The New York Rangers may soon look to the trade market to address a glaring need for offensive production. New York has labored through the first half of the 2025–26 season, particularly when it comes to finishing chances. Through this point, the Rangers are averaging just 2.55 goals per game, the lowest mark among all Eastern Conference teams.
Those struggles have left New York on the outside of the playoff picture if the postseason were to begin on January 2. Compounding matters, the franchise faces uncertainty with star winger Artemi Panarin, who is set to become a free agent following the season. There is also growing speculation around Vincent Trocheck, whose name has surfaced in trade discussions as well.
Despite the challenges, there may be optimism on the horizon for Rangers fans. The Athletic’s Chris Johnston recently suggested that New York could emerge as a landing spot for Buffalo Sabres standout Alex Tuch before the trade deadline. Like Panarin, Tuch is scheduled for free agency this summer, and negotiations on a contract extension have reportedly slowed, making him one of the most intriguing names on the market.
“If the Sabres move on from Tuch, the Rangers look like a sneaky good fit,” Johnston said. “New York has significant cap flexibility heading into the summer and limited obvious ways to use it after many top UFAs re-signed with their teams. The Rangers are not in a rebuild and must be smart about how they spend that money.”
New York Rangers Need Sabres to Cool Off to Have Chance of Acquiring Alex Tuch
As recently as November, it appeared increasingly likely that Tuch would be moved. Since then, the picture in Buffalo has shifted. The Sabres replaced general manager Kevyn Adams with Jarmo Kekalainen, and the new leadership has expressed interest in eventually keeping Tuch in the fold.
Buffalo has also caught fire, winning 10 straight games to become the hottest team in the league. If that momentum continues, the Sabres could be pushing for a playoff spot and may prefer to keep Tuch for a postseason run. With that in mind, the forward could see a future in Buffalo and agree to an extension before the March 6 deadline.
For the Rangers, the ideal scenario would involve Buffalo cooling off in the standings. A downturn would significantly increase the odds of Tuch being made available, opening the door for New York to pursue a sign-and-trade that secures his long-term future.
Getting Tuch Would Help Ease Potential Panarin Loss
Adding Tuch would immediately bolster the Rangers’ offense. The 29-year-old has produced 32 points in 38 games this season and has scored at least 35 goals twice in the last four years with Buffalo. At present, Panarin is the only Ranger to eclipse the 30-point mark.
While Panarin is widely regarded as the superior talent, bringing in Tuch could help stabilize the situation if the team ultimately loses its star winger. Tuch is younger and remains a high-end offensive contributor. What New York would need to part with to make a deal happen remains unclear, though it was recently reported that the Rangers were willing to include Alexis Lafreniere in a proposed package for Quinn Hughes earlier this winter.
