Rangers Roundup: Trading Zibanejad, Hayes’ contract, UFA targets and more

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The latest on the Rangers around the web.

Could the Rangers Trade Zibanejad?

Larry Brooks recently weighed the option of trading Mika Zibanejad and some of the points make sense. When you dive into the numbers of Kevin Hayes and Zibanejad, the facts are this, Zibanejad is only slightly better and that is with a ton of power play time. So it begs the question with so many centers on the team to make a move. If the Rangers are projecting both Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson to play huge roles as centers in the future it may be a wise path.

Of all the current centers, Zibanejad would bring in the biggest return but here’s what the Rangers should do….

NOTHING!

That’s right. Just sign Hayes, Vesey, Skjei, Namestnikov, and Spooner. Get them all under contract and see what trades come to you at the deadline. For a rebuilding team, this is the most sensible option I can see.

Kevin Hayes Contract Ask

It looks like Kevin Hayes is looking for money similar to Mika Zibanejad. The NY POST is reporting that aside from Spooner, whom Gorton will meet with this week, all RFA’s have given their asks. Hayes wants over 5 million a season for the next 5 years.

This seems reasonable, but I just don’t see the Rangers giving him more than $5 million for those 5 years. If the Rangers could get him at $4.5M it would be a steal.

Potential UFA Targets

I’ve said it before and I will continue to pound the drum, the Rangers need someone to protect the kids, or an agitator that takes the focus off of them. With that said, the Rangers need to target either Leo Komarov or Antoinne Roussel.

If given the choice, sign Komarov. I wrote about him way back in May:

Toronto will be cash strapped this summer and have plenty of players they need to re-sign. 6 UFA’s and 2 RFA’s, one of which is William Nylander plus they need to get under the cap. If the Rangers want to jump on Komarov early, it will likely need to be a 3 year deal at 3.5M per.

Another player that would be a perfect fit is a familiar one. Bring back Michael Grabner to solidify the bottom six and the penalty kill. The rumors dating back to the day he was traded to NJ is that both sides still had mutual interest in each other. Signing Grabner to a 2-3 year deal at around 3M per would be a good move.

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By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

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