The New York Rangers have shaken up their roster this offseason, but they may not be done.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that would see the Rangers dealing former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere to the Ottawa Senators in a three-player blockbuster.
Rangers acquire:
- Shane Pinto
- Nick Jensen
- 2026 third-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick (Florida)
Senators acquire:
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster as New York would acquire an NHL forward, an NHL defenseman, and two third-round picks for Lafreniere. The Sens have three third-round picks, so parting with two of them helps get the deal done.
New York would add Pinto, who could help replace the void of Lafreniere. Pinto is entering the final year of his second-year, $7.5 million deal and is an RFA at the end of the deal. Pinto is from New York, so he’d become a fan-favorite with the Rangers. Last season, he recorded 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points in 70 games.
The Rangers would also acquire a right-shot defenseman in Jensen. Jensen is a good shutdown defenseman who will help limit opposing teams, which was a need for the Rangers. He could play on the second or third pairing. He’s entering the final year of his two-year, $12.15 million deal. Jensen recorded 3 goals and 18 assists for 21 points in 71 games last season.
In return, the Rangers would give up Lafreniere, who hasn’t lived up to the hype. Lafreniere was selected first overall in 2020 and is entering the first year of his seven-year, $52.15 million deal. Lafreniere could be a top-six winger for the Senators, and perhaps a change of scenery would be beneficial for him. He recorded 17 goals and 28 assists for 45 points in 82 games.
Lafreniere Struggled Last Season for Rangers
Lafreniere was supposed to be a franchise-changing player entering the NHL, but he hasn’t lived up to the hype.
The Quebec native hasn’t been the dominant offensive player as expected. He had a down year last season, which was disappointing to Lafreniere.
“I struggled to be consistent in my game and didn’t really make a difference,” Lafreniere said after the season. “I’m obviously disappointed in my year. We can have a long summer, we can work on a lot of stuff and come back next year and have a big year.”
With that, Lafreniere could use a change of scenery, and Ottawa would be close to home, and perhaps that would help him.
But, for the Rangers, it would also be about getting off of Lafreniere’s contract, which could look like an overpay if he has another season like last year.
Jensen Would be a Big Get For The Rangers
Although Pinto and the third-round picks would be a key part of the deal, Jensen would be a solid under-the-radar part of the deal.
Jensen is a shutdown right-shot defenseman, but could be expendable after Ottawa acquired Jordan Spence and has Carter Yakemchuk coming in the system. But, with the Rangers, Jensen would be a second or third-pairing shutdown defenseman, as being better in their own zone was a goal for New York.
“It starts in our D-zone,” Drury said when asked about how Gavrikov will improve the team. “We have to be better in our zone, we have to be better in front of (Igor Shesterkin) and (Jonathan Quick). To me, that’s the mindset he shows up with every single day.
“The size, the reach, the competitiveness, the way he defends and the way he is able to complement his partner, whether that’s (Adam) Fox or any other of our right-shot D that we have, that’s what excited all of us in targeting this player. Thrilled to be able to have him as a key part of that D corps,” Drury added.
The Rangers added Gavrikov in the offseason, who’s one of the best defensive defenseman in the NHL.
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