Rangers Daily: Blueshirts yet to join NHL trade frenzy
Tuesday was a head-spinning day in the NHL, one filled with more significant deals in late June than typically take place ahead of the trade deadline during each season. Watching from the perimeter and not involved in the trade frenzy, though, were the New York Rangers.
Frustrated members of the Blueshirt Faithful took to social media to call out general manager Chris Drury, vent their anger that a team desperately in need of a big-time deal didn’t make one.
It’s easy to understand the frustration of the paying customers and long-time Rangers die-hards. Two straight seasons out of the playoffs, dismantling a pretty popular and successful (to a point) team, and no Stanley Cup championship in 32 years — one in 86 years! — can put even the most reasonable fan on edge. Then for the Rangers to do nothing, when it appears that every other team is doing something, well, yeah, that’s a bad recipe.
But listen, the offseason is far from over. There’s plenty of time for the Rangers to acquire talent — preferably younger, faster, more skilled players.
It is worth noting some concerning trends, though. Most notable is that the Rangers simply don’t have the quality assets — outside of 11 picks in this year’s draft, including two first-rounders — to facilitate a big deal. And it’s looking more and more like the Rangers aren’t exactly a preferred destination any more. They weren’t on Brady Tkachuk’s four-team list before the Ottawa Senators traded him to the Florida Panthers the other day. Nor did Dylan Larkin have the Rangers on his preferred destination list when he asked to be moved from the Detroit Red Wings.
So, that’s concerning, for sure.
It’s been written here before and discussed on the Rink Rap podcast: this is a massively critical offseason for Drury and the Rangers. They must make a lot of excellent decisions — at the draft, how they develop players and rebuild a barren prospect pool, in how they spend their money, and what they get back in a likely Vincent Trocheck trade.
They can’t afford many more missteps.
As for the players moved Tuesday, the Rangers could’ve — should’ve — had interest in defenseman Bowen Byram, whom the Buffalo Sabres shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks, though NOT at the cost of their No. 5 overall pick in this year’s draft. It’s beyond head shaking that the Blackhawks gave up the No. 4 pick for Byram and fourth-line forward Jordan Greenway.
The Rangers likely kicked the tires on William Eklund, before the skilled forward moved from the San Jose Sharks to the Senators for the No. 9 overall pick. But it’s unlikely they were at all in on defenseman Simon Nemec — traded by the Devils to the Calgary Flames — nor star forward Jordan Kyrou — moved from the St. Louis Blues to the Washington Capitals.
It’s interesting that outside of 30-year-old UFA defenseman Darren Raddysh, whom the Tampa Bay Lightning moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs last week in a sign-and-trade, the players traded this summer are primarily younger, and typically with boatloads of draft picks involved.
Kyrou (28), Joseph Woll (27), Tkachuk (26), Sam Ersson (26), Byram (25), Connor McMichael (25), Emil Andrae (24), Eklund (23), Mackie Samoskevich (23), and Nemec (22) are all under 30 years old.
So, it appears that the rest of the NHL is looking for what the Rangers seek, as well. To get younger and more skilled.
So, it makes sense that the Rangers may need to be patient before trading Trocheck, who turns 33 this summer. But perhaps this is the market to move Braden Schneider, their 24-year-old defenseman who’s an RFA with arbitration rights this summer.
Your move, Chris.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Liam Greentree — photo courtesy OHL images
Chris Peters from FloHockey joins the Rink Rap podcast this week to preview the 2026 NHL Draft and also discuss where some of the key Rangers prospects are right now in their development. Check it out here on YouTube.
Speaking of Peters, he’s impressed with Liam Greentree, but did explain a specific area where the Rangers forward prospect must improve.
Here’s Jess Rubenstein’s 2026 NHL Mock Draft, which continues to be updated as more and more first-round picks get traded this week.
Our John Kreiser analyzes whether Patrik Laine or Anthony Mantha make sense as free-agent targets for the Rangers this summer.
Breaking down how the Brady Tkachuk trade affected the Rangers.
NHL news and rumors
New Jersey Hockey Now: Let’s start with James Nichols teaming up with Daniel Amoia to break down the Nemec trade from each team’s perspective, before handing out trade grades.
San Jose Hockey Now: Sheng Peng explains how the Eklund trade provides a slew of options for what’s next in San Jose, including more possible trades.
ESPN: Here are the details of the Byram trade, and why the Blackhawks were willing to move the No. 4 overall pick.
The Athletic ($$): Jeremy Rutherford details the how’s and why’s of the Kyrou trade between the Blues and Capitals.
TSN: Darren Dreger reports that Morgan Rielly submitted a list of four Western teams he’d accept a trade to, with the Maple Leafs looking to move the veteran defenseman.
The Hockey News: Not to be lost in the shuffle with all the trade news, the Edmonton Oilers officially named Mike Babcock their new coach. Adam Proteau breaks down whether this risky move is worth it for the Oilers.
NHL.com: From the NHL Board of Governors meeting comes this: the League entered a six-month evaluation process to consider either Houston or Austin as its next expansion franchise.
