One of the biggest reasons for the Rangers' struggles in 2025-26 has been Alexis Lafrenière's performance. When they signed him to a seven-year extension, the thought was that he would be a consistent point producer and a staple of the top six. But that has not been the case, as in 56 games this year, he has racked up 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points. Nowhere near what the Rangers envisioned. This has led to the bust label being placed on Lafrenière again.
However, while the season has not been great for Lafrenière, he did have a strong January. In 14 games, he tallied four goals and eight assists for 12 points. This is much closer to the type of production the Rangers were hoping to get from Lafrenière. This has led some to believe that Lafrenière could be part of the Rangers' future core. But the smarter move is to trade Lafrenière at the upcoming deadline.
Now is the time for the Rangers to trade Alexis Lafrenière
While his stat line looks impressive, it is very misleading. The majority of his points came in just four games. He had two games in which he notched three points and two in which he recorded two. That's 10 points in just four games. In eight of the 14 games he played, he failed to get a point. His production in January was nothing more than a few good games. It's not a sign of sustained success or him finding consistency.
His advanced numbers back this up. According to Natural Stat Trick, he had a 50.73 CF%, a 50.58 SCF%, and a 49.07 xG% during the month of January. These are the numbers of an average producing forward. While these numbers ranked high among the Rangers, they were middle of the pack among the rest of the league. League average numbers are not a sign that a player has turned a corner. It more shows they had a few good games.
Although Lafrenière did not have as great of a month as it seems, it still improved his trade value. Teams may see those multiple-point games as flashes of the player he could be. Maybe all he needs is a change of scenery to unlock his potential and find consistency. He is also only 24 years old and under contract until 2032. He can be sold as a player on a reasonable contract, who can be solid in your middle six, but with the right development can become a top-line winger.
If the Rangers make Lafrenière available, there will be plenty of interest. Not just from contenders, but from young teams who may be a year or two from contention. They could see Lafrenière as a low-risk player who could help them take that next step. Teams like the Canadiens and Kraken could be the perfect spot for him. They could send the Rangers a couple of younger players or draft picks and hope they could unlock something.
While it's hard to move a player after a good month, the numbers just do not show he's going to keep it up. It's best to move Lafrenière while his value is on the rise and get something that can help the Rangers going forward.