With the trade deadline just over a month away, NHL teams are beginning to think about their needs heading into the playoffs. With the mostly successful season they’ve had so far, the New York Rangers will undoubtedly be “buyers” at the deadline, making big trades for big names to take into another playoff run. While they lead the Metropolitan Division by a slim margin, they are far from the best team in the Eastern Conference and will need a boost when fighting for a playoff spot down the line.
For once, defense doesn’t seem to be a necessity at the deadline for the Blueshirts. The three pairs that have been rolling all season seem to be in good shape, besides the occasional defensive gaffe. In past seasons, defense has been an issue that continued into the playoffs, but with the improvement of Braden Schneider and the addition of Erik Gustafsson, the blue line performance is finally up to par. During Jacob Trouba’s two-game suspension, defensive prospect Connor Mackey filled in and made his presence known immediately, contributing a few goals and engaging in a fight that turned the tide of the game against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. It would make little sense to break up the defensive unit that developed this season.
A more obvious area of improvement would be the forwards, specifically in the ever-elusive right-wing position. The Rangers have been “renting” right wingers at the deadline season after season, bringing in stars like Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Frank Vatrano and Andrew Copp. They failed to re-sign any of them and continue to look for someone who can fill the RW slot on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
Young center Filip Chytil has been out since the beginning of the season with a concussion and experienced further complications after returning to practice last week. The Rangers announced on Sunday that he wouldn’t return this season. As the Rangers’ solid third line center for the past
two seasons, his role is important to fill with the deadline approaching. A player that the Rangers should look at for this position is the Montreal Canadiens’ center Sean Monahan, who plays a similar role for the Candiens as Chytil did for the Rangers. His production has been outstanding considering the Canadiens are having an abysmal season, with 35 points in 49 games. He is one of the cheapest rentals among deadline-target centers, making just under $2 million with his contract ending after the season.
In terms of the return for a player like Monahan, Rangers forward Blake Wheeler may be on the chopping block, but the Canadiens may expect a return of a prospect or well-established younger forward. Kaapo Kakko would fit the description, as the 22-year-old has only six points in 28 games. The former second overall draft pick has a high development ceiling but hasn’t reached his potential in his fourth season with New York. Trading Kakko would get rid of over $2
million in cap space, making a one-for-one trade look plausible, but Montreal would undoubtedly seek out an extra draft pick to speed up their rebuild and sweeten the deal.
Filling the right-wing position may be a bit tougher, considering the steep contracts of some of the rentals in the market. A reunion with Vladimir Tarasenko is not out of the question, but his cap hit of $5 million may turn the Rangers in a different direction. However, his 21 points for the Rangers after the deadline last year could be just what they need to propel themselves to the top of the Eastern Conference. He would need to waive his no-trade clause to be moved, but it’s likely that the struggling Senators may use him to gain future capital. Another player rumored to be available is Jake Guentzel, a right winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has been one of the bright spots in the Penguins’ troubled offense this season, but it would be unlikely that the Penguins make an intra-divisional trade unless they are well out of a playoff spot by March 8.
Seattle Kraken forward Jordan Eberle is also among the potential targets for teams in the coming weeks, though his cap hit of $5 million and under-production may make him less appealing for teams in search of a right winger. He is a consistent point scorer in better offenses, as evidenced by his time with the Edmonton Oilers, but the Kraken’s offense has struggled throughout the season, leaving Eberle with only 25 points in 44 games. He may thrive on the first line with Kreider and Zibanejad, or find a place on the third line where the Rangers also need a bit of a boost.
While the deadline is still over a month away, it’s worth watching to see whose trade value will rise and fall, and who will be made available by their respective teams. The Rangers are coming off of a 5-2 win against the Senators, a much needed bounce back after losing four straight. Certain weaknesses are becoming evident after the losing streak, and getting some help at the trade deadline certainly wouldn’t hurt the Rangers in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
