roster, could be another option.

Prospect watch

Many of the teams the Rangers are talking to about Panarin, Trocheck and others are expected to wall off their very best prospects, but we’ve compiled a list of players coming up through various pipelines who seem like feasible options. Many of them come from Corey Pronman’s ranking of best under-23 players. They’re listed in alphabetical order.

Nikita Artamonov, LW, Carolina; Zakhar Bardakov, C, Colorado; Cole Beaudoin, C, Utah; Filip Bystedt, C, San Jose; Max Curran, C, Colorado; Ethan Czata, C, Tampa Bay; Nate Danielson, C, Detroit; Linus Eriksson, C, Florida; Milton Gastrin, C, Washington; Liam Greentree, RW, Los Angeles; Hunter Haight, C, Minnesota; Emil Hemming, RW, Dallas; Aron Kiviharju, LHD, Minnesota; Carson Lambos, LHD, Minnesota; Roger McQueen, C, Anaheim; Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Washington; Bradly Nadeau, C, Carolina; Sam O’Reilly, C, Tampa Bay; Leo Sahlin Wallenius, LHD, San Jose; Cameron Schmidt, RW, Dallas; Stian Solberg, LHD, Anaheim; Charlie Stramel, C, Minnesota; Simon Zether, C, Florida