The Rangers are a good hockey team, regardless of what some naysayers continue to spout on blogs or social media. You can’t with a straight face say that this team is horrible just because you don’t like Dan Girardi or Marc Staal on defense. It’s silly!

This team has the sixth most points in the NHL with 82 points, just 7 points shy of league leading Washington. It boasts great young talent like Brady Skjei, J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey, and Pavel Buchnevich. The mix of youth and vets is a winning formula that could win the Cup with a fortunate (healthy) run as easily as any other team currently in the playoff picture. And Lundqvist….that helps.

What Do They Need?

There are two distinct areas that stand out for improvement and they are somewhat related.

DEFENSE and PP

The Rangers need to add a PP QB on the blue-line. They simply lack a defenseman with the vision and the shot to engineer a successful PP. Enter in Kevin Shattenkirk. This is the defenseman that fits the bill for the Rangers this season.

Of course, will the Rangers be able to get him by Wednesday? From everything I’ve learned from my sources to all the information out there, it looks very likely. It does boil down to who blinks first and if another team is willing to fork over the 1st round pick and prospect without any guarantee Shattenkirk will sign before free agency this summer.

I highly doubt it and that means St. Louis will take a good package from the Rangers and make sure they get something for the 28 year old offensive defenseman. The package will likely be very fair too, possibly Lindberg and Klein which the Rangers can afford to part with.

Beefing Up for Playoffs

Another area I think the Rangers will try and improve is size on the 3rd and 4th lines. Alex Burrows is a name that just won’t go away and he could be had for a mid to low draft pick. The move makes sense to address that issue.

Listen, whether you believe in the “grit” and “toughness” factor or not…it is a real factor in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Sure, you don’t want one dimensional skaters who are out there to just hit and fight, which is why you target those tough agitators that can actually play.

The playoffs are a physical grind and it takes a toll on everyone. The objective is to be able to be the aggressor in a series. Just because you have the better skaters doesn’t mean you will win a series. You got a glimpse of that yesterday when a lesser talented Columbus team just played really physical and bent the Rangers to their will. In a seven game series, every hit takes a toll and wearing down the opposition’s defense could be the difference in winning or losing a game 7.

So, whether it is Burrows or not the Rangers will be looking to add a player like that to this team as well.

The deadline is Wednesday but I believe the answers (including Shattenkirk) will be answered today or tomorrow.

THE FOURTH PERIOD’S TOP 25

TFP has put out their top 25 (actually now 23 with Michael Stone traded to Calgary and Ron Hainsey to Pittsburgh) and the Rangers are considered suitors for 9 of those remaining players. Let’s quickly break it down.

Note: all images are screen caps from TFP…please click the link above for the full list and honorable mentions.

 Kevin Shattenkirk

We discussed Shatty ad nauseam on FTNYR…it’s obvious why the Rangers would want him and why he would sign here. However, I disagree that he is a sure goner at the trade deadline with the Blues playing so well. Wait until July.

Thomas Vanek

Have you seen the ineptitude of the Rangers PP lately? If the Rangers can get him for a 3rd round pick…DO IT! In the playoffs when goals come at a premium, having a productive PP can win you a series.

Gabriel Landeskog

I’m sorry but I just don’t see it. He’s a great player to have but reminds me way too much of Ryan Callahan in both positive and negative ways. Do the Rangers really feel a 20 goal scorer is worth 6 million dollars? Plus with the depth at forward and the Avs looking for defense, I don’t see a fit.

Radim Vrbata

This one is interesting for sure. I truly believe that Gorton has two things he’d like to address at the deadline. Defense and the PP….Vrbata would be cheap and certainly add another weapon on the man advantage. Still, who sits or gets demoted with acquiring an aging winger like he or Vanek?

Patrik Berglund

This is interesting for sure. He’s a solid player and is a UFA at season’s end which makes him a rental and affordable. He certainly would be a nice 4th line center and give the Rangers incredible depth down the middle.

Patrick Eaves

Another affordable rental that can boost the PP! He has 21 goals on the year with 11 of them on PP. Explore this one.

Alex Burrows

Of course the Rangers will miss out on all the options above and settle here (lol). Still, if he costs just a low draft pick and gives the Rangers a big physical body for what I expect to be a grueling playoffs in the East…he might be worth it.

Brian Boyle

This one will give some Rangers fans the feels…but I’d be surprised here. Boyle does have 13 goals and would be a solid 4th line player for the playoffs. Keep an eye out here.

Cody Franson

The Rangers have been attached to Franson before and even though he’s a rental, he’s going to cost someone a decent price. Currently TFP only lists PIT and the NYR as suitors and the Pens just traded for Hainsey…so is this the right handed defenseman the Rangers are quietly going after while everyone else is focused on Shattenkirk? I think this might actually happen….but at what price? Good question.

The Rangers have announced that the center of the GAG (Goal A Game) Line will have his jersey retired next season. Jean Ratelle‘s number 19 will join his longtime linemate Rod Gilbert to the Garden’s rafters.

