Maple Leafs Could Make Shock Move for Former First Overall Pick as Trade Talks Heat Up
Photo credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
A new report from the New York Post's Larry Brooks revealed that former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere is a trade candidate as GM Chris Drury makes changes.
As teams around the NHL try to find the best strategy going into the offseason, there are some who are looking to move on from some familiar faces. The Maple Leafs are one of those teams, looking to potentially move on from players like Max Domi and Morgan Rielly.
But so too are the New York Rangers, and with Chris Kreider headed out of town (not a done deal, but basically is) and names like Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko traded earlier this season; it seems there's change in the Big Apple.
Alexis Lafreniere may be on the way out too: Larry Brooks
A new report coming out of New York shows that former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere may also be on the way out, as he might have overstayed his welcome with the Rangers.
Larry Brooks of the New York Post recently wrote an article about how GM Chris Drury might be willing to move on from some names like K'Andre Miller, and surprisingly Lafreniere:
We're told that Alexis Lafrenière is surely available and was the topic of several conversations in Buffalo, though it is unclear whether the majority of inquiries were outgoing or incoming.
If the Rangers cannot flip Miller for a defenseman in a trade and instead get a forward in return, Drury could use Lafrenière as a vessel to fill the blue line vacancy. - Larry Brooks
If the Rangers cannot flip Miller for a defenseman in a trade and instead get a forward in return, Drury could use Lafrenière as a vessel to fill the blue line vacancy. - Larry Brooks
With the Rangers dependent on whether or not they can get a deal done for Miller, maybe the Maple Leafs should give them what they want before they even have to ask.
Toronto's defensive depth could give Rangers what they need
While there's no one in the Maple Leafs system that will make you go 'Holy smokes' when it comes to defense, they still have a decent pool of prospects who could be NHL-level players.
Their best prospect is arguably Ben Danford, their most recent first round pick, but there is a possibility he doesn't essentially blossom into a top-D and more of a 2nd or 3rd pairing defender.
But they also have a lot of pieces who don't fit into the current regime, who could use a fresh change of scenery and perhaps accelerate their path to the NHL.
Defensemen Topi Niemala, Marshall Rifai, and William Villeneuve are all potential candidates too, but Toronto does enjoy what the latter offers so they may be more hesitant.
Plus, the Leafs are going to need a sweetener, and that comes in the form of Nick Robertson's signing rights. He needs a new place to play, and will no doubt get a lot more chance to be a regular top-6 player with New York than he would in Toronto.
So with that being said, here's how a deal might be able to go down:
To Toronto:
(LW) Alexis Lafreniere
To New York Rangers:
(LW/RW) Nick Robertson (RFA Signing Rights)
(D) Ben Danford
2025 3rd Round Pick (COL)
(D) Ben Danford
2025 3rd Round Pick (COL)
New York is looking for defensemen, specifically young ones and https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=262218 fits the bill. He will likely get more of a chance to become a Top-4 defender in New York as opposed to Toronto, and helps New York's Miller deal a little more palatable.
They also get Nick Robertson who needs a fresh start, and with the potential to be a solid top-6 scoring option, he'll definitely slot in where New York lost some offense; and the pick just gives them some more assets to work with.
Lafreniere, 23, hasn't lived up to expectations since being drafted first overall in 2020. In 380 games he's only managed 193 points (92G, 101A), and struggled this season. He only scored 17 goals after a very respectable 28 goals a year prior.
He's a bit expensive at $7.5M a season, but at his age and potential it's worth the payment. Plus, he's locked up for the next seven years. Along with a re-signed Matthew Knies; you have your two superstars of the future.
It's a deal that comes with a lot of risk, but much like Kakko did when he left, Lafreniere could explode to become everything New York hoped he would be.
Though it'll be the Leafs reaping the benefits, and leaving some to potentially wonder: "Mitch who?"
| POLL | ||
JUIN 12 | 399 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Could Make Shock Move for Former First Overall Pick as Trade Talks Heat Up Should the Maple Leafs try and put a package together for Alexis Lafreniere? | ||
| Yes | 192 | 48.1 % |
| No | 207 | 51.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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