While some believe Tom Wilson broke the Rangers, I contend it woke them up and expedited some of the roster moves made this offseason.

One can’t deny that ever since Wilson sucker-punched Pavel Buchnevich and rag dolled Artemi Panarin the Rangers have changed – drastically.

From firing President John Davidson, GM Jeff Gorton and Head Coach David Quinn to hiring Chris Drury, Gerard Gallant, signing Barclay Goodrow and trading for Ryan Reaves this is a different Rangers team.

Yet, owner James Dolan hinted at a lot more than Tom Wilson for the moves. At the end of the season, he told Larry Brooks he had been thinking about it long before that happened. It’s more likely that late losses to the Islanders had a lot to do with bringing in Goodrow, Blais, and Reaves than just Wilson.

Brendan Smith says there’s more to the Tom Wilson story

In the aftermath of the Tom Wilson incident, the Rangers deal out retribution the next night with an opening light brawl and several one-on-one altercations. Former defenseman Brendan Smith, ow with the Hurricanes was the man who took on Wilson and had some interesting remarks about it on NHL Radio this weekend.

“I was definitely a little nervous,” Smith told host Dave McCarthy. “Tom’s one of the toughest guys in the league. He’s a heavyweight so that’s an interesting task for myself as I wouldn’t consider myself a heavyweight by any means. You just have to answer the bell.”

As to everything that led up to the fight and ensuing aftermath Smith laughed at it and said he may reveal it when he retires. Calling it something for Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, which is known for being an expletive no-holds barred show.

“To be honest, once my career is over, there’ll be more info that will come to fruition about the whole incident,” he said. “All I can say at the moment is that I personally wish the league handled it a little bit differently. I think that we had to take care of our superstars 100 percent and then it wouldn’t have hit the fan like it did.”

“Like I said, in 15 years when my career is over, there will be more things that will come up,” Smith concluded. “As of right now, we try to keep it a little bit closer to home and I’ll say how impressed I was about how everything was handled.”

Smith also relayed how proud he was of his teammates response to the entire situation. He even commended many of the Capitals players who had to fight because of Wilson.

H/T to Russian Machine Never Breaks for some quotes.

Latest NHL Rumors

Two big names were expected to be traded already but that may not happen this offseason. Read more here.

He was popular among his teammates and stood up to Tom Wilson in the aftermath of him running roughshod over the team. While his career in NY was up and down, he made his feelings known before heading out.

Brendan Smith says goodbye

In an Instagram post, Brendan Smith wrote the following heartfelt goodbye:

One of the happiest moments of my life is when I put on the New York Rangers Jersey for the first time! One of the most sad moments of my career is knowing I’m taking it off. It was truly an honor to be a Ranger and play infront of some of the best fans in the world and arguably the greatest arena ever. I will cherish my tenure with the NYR forever. Thank you

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brendan Smith (@bssmith2)

Latest Rangers offer for Jack Eichel

The New York Rangers may be the only team in on Jack Eichel. It’s hard to blame Chris Drury to bid against himself. According to Larry Brooks of the NY Post, he’s hearing the Rangers original package has changed, partially due to the Sabres need for a starting goalie.

There is a strong sense that Chytil would necessarily be included in a package going the other way in a hypothetical deal for Eichel, because the Sabres need a center in return and all that. But one individual with some knowledge of the proceedings told The Post on Thursday that the latest entreaty includes Vitali Kravtsov, Zac Jones, Alexandar Georgiev and a first-rounder, but not Chytil.

NY Post

When the Rangers signed Filip Chytil to a bridge deal worth $2.3 million for two seasons it was thought he’d be included in any Eichel trade. Obviously a player under contract is better than trading for his rights.

Chris Drury is likely willing to move either Chris Kreider or Alexis Lafreniere to the right wing, but after trading Pavel Buchnevich he’d likely want to keep Vitali Kravtsov to take his spot. If he can swap out Kravtsov with Chytil it would be an excellent move.

Senators still interested in Ryan Strome

According to the Ottawa Sun, the Senators are still very much interested in trading for Ryan Strome.

The Senators may also try to find another top-end winger  that can do the job that Dadonov wasn’t able to do here. They’re still in the mix for New York Rangers’ centre Ryan Strome, who may be dealt if they make a trade for Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel.

Ottawa Sun

If the Rangers make a deal for Eichel that does not have Strome going the other way, look for a move to Ottawa to clear cap space.

Latest NHL Rumors

Get the latest NHL Rumors here.

A successful offseason should ideally put the team in a position to compete for a playoff spot next season.

New York Rangers hiring the right head coach is top priority

Owner James Dolan has been direct in communicating his feelings about the Rangers’ culture. The culture created by the prior management group apparently just wasn’t what he had in mind. He selected Drury who will be looking for the next coach.

