Rangers Roundup: Roster Moves, Possible Trade Partners, and Tonight’s Lineup
The Rangers have sent down young goalie prospect Brandon Halverson to Hartford yesterday. It is a wise move as I project he and Igor Shestyorkin will one day battle to be Henrik Lundqvist‘s replacement.
The 20 year old Halverson was not making the team this year, so he is better off preparing for the AHL season. Antti Raanta has the backup spot locked up. Any longterm injury to either he or Lundqvist means a Mackenzie Skapski or Magnus Hellberg call up.
Goalie, Jeff Malcolm was also sent down.
Trade Possibilities?
Brady Skjei (NYR)
We’re all well aware that the Rangers are loaded with forwards at the moment, need a top pairing defenseman, and have about 3M in cap space to play with. So is there a trade partner out there?
The Winnipeg Jets are being somewhat forced to trade defenseman, Jacob Trouba. I explained here why the price will be too steep and not worth it. Let’s not forget that there could be help at a lesser price come the deadline, as Kevin Shattenkirk will be a UFA in July.
Now we are hearing more out of Anaheim, who are up against the cap and still have yet to sign their own standout RFA defenseman, Hampus Lindholm. Could this lead to the Ducks trading Cam Fowler?
I’m on the record of how I think he could help the Rangers this year. He may not be the perfect fit, because he is a left handed shot which the Rangers have plenty. That is why everyone is ready to sell the farm for Trouba who is right handed. Still, Fowler would immediately jump into the top 4.
A move for Fowler, would likely have to include Brady Skjei who is also left handed and projected to only play 3rd pairing minutes. Again, not a perfect fit but he will be cheaper to acquire and could eventually make it easier to move Marc Staal.
Tonight’s Lineup includes Vesey again
Here is the projected lineup and it has Jimmy Vesey in it again. This time he is on a bit weaker line, but I expect him to be the offensive catalyst for this unit and will fire pucks at will.
OFFICIAL: #NYR expected lines for tomorrow:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Miller
Vesey-McRae-Jensen
Grabner-Gerbe-Fast
Gropp-Lapierre-Brown— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 30, 2016
OFFICIAL #NYR expected pairings and goalies for tomorrow:
Skjei-Clendening
Bodie-Girardi
Gilmour-PaliottaRaanta
Hellberg— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 30, 2016
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