January 19, 2025 | 12:49pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
RANGERS CONTINUE TO WORK TRADE MARKET
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Alexis Lafreniere, forward
The New York Rangers remain fully engaged in the trade market and GM Chris Drury has been looking to complete another major move to help shake up his roster and improve his team.
On Saturday evening it was reported that the Rangers were closing in on a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for centre J.T. Miller, but the deal fell apart and is currently off the table.
According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere and defenceman Braden Schenider are two “candidates” that could be part of a trade with the Canucks for Miller.
The Canucks have long-coveted Schneider, but the Rangers have been consistently reluctant to part with him.
Schneider, 23, has one more year left on his contract after this season and comes with a $2.2 million salary cap hit.
Lafreniere, 23, has a $2.325 million cap hit this season and will see his $52.15 million contract extension agreed to in October 2024 kick in starting July 1.
The Canucks’ interest in Lafreniere is also tied to the club’s Assistant GM Emilie Castonguay, who was his agent before joining Vancouver’s front office.
Since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Rangers have much improved, going 6-1-2 so far this month and are now three points back of the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.
Drury has continued to navigate the trade wasters and remains engaged in discussions with multiple teams, beyond the Canucks, as he weighs his options. Forwards Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Reilly Smith, and defencemen K’Andre Miller and Ryan Lindgren are among the players still believed to be in play for the Rangers.