Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere isn't surprising.

When the Rangers healthy scratched their former #1 overall pick last week, it’s expected that all teams would be calling about his availability. The Vancouver Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere isn’t surprising, but it’s also the first confirmed trade interest in Lafreniere that has hit the mainstream.

Per Rick Dhaliwal, who still uses Twitlonger apparently, there is a connection with Lafreniere and the Canucks via his former agent, Emilie Castonguay, who is now the assistant GM in Vancouver. The Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere may go beyond simple tire kicking due to the connection and the uncertain future in Vancouver. A former #1 overall pick certainly helps jump start a rebuild on the fly, if they go that way.

Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere needs to fit the Rangers too

Where the Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere hits a grey area is where it makes sense for the Rangers. Let it be known, first and foremost, that Lafreniere will not be traded straight up for a pure rental. Dhaliwal suggested this in his Twitlonger, mentioning Bo Horvat. This is silly. Much like the silly Kaapo Kakko/Patrick Kane lunacy, the Rangers are not trading these guys for pure rentals.

And before we even start hearing about it, let’s nip the JT Miller stuff in the bud now, shall we? The Rangers had a hard no on him last year for any of their key prospects, which naturally included Lafreniere. Given Miller shiny new contract that was bad when he signed it and looks worse now, that won’t happen. His attitude issues are still prevalent, and he simply hasn’t matured as he’s been in the NHL. His attitude is one of the reasons why the Rangers moved him in the first place.

So for this to work, the Rangers would need a cheap forward with high end talent. Basically, they’d need another Lafreniere. The Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere is one thing, making it work under this frame work is something entirely different.

How would the Canucks and Rangers make it work?

This is purely hypothetical at this point, as the Rangers have shown no interest in actually trading Lafreniere. None of his on-ice issues are glaring, and can be resolved with a competent skating/skills coach. Trading him now would be comparable to giving up on him while his value is still high.

It sounds like everyone outside of Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes could be on the table, which unfortunately takes away the Rangers’ best two choices.

Brock Boeser would be interesting, but the Rangers would need to clear salary to absorb his $6.65 million cap hit. Even at $3.325 million (50%) he’d be a tough fit, but that’s more manageable. Lafreniere for Boeser at 50% retained isn’t enough for Lafreniere and the ceiling/cost certainty combination he brings to the lineup. Boeser hasn’t scored 20 even strength goals since 2017-2018, and he’s not getting PP1 time on this version of the Rangers. He may not be the right fit.

Conor Garland is intriguing, but not in a conversation with Lafreniere unless the Rangers are getting more pieces in return. Specifically, an unprotected 2023 1st rounder. Nils Lundkvist got a top-10 protected 1st rounder from Dallas with far less trade value. Lundkvist requested a trade and wasn’t a #1 overall pick. The Rangers don’t need to move Lafreniere.

Nils Hoglander (2019 2nd) and Vasily Podkolzin (2019 10th overall) are names that will surely come up in chatter. Both have that same feel of a prospect needing a change of scenery. But the Canucks interest in Alexis Lafreniere may stop if either are seen as must-haves by Chris Drury.

Something worth considering (Disclaimer: I am not well versed in Canucks drama): If neither are able to make the Canucks, in their current state, why would Drury target them for an immediate NHL spot? Better question: Would Gerard Gallant even play them?

The Canucks interested in Alexis Lafreniere is one thing, but making it work is another. Much like with many other teams, the cost to acquire likely doesn’t fit the Rangers current needs. Drury and company are better off being patient with Lafreniere, and getting him to a proper skating/skills coach to work on his play away from the puck.

For now, anything involving Lafreniere should be taken with a grain of salt.

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