Rangers Acquire Promising Young Forward Aidan Thompson

The 24-year-old center/winger brings offensive upside and two-way play to the Rangers' prospect pool.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:10am

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The Rangers have acquired 24-year-old forward Aidan Thompson from the Blackhawks. Thompson, a third-round pick in 2022, is a former 20-goal scorer in college who won a national championship with the University of Denver. He's described as a 200-foot player capable of playing both center and wing, and the Rangers are hoping to unlock his offensive potential as he begins his first professional season with their AHL affiliate in Hartford.

Why it matters

The Thompson trade is part of the Rangers' broader retooling efforts, as they look to stack young talent for the future while still competing in the present. Though Thompson likely won't make an immediate impact this season, the Rangers see him as a promising prospect who can contribute to their long-term success.

The details

The Rangers acquired Thompson from the Blackhawks in a trade that sent 32-year-old defenseman Derrick Pouliot the other way. Thompson, a third-round pick in 2022, had 20 goals in his final college season at Denver, where he won a national championship. He's described as a 200-foot player capable of playing center or wing, and the Rangers are hoping to unlock his offensive upside as he begins his first professional campaign with their AHL affiliate in Hartford.

  • Thompson made his AHL debut for the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday, March 11, 2026, recording two assists.
  • The trade that sent Thompson from the Blackhawks to the Rangers was completed on March 10, 2026.

The players

Aidan Thompson

A 24-year-old forward acquired by the Rangers from the Blackhawks. Thompson is a former 20-goal scorer in college who won a national championship with the University of Denver.

Chris Drury

The president and general manager of the New York Rangers, who orchestrated the trade to acquire Thompson as part of the team's broader retooling efforts.

David Carle

The head coach of the University of Denver hockey team, who praised Thompson's combination of competitiveness, hockey sense, and skill.

Derrick Pouliot

A 32-year-old defenseman who was traded from the Rangers to the Blackhawks as part of the deal that brought Thompson to New York.

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What they’re saying

“He's got a really good combination of competitiveness and hockey sense and skill. And so I think that allows him to win races on the ice, win puck battles, and when he does get into open ice, he can be very dangerous and cerebral with the puck on his stick.”

— David Carle, Head Coach, University of Denver

What’s next

Thompson will begin his professional career with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, where the organization hopes to help him continue developing his offensive abilities and two-way game.

The takeaway

The acquisition of Aidan Thompson represents the Rangers' ongoing efforts to build a sustainable contender by adding promising young talent to their prospect pool. While Thompson may not make an immediate impact, the Rangers are banking on his combination of skill, competitiveness, and hockey sense to pay dividends in the years to come.