Report: Insider Links The New York Rangers To These Two Top Defensive Defenseman
Photo credit: NHL.com
The New York Rangers have moved on from former Captain Jacob Trouba. Now they will look to shore up their blueline with top defensemen around the league. Two places they could find suitable replacements are Columbus, and Pittsburgh.
With GM Chris Drury moving $8 Million dollars in salary cap space, it gives the New York Rangers breathing room to acquire talent.
With inexperienced blueliners in the lineup like Zac Jones, and Victor Mancini they need veteran options for the playoffs.
The team could pursue upgrades with $22 Million in cap space come the trade deadline they're poised to pursue defenseman Ivan Provorov from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Marcus Pettersson from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports that the New York Rangers, after trading Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks and shedding his $8 million cap hit, are positioned to pursue defensive upgrades ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.
Marcus Pettersson
Petterson currently has a $4.025 Million salary cap hit and is a pending UFA once his contract expires at the end of 2024-2025.
Like Provorov, Petter provides the Rangers some depth on the blueline and skilled two-way play on the ice.
He currently plays 22 minutes TOI nightly and could be an affordable option in contrast to the highly sought-after veteran, Ivan Provorov.
Pettersson played a full 82-game season in 2023-2024 and scored 30 points( 4 G, 26 A). Since Kyle Dubas failed to extend the veteran, it seems he could be one of the next players out of Pittsburgh.
Could GM Chris Drury acquire the defenseman before January?
Ivan Provorov
Ivan Provorov was a key piece in a three-way trade that sent him to Columbus from Philadelphia in return for a first-round pick in 2022.
He's remained a top-four defenseman during his short tenure in the Blue Jackets organization. This season he's scored 5 points( 1 G, 4 A) and played 22:63 TOI under Head Coach Dean Evason.
He's a pending UFA with a cap hit of $6.75 Million AAV and would be the costlier addition to the Rangers lineup. Which, GM Chris Drury will have to conserve in order to sign other RFAs in the organization.
While he represents an archetype defenseman the Rangers need, will Drury prioritize affordability over Provorov?
Both players have cap hits exceeding $4 million, but the Rangers are now well-equipped to absorb those costs. «The Rangers ensured they will have plenty of financial flexibility to make midseason moves,» Baugh notes, as they look to strengthen a defensive corps that lacks postseason-tested depth.
Drury could look elsewhere with the Utah HC's Ian Cole, and the Blackhawks Alec Martinez as future considerations. But for now, Pettersson and Provorov could be the best options for the Rangers defense.
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 10 | 428 ANSWERS Report: Insider Links The New York Rangers To These Two Top Defensive Defenseman Who should GM Chris Drury of the New York Rangers target for a defensive upgrade? | ||
| Ivan Provorov | 209 | 48.8 % |
| Marcus Pettersson | 219 | 51.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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