As the offseason steadily approaches and many teams look to make roster changes, rumours have been flying high about the possibility of the Montreal Canadiens looking into Alexis Lafrenière as a steady addition to the young core being built.
Lafrenière's career has been filled with flashes of brilliance, periods of inconsistency, and constant expectations that come with being selected first overall in the 2020 draft. While some view him as a player who has yet to live up to the hype, others see a talented 24-year-old forward whose best years are still ahead of him. If the opportunity presents itself, he should be considered, but with an emphasis on whether the price remains reasonable.
The current whispers center around giving up a pick, a prospect, and Patrik Laine in exchange.
"I think the framework of the deal and if this was truly a thing, what was whispered was a pick, a prospect, and Patrik Laine in exchange for Alexis Lafreniere. I don't know what pick and what prospect, but I think that was something that was talked about."Frank Seravalli, Frankly Hockey
Alexis Lafrenière presents enough upside for the Montreal Canadiens to consider a trade
Alexis Lafrenière has played for the New York Rangers since he was drafted in 2020 and has amassed a solid track record of points throughout his career. In the most recent season of 2025-26, Lafrenière put together 24 goals and 33 assists for 57 points in 82 games. At 6'2" and 191lbs, Lafrenière is a decently sized left winger who could play fantastically alongside young talent Demidov/Slafovsky and into Martin St. Louis's coaching style.
Notably, he also recorded 10 points (4 goals and 6 assists) in five games for Team Canada in 2020, helping the team win the gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
Native to Quebec as well, acquiring his talent and having him star for the Canadiens would drive fans up the wall with excitement, bringing massive support and opportunity for motivation.
Laine's name being included in this possible offer is no surprise, especially with him hinting that he had wished Montreal had traded him at the deadline, making him a sensible trade piece due to him no longer seeing himself in the Canadiens' plans. However, with him now set to be an unrestricted free agent, the trade package would need to look different this offseason
At this stage of offseason change, the Canadiens can no longer rely solely on drafting and development to close the gap on the elite. Identifying opportunities to add high-end talent is a must, and Alexis Lafrenière represents that.
While there are valid concerns with his consistency and the cost of acquisition, the potential reward outweighs the risk if the price remains reasonable. At 24 years old, Lafrenière has plenty of room to grow and could thrive alongside Montreal's emerging core. If this pans through it may be the perfect opportunity to make a bold move that could pay dividends for years to come.
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