Five Longshot Trades the New York Rangers Should Make

The New York Rangers 2022-23 season ended in disappointment and changes need to be made. Chris Drury made the first change and fired Gerard Gallant. Now he will look at his player personnel and reassess where they need to improve. With just under $12 million in cap space there is not much they can do free agent wise. Drury will need to look to the trade market to improve next year’s team. I have conjured up five long shot trades that I believe would improve the Rangers roster next year.

Trade 1: Artemi Panarin for Mitch Marner

Two superstars getting swapped. Artemi Panarin has 3 years left on his 11.6-million-dollar contract. Mitch Marner has two years left on his 10.9-million- dollar contract. Both players have taken heat from their respective fan bases after bad playoffs. Panarin has been outstanding for the Rangers and just posted his 3rd 90-point season with the Rangers. He went missing in the playoffs. He will also be 32 next season. Marner has back-to-back 90-point seasons but went MIA in the second round of the playoffs this year. Could both players benefit from fresh starts? The Rangers would need to add more to deal with Marner being just 26 but could be a win for both franchises.

Trade 2: Alexis Lafrenière for Jonathan Marchessault

One Quebec kid for another. The New York Rangers have a major decision to make with Alexis Lafrenière. He is a restricted free agent. Do they sign him to an extension? Bridge deal? Trade him? This might be the answer. Marchessault would provide the Rangers with an instant offensive upgrade and a guy who could play in the top-6 on the right wing. Marchessault has one year left on a 5-million-dollar contract. Dealing him would help Vegas with their cap situation and they would get a young former #1 overall pick that will be making much less money. It would also allow the Rangers to right a wrong they made a decade ago when they let Marchessault leave the organization after an All-Star season with the then Connecticut Whale.

Trade 3: Alexis Lafrenière for Troy Terry

Another Alexis Lafrenière option. This deal would take a few more assets from the Rangers to make but Terry would be a great addition to the top 6. Terry is a right wing that the Rangers are missing right now. He has back-to-back 60-point seasons, and is a year removed from a 37-goal campaign. Terry is a pending RFA and will be 26 next season. Anaheim, like the Rangers need to figure out what their future plans for him are. Do they lock him up long term? Or do they deal him for a younger wing that will help their rebuild. If the Ducks can flip Terry for Lafrenière and a few other young assets or draft picks they might look to make a move.

Trade 4: Barclay Goodrow for Brendan Gallagher

Barclay Goodrow has been everything the New York Rangers expected and more when they signed him two years ago. He has had back-to-back career years, but his 3.6-million-dollar contract is just too much for a 4th line center. The Rangers need help in the top 6 and someone who can play on the right side with grit and offensive punch. Gallagher may be past his prime, but he can provide that. A proven contributor he is in desperate need of a change of scenery. The problem is his contract he has 4 years left at $6.5 million. Montreal would have to eat half his salary and probably add a sweetener to the deal.

Trade 5: Barclay Goodrow for Luke Kunin

This might be the most realistic of the five, but it has an injury wrinkle. Goodrow again is involved due to his salary. Kunin is a player that I thought the Rangers should have looked at last summer before he was traded to San Jose. The 25-year-old first round pick plays a very similar game as Goodrow. Physical player than can chip in offensively. The big question mark is his ACL injury. He tore his ACL in December and missed the rest of the season. The hope is that he is ready for the start of the season. Kunin would provide the Rangers a younger 4th line center that is making about a million dollars less than Goodrow. A saving that could help with re-signing K’Andre Miller.

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