David Quinn seemed to have established a culture with a certain degree of stoicism. The coach rarely showed emotion behind the bench; it took something extreme to get a real reaction out of him. This bled into his players and led to a decrease in physicality and overall grit.

Yes, as the 2020-21 season progressed the Rangers were more willing to stand up for one another but that wasn’t always the case. The Rangers have been called “soft” and accused of having no sandpaper. While they will need to bring in additional players to resolve the issue, it is also going to have to become part of the Rangers overall game. They need a coach that will enforce this and instill a culture of physicality along with finesse.

While there are still plenty of young players on the roster, the focus is starting to shift away from player development and towards playoff contention. They need a coach with winning playoff experience. Gerard Gallant seems to have been the most popular name floating around of late and the Rangers already conducted an interview with him. However, he’s coaching Canada at the World Championships and so far they’re under performing. It should be interesting to see if this at all impacts the Rangers’ decision. It would be recency bias but still could be a factor.

Rangers’ need for grit is apparent

The Rangers’ system currently favors a finesse style of play that isn’t going to get them very far. Finesse can work in the regular season, but certainly not in the playoffs (i.e. Edmonton Oilers). They need to add another element to their game, and Dolan and Drury would like for that to be sandpaper. While it is up to the future coaching staff and the players on the current roster to find a willingness to play physically within the team that’s here, it would also be productive to bring in additional pieces.

Larry Brooks brought up Nazem Kadri as a possible target. While he may be serving an eight-game suspension for an illegal check to the head and is a repeat offender, the Rangers should still consider him. The right coach may be able to get him calm down and use his physicality in a more productive manner. He could center the third or fourth line.

Every successful team has at least one player that is known to be a nuisance for opponents; it makes them harder to play against. The Rangers don’t currently have someone who plays that role and are in turn not very difficult to play against. They do have Ryan Lindgren, but he isn’t quite on Kadri’s level when it comes to physicality and can’t shoulder this responsibility alone especially being the number two defenseman.

Is it time for the Rangers to name a captain?

During his end of season media availability, Mika Zibanejad expressed his confidence in the Rangers’ “leadership group.” Several Rangers throughout the season have spoken about the closeness of the team and how they’ve grown together this year. Does all of this imply that a captain isn’t necessary? It’s certainly possible that the Rangers feel perfectly secure without a labeled captain, but all successful teams in the NHL right now have one. Every team in the playoffs this year has one. If the Rangers are really looking to be a playoff team, they likely need a captain too.

Though the team was able to work through their on and off-ice drama this past season as a group, there were times when one player seemed to step up as a clear-cut leader. Whether that was Chris Kreider in the absence of Artemi Panarin or Jacob Trouba when the Rangers were struggling with effort, the team seemed to respond. This young team needs structure. A leadership group consisting of four alternate captains can work, but as a whole they may react better to a single captain. It’s not a matter of the others stepping down once a captain is named. It’s simply a matter of structure. A chain of command even.

So the question is: who should be the captain? Chris Kreider seems to be the obvious choice on the surface. He’s the senior-most Ranger who has proven he can be a leader both on and off the ice and who enjoys and values mentoring younger players. But the problem with that is Kreider can disappear for days or even weeks at a time. Towards the end of this season, for example, he experienced a major slump. Kreider has always been this kind of player, therefore it could pose a problem in his being captain.

Both Zibanejad and Trouba also have shown their leadership qualities. But neither to the same extent as Kreider. There’s also the option of waiting another few years for Alexis Lafrenière to mature. His leadership qualities have been at the forefront of the discussion about him since before the 2020 draft. It’s possible the Rangers organization would still prefer to wait for him to be ready for the job and delegate the alternate captain responsibilities to other younger players like Adam Fox.

Will there be significant changes at center or on defense?

The Jack Eichel rumors have been prominent since last offseason. But will the Rangers make a move for him this summer? A deal for Eichel could include younger players that not too long ago seemed like key assets. Filip Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov are some names that have been mentioned. One would have to believe the Rangers would be willing to trade both of them to acquire Eichel. They currently have Zibanejad and Ryan Strome lining up as one and two down the middle with Kevin Rooney, Filip Chytil, and Brett Howden moving in an out of the third and fourth center spots. If the Rangers can get Eichel and play him on the top line with Zibanejad on the second and Strome on the third, they would suddenly be a lot deeper.

Competition with other teams could get in the way of the Rangers’ landing Eichel. It’s possible that Buffalo would rather trade him to a team out west due to geographic rivalry within New York. Another team may also be able to put together a package that is more appealing to them. In this case, the organization should be considering other free agent center options as well.

