Three new names linked to the Rangers in trade deadline talks
With the NHL All Star break in the rearview mirror, general managers across the league are preparing their lists and their needs as they have evaluated their teams.
Contending teams have players in mind who could help them down the stretch and potentially give them a long playoff run.
The Rangers are one of those contending teams and have assets they could use to help solidify their roster as they prepare to go down the stretch.
Three new names have been linked to the Rangers as potential trade options.
The primary concern of the Rangers thus far is the need of replacement for Filip Chytil as he is no longer able to play for the rest of the season.
One team to watch is the Washington Capitals as the team is currently listless and potentially falling out of playoff favor once again.
33-year-old centreman Nick Dowd could be an option for the Rangers as he would provide the team with solid depth down the middle and could help them him a playoff run with his experience.
His cap hit is a very reasonable $1.3 million per year and he holds term with one year left on his contract.
This would give the rangers cost certainty if they were to make a deal sending a draft pick or a prospect to the Capitals.
To add more depth to the bottom six, San Jose Sharks player Anthony Duclair could also be another choice to add to the wings.
The sharks are going through one of the worst times in their history in the NHL and the team continues to stockpile draft picks and prospects as their rebuild will begin to go in another phase.
The Rangers have draft capital they could send to the Sharks to get Duclair as the 28-year-old had solid seasons prior to his injury in 2022-2023.
Currently through 46 games, he has scored nine goals with eight assists for 17 points with 28 penalty minutes.
Partner him up with a better centerman and his numbers will rebound quickly.
The third option which might be the least likely to happen is Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel.
The Penguins are currently trying to choose the path they want to go in terms of a rebuild or going all in for one more go around for a Stanley Cup run.
Guentzel would be a pure rental for the Rangers if they were to acquire him as he is currently seeking a payday that will be north of $9 million a year next season.
The Rangers would need to spend enormously to get a chance at his services and it remains to be seen on whether Chris Drury would be willing to do so especially being a in division trade.
There's also the matter of trying to fit his salary if they were to re sign him which may require major reconstruction to make the cap hit work.
I feel this will not happen and the Rangers will look elsewhere for less expensive upgrades when the Rangers have plenty of offence already.
Trade deadline talk is always fun to listen to and there's plenty more to come.
| POLL | ||
Who would you trade for if you were the GM of the Rangers? | ||
| Nic Dowd | 61 | 13.5 % |
| Anthony Duclair | 112 | 24.8 % |
| Jake Guentzel | 104 | 23 % |
| Someone else | 175 | 38.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
