NHL Rumors: Which Rangers Could Be Traded This Summer?

The New York Rangers finished the 2025-26 season at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 33-37-9 record, eliminated from playoff contention in late March for the second consecutive year, and GM Chris Drury spent the closing months of the season making trades that hinted at where things were headed.

Artemi Panarin went to the Los Angeles Kings. Carson Soucy went to the New York Islanders. Brennan Othmann went to the Calgary Flames. Sam Carrick went to the Buffalo Sabres.

The bigger moves are coming this summer, and Peter Baugh and Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic laid out the names most likely to be involved.

Elliotte Friedman: Re Vincent Trocheck: I do think Minnesota tried; the price was very high; [the Rangers are] not boxed into the corner with Trocheck, 'cause they still have him under contract for 3 more years - NHL Now (3/6)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) March 8, 2026

All reporting suggests Vincent Trocheck is the most likely Blueshirt to be traded. The Rangers made a gamble they would have a better chance of getting what they want during the offseason, namely a young NHL-ready player with upside as the centerpiece of the deal. 

Drury hinted at that after the season, noting deadline offers were restricted by limited buyers and limited cap space, and he believes the market will expand this summer.

Trocheck's $5.625 million cap hit through 2028-29 is affordable enough for contending teams to absorb, and his no-trade list shrinks from 12 teams to 10 on July 1.

Braden Schneider is another name to monitor closely. The Rangers talked to multiple teams about the 24-year-old defenseman before the deadline. He is valued within the organization but there is recognition they should at least consider capitalizing on other teams' thirst for big young right-shot defensemen. 

Drury is believed to be seeking a scoring forward, with the San Jose Sharks among the forward-rich, defense-needy teams to watch.

Vancouver has also been mentioned as a potential partner, with Jake DeBrusk having indicated he would waive his no-trade clause for the right situation.

The Pieces That Stay and the Wildcard

Igor Shesterkin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, J.T. Miller and Vladislav Gavrikov all have no-movement clauses and are expected to remain. Zibanejad expressed a firm commitment at breakup day: "I want to be here to turn this around."

The core is intact.

What Drury builds around it this summer depends on whether the trade market delivers what he was unable to get at the deadline.

Lafreniere's strong finish should increase his chances of sticking around as the Rangers need to add top-six forwards, not subtract them. But it could also renew interest around the league, and Mercogliano would not rule him out as part of a bigger trade if a top target becomes available.

"I want to be here."

- Mika Zibanejad pic.twitter.com/4rTjTr3Ppj

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 17, 2026

Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report has gone further, suggesting the Rangers should trade Trocheck and explore a run at Blues center Robert Thomas, who, at 26 years old and under contract through 2030-31, would give New York the kind of first-line center a retool can actually be built around.

The most recent cap projection had New York with around $27.5 million in available space, with factors in play that could push that number well over $30 million.

The draft lottery on May 5 adds another variable, with the Rangers holding an 11.5 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick.

Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images