Per the NYPOST:

“To have your sweater retired is the greatest honor a player can receive. You can’t ask for more than that,” the universally admired Hall of Fame center said by phone. “I’m really looking forward to being back at the Garden. My family will be with me. I’m going to enjoy it.”

Ratelle scored 817 points in 862 regular season games in NY and added 42 points in 65 playoff games as well.

Justin Faulk Available?

It is no secret that the Rangers are in the market for a top pairing right handed defenseman. Enter 24 year old offensive stud, Justin Faulk…but is he really available?

Avs had a scout at Hurricanes game today. Justin Faulk is in play I hear

— Adrian Dater (@adater) February 12, 2017

Adrian Dater has been covering the Avalanche for awhile, but even if Faulk is “said” to be in play it doesn’t mean that Hurricanes aren’t just saying that to start trade talks with teams about other players.

However, if he is available then the Rangers should make every effort to go after him. Listen, if the Rangers would consider parting with any of their young forwards for upcoming UFA, Kevin Shattenkirk I’d rather go for the younger and more talented Faulk.

Adding Grit….Alex Burrows

Larry Brooks recently noted that the Rangers may look to add Alex Burrows of the Vancouver Canucks on the cheap at the deadline. If the price is right, I am all for it…as I was when I posted it way back on November 21st!

The 35 year old RW is a reliable penalty killer and plays with a lot of grit. The biggest hurdle is his 4.5M cap hit, which the Rangers would be responsible for 1.25M at this point according to CapFriendly.

Burrows will be a UFA at the end of the year and is already being identified as a rental. According to the Vancouver Sun, they believe Montreal and the Rangers are likely suitors. He has 19 goals in 70 playoff games, which would be the most obvious reason either would consider adding him.

Lastly, he is an Alain Vigneault guy and they may both would love another run at the Cup together.  In their quest for Lord Stanley in 2011, Burrows scored 9 goals and had 17 points in 25 games for AV.

Burrows has a no trade clause, but you can easily see him waive it for the Rangers. Vancouver is rumored to be looking for a draft pick (likely 3rd or higher) for him at the deadline. Looking to acquire him now could raise that price to a 2nd or 3rd definitely.

Mika Zibanejad could be ruled out for 6-8 weeks after going leg-first into the boards in last nights Rangers game against the Panthers. pic.twitter.com/XrqBEtSpki

— New York Sports Hub (@NYSports_Hub) November 21, 2016

Zibanejad is now lost for 6-8 weeks and we don’t have a timetable for Buchnevich. Rumor out of Vancouver is that Alex Burrows is available and most likely going to be moved at the trade deadline. Could that date be moved up now?

Burrows to Broadway?

The 35 year old RW has 2 goals and 5 points in 15 games this year. He is a reliable penalty killer and plays with a lot of grit. The biggest hurdle is his 4.5M cap hit, which the Rangers would be responsible for 3.5M at this point according to CapFriendly. Of course, putting Zibanejad on LTIR will give them the additional cap space needed to pull off a deal with salary.

Burrows will be a UFA at the end of the year and is already being identified as a rental. According to the Vancouver Sun, they believe Montreal and the Rangers are already likely suitors. He has 19 goals in 70 playoff games, which would be the most obvious reason either would consider adding him.

Lastly, he is an Alain Vigneault guy and they may both would love another run at the Cup together.  In their quest for Lord Stanley in 2011, Burrows scored 9 goals and had 17 points in 25 games for AV.

FullTilt Take

Burrows has a no trade clause, but you can easily see him waive it for the Rangers. Vancouver is rumored to be looking for a draft pick (likely 3rd or higher) for him at the deadline. Looking to acquire him now could raise that price to a 2nd or 3rd definitely.

I don’t think the Rangers will rush into making any moves. I think Boo Nieves will be given a chance to play center with the big club to replace Zibanejad. Now, if Buchnevich is out for an extended period and Kreider goes down again…they could be knocking on Vancouver’s door sooner rather than later.

It took a John Tortorella coached power play for Marty St.Louis to get the monkey off of his back.

St.Louis scored a short-handed goal in the third period to give the Rangers a much needed insurance goal in their 3-1 victory over the Canucks at Rogers Center Tuesday night.  It was his first since the trade deadline blockbuster that brought him to New York.

The Rangers continued their hot streak in Vancouver.  They’ve now won seven of their last eight games.  The win kept them three points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers for 2nd place in the Metro Division.  The Flyers lost in a shootout Tuesday night against the Blues.

Alain Vigneault’s shuffled lines proved to be effective and the Rangers fourth line continued to produce as Dan Carcillo tallied the games first goal at 4:59 in the first period.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, there was a price to be paid in victory.  As the game drew to a close, superstar Ryan McDonagh was plastered into the glass by Vancouver forward Alex Burrows.  Mac remained down on the ice following the hit, before skating to the locker room on his own power.  Luckily for the Rangers, according to Steve Zipay of Newsday, the injury does not appear to be serious.

The Rangers head to Colorado on Thursday night to play the Avs, winners of their last four straight games.