The New York Rangers were among several NHL clubs that submitted an offer to the Vancouver Canucks for star defenseman Quinn Hughes. Vancouver ultimately decided to move the elite blueliner after he declined to commit long term to the franchise.
While the Canucks fielded multiple strong proposals, they chose to accept a blockbuster package from the Minnesota Wild. That return featured Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first round pick. Even though Hughes is an established superstar, Vancouver secured a deep collection of young talent for a player who would have been nearing unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027.
After New York’s bid fell through, The Athletic’s Vince Mercogliano explained that the Rangers simply could not meet Vancouver’s asking price. The Canucks were seeking a legitimate center along with a young, high end defenseman, two areas where the Rangers are notably thin, especially down the middle.
Mercogliano also suggested that former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere was likely part of New York’s proposal. “Based on my own dot-connecting, their most realistic Hughes offer would have been something along the lines of winger Alexis Lafreniere, defenseman Braden Schneider, and at least one of their two 2026 first-round draft picks,” Mercogliano wrote.
New York Rangers Rewarded Alexis Lafreniere with a Massive Raise in 2024
Lafreniere entered the 2020 draft widely viewed as the top prospect and was selected first overall by the Rangers ahead of players such as Quinton Byfield, Tim Stutzle, Lucas Raymond, Seth Jarvis, and Marco Rossi. He made the jump directly to the NHL and steadily improved his production over his first four seasons in New York.
That upward trajectory led the Rangers to sign Lafreniere to a seven year, $52 million extension in October 2024. However, his performance dipped during the 2024–25 season, as he finished with just 45 points in 82 games.
As Mercogliano noted, including Lafreniere in a deal for Hughes made sense financially, since both players carry similar average annual values. With limited cap flexibility, New York would have needed to move out a significant contract to make room for Hughes.
There was also an organizational connection, as Lafreniere’s former agent, Emilie Castonguay, now serves as an assistant general manager with the Canucks. Even with those factors in play, Vancouver clearly felt Minnesota’s offer provided greater overall value.
New York’s Mediocre Prospect Pool May Not Help Bring in a Star via Trade
With Hughes now off the market, at least for the time being, the Rangers will need to explore other creative ways to upgrade their roster. That task may be complicated by the state of their prospect system, which is viewed as fairly average around the league.
ESPN recently ranked New York’s pipeline 19th overall in the NHL. The outlet identified Gabe Perreault and Scott Morrow as the organization’s top prospects. Perreault, a first round pick in 2023, has recorded 17 points in 20 games this season with the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Morrow, acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes over the summer, has had a more uneven transition. The young defenseman has spent time shuttling between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate as he continues to find his footing.