NHL trade rumors: Rangers ‘are team to watch,’ Insider says
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And the smoke is billowing around the New York Rangers, especially since general manager Chris Drury let it be known he’s looking to shake things up with the current roster struggling for such an extended stretch.
“They’re the team to watch right now,” NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman said during an appearance on the NHL Network.
Outside of the Nashville Predators, it’s hard to find an NHL team right now that’s a bigger disappointment than the Rangers. Maybe the Boston Bruins, who already fired coach Jim Montgomery. Maybe the Colorado Avalanche. Not many others at this level.
Expectations were so high entering this season for the Rangers, who set franchise records for wins (55) and points (114) in 2023-24, won the Presidents’ Trophy and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three seasons.
But after a 5-0-1 start, the Rangers have lost 10 of 18 games (8-10-0), including six of their past seven. And it could be much worse if not for the magic performed by goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick earlier in the season.
Their defensive play is sloppy at best. The offense is often one and done. Their battle level has come into question, especially looking unready to play so often at the starts of games.
So, with three days between games this week and coming off a 5-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Monday, what’s Drury up to, Elliotte?
“I think what Chris Drury is doing is using this time to see exactly what he or can’t do out there,” Friedman stated. “I think what he’s doing is using this time to determine who on his roster creates interest, who he would want to do anything with.”
Friedman added that this “goes beyond” Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba, each of whom was mentioned in the trade memo Drury sent to the other 31 NHL GMs.
“It’s a deep dive. What’s the interest in his players and what can (he) do?”
Related: Rangers revert to familiar line combinations looking for spark
Rangers look beyond Jacob Trouba, Chris Kreider in trade talks
Certainly, that’s not specific. It’s more of an over-arching statement by Friedman. But it’s a logical take.
Friedman questioned why the Rangers would even consider trading Kreider, a respected veteran who’s a dynamo on both special teams, even if lacking 5v5. Friedman pointed out many teams would want him, but questioned if that’s the best path for the Rangers.
Trouba is virtually untradeable, though you can bet Drury will got to great lengths to see if it’s a possibility at all.
“Even if there is interest in Trouba, and I think there is, do you really want to acquire him when he’s not going to be happy?,” he questioned, referring to Trouba’s family situation and being more willing to move on from New York next offseason.
Then of course, there’s Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, each of whom has a no-move clause in his contract.
So, the players Drury can trade, is willing to trade and would interest other teams is pretty slim once you take that deep dive Friedman referred to. Defensemen K’Andre Miller and Ryan Lindgren come to mind. Winger Kappo Kakko is another. To a lesser extent, there’s Reilly Smith.
So, yeah, a trade to shake up the roster sounds good in theory, but not so easy in reality.
Friedman did mention the Ottawa Senators as a team he believes the Rangers have spoken to. The Senators (10-12-2) have not reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five straight seasons, and are currently seventh in the Atlantic Division.
CLICK HERE to shop at the Forever Blueshirts store
Ottawa’s got quite a few intriguing younger players, starting with 25-year-old captain Brady Tkachuk. But his $8.205 million AAV is nearly impossible for the Rangers to swallow, unless they can unload salary in return. Remember, it’s also got to be a trade that works for both sides, not just the Rangers.
In his 32 Thoughts column this week, Friedman said this about the Senators, “Ottawa is being very careful about what it says, but I do think that’s a team the Rangers have talked to.”
No matter the trade rumors, Drury’s frustration or anything that NHL Insiders have to say, the bottom line is that swinging a significant deal right now is going to be a difficult needle to thread for the Rangers.
More About:New York Rangers News
Read This Next
