Will Alexis Lafreniere Be Traded From the New York Rangers
Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com, Full Press NHL, and RG Media joined TSN Radio in Montreal was asked about Alexis Lafreniere‘s availability from the New York Rangers. Lafreniere is available, and a change of scenery would do him good.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks
Host: “So just to stick to the Rangers one more time, Alexis Lafreniere, a local guy, probably grew up 25 minutes, 30 minutes from Bell Centre. Is there? Do you think the Rangers will make him available as well and move on from him?”
Jim Biringer: “Yeah, I do. And I think he’s been available since last year. Some people I’ve talked to said the Rangers were trying to get J.J. Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres, and Lafreniere was part of that deal. And he should be, because you look at his contract, there is no trade protection that doesn’t kick in, I believe, till next year. So not even this summer. It’s the following summer when his trade protection kicks in. So he’s a player who could use a change of scenery.
Not everybody is made for New York. Not everybody can thrive in New York. He can still be a good player, but I think he just needs to change the scenery. As we’ve seen around the league, some guys just, they just don’t work out with the Rangers. They don’t work out with a certain team. But I do think he’s available at the right price, but I think that’s more of a hockey trade. Unlike Artemi Panarin, who is a rental, they want to get that one done.
NHL Rumors: What is Next for the New York Rangers as they Look to Retool?
And obviously, Vincent Trocheck is still there. A center. He’s got a 12-team, no-trade, and teams are going to call about him, and have called about him. So, the rebuild, I like to call it a rebuild in New York, that is what is going on. I don’t think it’s a retool so much. I think it’s a rebuild, because they’re going to be moving out a lot of fan favorites, from my understanding.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The New York Rangers are open for business, and it just can’t be Artemi Panarin and Carson Soucy being moved. With the letter going out and Lafreniere’s contract very movable, GM Chris Drury is taking calls about the former first-overall draft pick from 2020. This will be more like a hockey trade, but a change of scenery is a must for a player that is having a tough time finding his way in New York.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumor roundups and hot topics from around the league. We’re also posting some stuff on Instagram.