Lafreniere has just been scratched and might not turn out to be the impact player in New York. Due to the lack of available talent Minnesota had to put players in roles that they would normally not haven been suited for. Gaudreau, Hartmann, Steel and even Zuccarello have benefited from increased ice time higher up in the line-up. Lafreniere would slot nicely into a second line role next to Gaudreau and Boldy. The 2023 first round pick plus a B rated prospect should be enough compensation for a demoted high profile prospect.

Additionally, it would help Minnesota a lot in the current salary cap situation to have an underperforming sleeper on a cheap bridge deal.

The issue with this is two fold.

1) While we need a top-six winger/player badly, preferably a LW'er like Lafreniere. NY is absolutely swimming with them, and are in need of a legitimate top-six RW'er.

To that end Beckman, another LW, is a horrible fit for their needs and likewise isn't a suitably good enough piece in return for them to consider moving Lafreniere anyway.

Because...

2) The idea or thought that a 1st and B-level prospect would be enough to pry Lafreniere, a former 1st overall pick, from the Rangers is simply asking to be laughed off the phone.

No matter the fact he's 3 seasons in and has underperformed so far. He's still only 21 years old, and still has considerable upside and potential. He still holds a considerable amount of value.

Maybe you can get them to bite with Yurov and a 1st, but it's probably likely they ask for Rossi or Khusnutdinov++