New York Rangers trade board ahead of 2024 NHL deadline
The NHL trading season is underway and the New York Rangers are expected to be busy ahead of the March 8 deadline. In their quest for the Stanley Cup, the Rangers likely seek a top-line right wing, third-line center and possibly an upgrade to bolster their bottom defense pair.
With center Filip Chytil on long-term injured reserve and out for the season with an upper-body injury, Rangers general manager Chris Drury has some extra room under the salary cap to make moves, providing the Rangers flexibility when they try to upgrade the roster.
Whether that means the Rangers creatively fill each of their holes or go big on one specific position will be Drury’s challenge in the next few weeks.
So, with centers Elias Lindholm (traded to Vancouver Canucks) and Sean Monahan (traded to Winnipeg Jets) already moved, the Rangers are on the clock.
Related: Rangers open to trading 2024 first-round pick
New York Rangers 2024 trade board
15. Joel Edmundson – D – Washington Capitals
The Capitals have lost six straight and need to be looking to the future, not the playoffs. Edmundson is a solid veteran defenseman, who won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and has 75 games of postseason experience. He can play the left or right side, and his cap hit is only $1.75 million since the Montreal Canadiens pay the other half of his contract.
14. David Savard – D – Montreal Canadiens
Another Stanley Cup-winning defenseman, though Savard is more of an investment since his cap hit is $3.5 million and he has another season remaining on his contract.
13. Marco Scandella – D – St. Louis Blues
Healthy again, Scandella is a nice fit on the left side of a third defense pair. The reliable 33-year-old makes $3.275 million, so the Blues would need to retain salary. If you’re wondering why so many defensemen to start the list, well, right wing and center are bigger priorities, so the bigger names are higher up on the list. And it’s not expected that the Rangers will take a big swing for a defenseman like Noah Hanifin nor Jakob Chychrun.
12. David Perron – F – Detroit Red Wings
With the Red Wings in the thick of the playoff race, it’s unlikely they’ll move Perron. But it’s worth checking in to see if the seven-time 20-goal scorer and pending unrestricted free agent could be had, though Detroit would have to retain half of Perron’s $4.75 million salary.
11. Dominik Kubalik – F – Ottawa Senators
This forward is wildly inconsistent, but could be a steal as a buy-low option. Kubalik has nine goals this season, but had 20 in 2022-23 and 30 as a rookie in 2019-20. He’s a pending UFA with a $2.5 million cap hit, and has played both right and left wing.
Related: Frank Vatrano ‘loved’ playing with Rangers, ‘happy in Anaheim’ ahead of trade deadline
10. Jake Middleton – D – Minnesota Wild
The 28-year-old with the bushy ‘stache, is effectively playing 20 minutes a night for the Wild and has an NHL career-high seven goals and 18 points. He’s not Eric Gustafsson offensively but the pending UFA ($2.45 million) could be an option if the Rangers want a more steady hand on the third pair.
9. Sean Kuraly – C – Columbus Blue Jackets
A two-way center, who has another season with a $2.5 million cap hit, Kuraly could be an option at 3C if the Rangers go in big for a top-line right wing.
8. Alex Wennberg – C – Seattle Kraken
With Lindholm and Monahan off the board, Wennberg moves up at the center position, though he’s a bit of an enigma. So much more has been expected of him offensively over the years but he’s been a good two-way pivot playing 18 minutes a night for the Kraken. To even consider a trade, the Rangers would need the Kraken to retain half of his $4.5 million salary before he becomes a UFA at season’s end.
7. Anthony Duclair – F – San Jose Sharks
“The Duke” is an intriguing option alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. He brings speed and scoring ability, plus he had 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 20 playoff games in 2023 with the Florida Panthers. He has only nine goals this season playing for the miserable Sharks, but had 31 just two seasons ago before getting hurt. The former Rangers forward can be a UFA at the end of the season and makes $3 million.
6. Daniel Sprong – F – Detroit Red Wings
Sprong quietly is having another strong season, 13 goals and 32 points with the Red Wings after 21 goals in 66 games with the Kraken last season. He’s in the last season of his contract, making just $2 million, and is an under-the-radar player to keep an eye on, though he’s best suited for a middle-six role.
Related: Igor Shesterkin’s play should guide Rangers trade deadline approach
5. Jordan Eberle – F – Seattle Kraken
The 33-year-old’s production is on the rise after a slow start and he’s an eight-time 20-goal scorer. If you believe Zibanejad and Kreider can unlock something with Eberle, then you figure out a way to get the Kraken to retain 50 percent of the pending UFA’s $5.5 million cap hit and get a deal done.
4. Tommy Novak – C – Nashville Predators
His expected goals for is above 55 percent, so you have to look past Novak’s eight goals and 23 points in 40 games this season. The 26-year-old broke out last season with 17 goals and 43 points in 51 games and should be someone the Predators re-sign rather than trade away. Novak is a pending UFA and makes only $800,000, which would free up a lot of money for the Rangers to chase their desired right wing.
3. Vladimir Tarasenko – F – Ottawa Senators
Can’t see Drury trading another first-round pick for a second consecutive deadline to acquire Tarasenko. But the Stanley Cup winner played well for the Rangers late last season and a reunion is not off the table. He does make $5 million on an expiring deal. So, there’s that.
2. Frank Vatrano – F – Anaheim Ducks
Another reunion candidate, Vatrano has 22 goals for the Ducks and played in the NHL All-Star Game last week. Vatrano raved about his time in New York after the 2022 trade deadline and complemented Zibanejad and Kreider as well as any right wing who’s played on their line. He has another season at $3.65 million left on his contract, so he would not be a rental. But the Rangers have checked in with the Ducks about a possible trade.
1. Adam Henrique – C – Anaheim Ducks
The top center remaining on the trade market after Lindholm and Monahan were dealt. Henrique makes $5.825 million and is a pending UFA. More importantly, he’s a veteran two-way center who’s hungry to win the Cup and still playing at a high level. A trade for Henrique and Vatrano would be a one-stop shop for the Rangers. But it would cost them some significant pieces in return.
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