New York Rangers have three names on TSN’s Trade Bait List
The New York Rangers have three names listed on TSN’s Top 50 Trade Bait List just released on Wednesday.
Included on their names to watch from the Blueshirts are ranked as follows:
- 8, Alexandar Georgiev
- 41, Vitali Kravtsov
- 46, Nils Lundkvist
Of the three, none of them are surprising except for Georgiev being ranked so highly. Matter of fact, he is the highest ranked goalie with Blackhawks pending UFA, Marc-Andre Fleury coming in at 13 overall.
TSN Trade Bait List: Alexandar Georgiev
Georgiev, 25, has been on the market since the summer. That’s largely due to the Rangers not being able to keep the pending RFA next season with the inevitable cap crunch once Adam Fox’s and Mika Zibanejad’s extensions kick in.
According to multiple reports, the Rangers have yet to receive any offer GM Chris Drury would consider. It’s also been noted that the Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights have reached out about acquiring him.
Is it really worth trading Georgiev this season? That’s what Drury has to decide.
If the Rangers were to trade their current backup, would they really be comfortable with Keith Kinkaid as Shesterkin’s understudy? That’s what Drury needs to be sure about. There’s no reason to trade him and scramble to acquire another solid NHL netminder for a “break glass in case of emergency” scenario.
This season, Georgiev is 7-7-2 record with a 2.98 GAA and an .898 SV%.
Vitali Kravtsov
Kravtsov, 22, is playing really well for Traktor in the KHL. In 19 games, he’s registered 6 goals, 7 assists for 13 points.
He was selected by the Rangers in the 2018 Draft, 9th overall. His situation and fallout with the organization is well documented. What remains abundantly clear is that GM Chris Drury will not rush a trade, but he is expected to be moved at the NHL Trade Deadline.
Apparently, his stock has dropped because there’s been some concern among acquiring teams if he would actually play in North America.
“I’ve been told [Kravtsov] has been telling teams he plans on coming back to North America,” Elliotte Friedman said. “The other thing too is that he’s going to have to go on waivers. So it’s not like (the acquiring) team is going to send him down to the minors. They’re going to give him a shot to play.”
What is also interesting in what Friedman had to say, is what he didn’t say. That is Kravtsov coming back to play for the Rangers. If you recall, both sides put out public relations statements indicating they were open to continuing a relationship, but even at that time we said it was unlikely.
Currently, it is believed Kravtsov straight up is worth no more than a second round pick.
Nils Lundkvist
Nils Lundkvist, another first round selection from the 2018 draft (28th overall) is up for grabs in the right deal. The 21 year-old had four points in 25 games this season before being sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
He’s a little small, but makes an excellent outlet pass and has an elite level shot.
“We’re starting to get to know Nils,” Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said. “He does possess those traits Jones has, perhaps not as dynamic. Nils is a threat because his shot is dangerous and we saw that on the power play.”
To be clear, the Rangers are not looking to simply trade Lundkvist for a rental. Drury is in no rush to move him either. However, he is in play for the right deal involving a player with term.
Example: Lundkvist would be a logical piece for a player like J.T. Miller or Conor Garland.
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