Chris Drury’s latest letter to Rangers fans marks a rare moment of communication from the front office, coming eight years after the last one. With the team sitting at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference standings, the message signals a shift from words to action. Drury told fans that the organization would begin moving players who were key contributors during recent success, including upcoming free agent Artemi Panarin, as part of a larger effort to retool the roster. As the trade deadline approaches, the Rangers are expected to shake up the lineup, potentially sending several core players to new teams while focusing on building for the future. For fans, it’s a reminder that a difficult but necessary chapter may be starting for the franchise.
1. Artemi Panarin
The first player on this list should come as no surprise: Artemi Panarin. Since joining the Rangers, he has been the team’s most dynamic and productive forward, averaging over a point per game throughout his seven seasons in New York. In 478 games, Panarin has recorded 204 goals, 400 assists, and 604 points, making him one of the most prolific scorers in franchise history.
He helped lead the Rangers to two Eastern Conference Finals and became the first Ranger to reach 100 points in a single season since Jaromír Jágr, further solidifying his place as one of the greatest signings in team history. Panarin’s elite skill, consistent production, and personality have made him a fan favorite.
While it is difficult to imagine the team without him, the combination of an impending rebuild, his age (34), and upcoming unrestricted free agency makes a trade increasingly likely, something Chris Drury all but confirmed in his recent letter to the fanbase.
Expected Return: 1st Round Pick + A-Level Prospect
Potential Fits: Avalanche, Hurricanes, and Stars
2. Carson Soucy
Another Rangers player who will almost certainly be dealt at this year’s trade deadline is defenseman Carson Soucy. Like Artemi Panarin, Soucy is an upcoming UFA after this season, which makes him a prime candidate for a deadline move. He has put together a strong defensive year, demonstrating reliability in even-strength play, penalty killing, and physical matchups, which should allow the Rangers to recoup an early- to mid-round draft pick, likely a second- or third-rounder. Last season, the Rangers traded away a 2025 second-round pick that they had originally acquired from Vegas in the Reilly Smith trade, showing their willingness to leverage draft capital for roster flexibility.
Soucy brings size, toughness, and a left-handed shot, making him an attractive option for contending teams looking for depth on the blue line. He can be a steady third-pair defenseman, capable of logging minutes against tough competition while freeing up top-pair partners to play more offensively. Beyond the on-ice value, trading Soucy would also give the Rangers cap flexibility and allow them to target younger talent or draft picks, aligning with a potential rebuild or retooling strategy. For a team making a playoff push, Soucy offers a low-risk, high-reward addition that could help solidify their defensive corps down the stretch.
Expected Return: 2nd Round Pick or 3rd Round Pick
Potential Fits: Oilers, Red Wings, and Stars
3. Vincent Trocheck
One of the best-valued players on the trade market is center Vincent Trocheck. He has been one of the best Rangers signings in recent memory, joining the team during the 2022 offseason, and has been a core piece of the roster for the past four seasons, arguably their best all-around forward.
A strong two-way player who is elite at faceoffs, Trocheck brings grit, proven playoff success, and pedigree, making him extremely attractive to contending teams. With a $5.6 million cap hit and three years of control remaining, he would be a hot commodity if the Rangers decide to trade him.
Trocheck can play up and down the lineup, from first-line center to third-line center, giving any team flexibility in their lineup. He would almost certainly bring back a significant return, and while he would be another fan favorite that supporters would hate to see go, a move like this could help the Rangers acquire picks and young players as they potentially head into a rebuild.
Expected Return: 1st Round Pick + A-Level Prospect
Potential Fits: Wild, Sharks, and Lightning
4. Alexis Lafrenière
One of the most polarizing players on the Rangers is Alexis Lafrenière. Selected first overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Lafrenière entered the league with enormous expectations. To say he has fallen short of those expectations would be a significant understatement.
Through six NHL seasons, Lafrenière has totaled 102 goals and 119 assists for 221 points in 430 games. He has never scored more than 28 goals in a season, reaching 20 goals only once, and his career high in points is 57, set during the 2023–24 season. While he has had flashes of strong play, including being one of the Rangers’ better performers during the 2024 playoffs, the overall production has not matched his draft status.
The 2023–24 season represented a peak for Lafrenière, as he set career highs with 28 goals and 57 points in the regular season. That performance earned him a seven-year, $7.25 million contract, but his play has regressed since signing the deal. At this point, it appears unlikely that Lafrenière will ever develop into the franchise player the Rangers hoped for when they drafted him first overall.
Lafrenière is unquestionably an NHL-caliber player, but he profiles more as a middle-six forward than a true top-line star in New York. For that reason, the Rangers should strongly consider trading him so both sides can move on and get a fresh start. A change of scenery could benefit Lafrenière, potentially allowing him to develop into a top-line player elsewhere, but that opportunity does not appear likely with the Rangers.
A contending team could be willing to take a chance on Lafrenière’s upside and pedigree, giving the Rangers a draft pick or future asset in return, while allowing both player and team to reset their trajectories.
Expected Return: Late 1st Round Pick or Similar Type Player, in Similar Situation
Potential Fits: Canadiens, Oilers, and Senators