The New York Rangers enter the 2025 offseason facing a crossroads. After a red-hot start to their 2024-25 campaign — opening the year with a 12-4-0 record — they appeared poised to contend for the Stanley Cup. But the wheels fell off in the second half, and they ultimately missed the playoffs in stunning fashion. Now, all eyes are on how the Rangers regroup — and whether former first-overall pick Alexis Lafrenière is part of that future.
Lafrenière, once seen as a future cornerstone, had a breakout year in 2023-24 with 28 goals and 57 points. That earned him a lucrative seven-year contract extension mid-season. But in 2024-25, he plateaued — producing just 17 goals and 45 points across a full 82-game slate. While respectable, the numbers fell short of expectations for a player just handed a long-term deal.
With frustration growing among fans and a roster that desperately needs balance down the middle, one intriguing trade scenario has surfaced: Lafrenière for Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi.
Why This Trade Makes Sense for the Rangers
The Rangers’ biggest roster flaw is no secret — their core of centers is aging. Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller are both 32. Vincent Trocheck is 31. And while Filip Chytil offers some upside, injuries have plagued his development. For a team seeking long-term competitiveness, a young, controllable top-six center is not just a luxury — it’s a necessity.
Marco Rossi could be the answer. The 23-year-old Austrian forward has shown flashes of brilliance in Minnesota, and with his two-way game and offensive upside, he fits the mold of a future top-six pivot. Slotting him into the Rangers’ lineup could immediately inject speed, youth, and scoring down the middle — three qualities the team sorely lacks.
The challenge, however, is cap flexibility. Rossi is a restricted free agent this summer and due for a significant raise. The Rangers would need to shed salary to make room — potentially moving on from Zibanejad, whose declining production and hefty contract complicate matters.
Why It Works for the Wild
Minnesota has a budding superstar in Kirill Kaprizov, but his recurring injuries have left the Wild exposed when he’s out of the lineup. Depth scoring — especially on the wings — has been inconsistent at best. That’s where Lafrenière comes in.
Though not a center, Lafrenière would provide a major boost to Minnesota’s top six. He could slide in seamlessly alongside playmakers like Matt Boldy or Mats Zuccarello, giving the Wild more flexibility up front and insurance if Kaprizov misses time again.
Minnesota is also shedding a massive $15 million in dead cap space this summer — the remnants of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts — giving them a rare window to absorb a larger contract like Lafrenière’s. If the Wild don’t believe they can lock down Rossi long-term or see better value in an already-signed winger, the trade could be a win-win.
A Trade of Necessity, Not Luxury
This isn’t a classic “change of scenery” deal — it’s a solution to two very different organizational problems. The Rangers need a young center. The Wild need scoring depth and lineup stability around their franchise winger. Rossi-for-Lafrenière would be a bold move, but one grounded in logic.
Both teams are looking to avoid wasting their competitive windows. If talks around this framework begin to heat up, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this idea move from speculation to reality.
In a league where talent rarely moves without risk, this could be the rare hockey trade that helps both sides — now and for the future.
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