After being promoted to President and General Manager, news came out that Drury plans to add a veteran defenseman to the roster. They could choose to re-sign Brendan Smith, but that wouldn’t be an addition. A veteran defenseman would ideally provide playoff experience. It would also be helpful if such a defenseman brought a physical presence. With three of the top four defensemen being just second and third year players, another veteran could be a helpful guide.

NHL News: Stephen A. Smith roasts Oilers in epic rant

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has often admitted he doesn’t watch or know much about hockey. That didn’t stop one of the most entertaining commentators on the new network for hockey to light up Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Read and Watch it here.

A full six-man defensive corps will be necessary to accomplish this. Along with making the postseason, Drury has emphasized the need for more grit in the lineup and there has been news of the organization wanting to add a veteran defenseman. The top four seem to be obvious, but there are many options to fill the bottom two spots.

New York Rangers defense: Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren have emerged as the top pair

Even in their 2019-20 rookie season, Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren often found themselves playing against other teams’ skilled top lines. Fox and Lindgren have developed a noticeable chemistry which helps elevate their play making ability in all three zones.

As a rookie, Fox impressed and made an immediate impact. He didn’t look like a newbie; he appeared very comfortable playing defense in the NHL which isn’t considered an easy task for a young player. Now, he has added an element of offense to his game that has propelled him into the Norris Trophy conversation. He led all defensemen in the league in assists this season with 42, indicating his play making ability. Additionally, analysts have recently compared Fox to Brian Leetch. Since the Tony DeAngelo incident that led to the defenseman’s banishment from the team, Fox has proven to be an excellent quarterback on the power play. It’s possible that Fox could eventually wear a letter as the team evolves and a younger leadership group develops.

Ryan Lindgren has been a pleasant surprise since coming to New York in a trade with Boston three years ago. He initially struggled slightly with positioning in the defensive zone but has since developed into a responsible defenseman. Lindgren also brings an element of grit and physicality that the Rangers lack. He’s certainly a physical presence, bringing big hits each game and not shying away from a fight. Being as physical and tough as he is, he sets an example on the ice that helps to develop a culture in general. Lindgren is still very young and as he continues to develop, the offense will come as well. There were a few glimmers of his offensive potential this season, and his game will only improve.

Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller are the most likely option for the second pair

Jacob Trouba mentioned in during his end of season media availability that he felt much more comfortable with the Rangers this year. He seemed to struggle a bit in his first Broadway campaign after coming over from Winnipeg in a trade. This season, he showed that he can be a solid top-four defenseman and a leader. K’Andre Miller spoke multiple times this season about how helpful Trouba has been to him. At 6’3″ and 209 lbs, Trouba’s size makes him a threat. He uses his reach to take away the opponent’s space and time, especially when paired with K’Andre Miller. However, Trouba plays his best when he plays a heavy game. He needs to make this a more prevalent habit going forward as the Rangers need more muscle.

Similarly to Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller impressed as a rookie, appearing to have little to no trouble adjusting to the pace of the NHL. Throughout most of the season, his defensive play was eye-catching though he did seem to experience a slight decline towards the end of the season. That could have been a result of the grind of an NHL season on a rookie even though it wasn’t a full one or a result of playing with different partners after Trouba was injured. Like Trouba, Miller has wonderful size at 6’5″ and 210 lbs but needs to learn to use it for checking as well as defending. Anywhere the Rangers can add more physicality would helpful as their mindset is currently too finesse oriented.

The Rangers must make decisions on Brendan Smith and Libor Hajek

While Brendan Smith is generally a bottom pair defenseman, he deserves credit for several aspects of his game. Overall, he doesn’t make many catastrophic mistakes and he’s versatile. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Rangers could choose not to re-sign him. They want to bring in a veteran defenseman, which Smith can continue to provide. He also has some playoff experience, but with making the postseason as the goal the Rangers may feel they need bring in a player with more playoff games on his resume.

Smith can also play wing, which is something that former Head Coach David Quinn flirted with last season. Chris Drury has expressed his intent of adding more sandpaper to the bottom six. Moving Brendan Smith to the fourth line would be useful in that case; he brings a physical presence every night. He has also been a valuable leader this season in acting as a mentor to a K’Andre Miller and taking on Tom Wilson in a fight after he injured Panarin. There should be some serious consideration from the organization before they decide to let him walk.

Libor Hajek is a pending restricted free agent this summer, and the Rangers have to decide if he still fits into the big picture. When he first started in New York, his play was promising but he suffered multiple injuries that kept management from seeing what he could really do in the NHL. This season, Hajek played much more for the Rangers, but wasn’t really able to reach a point of playing consistently effective defense. While he isn’t costing the team games, he also isn’t exactly capitalized on the chances he’s been given. With other prospects in the pipeline and the possibility of acquiring another veteran defenseman, Hajek simply may not be the answer on the third pair.

What about Anthony Bitetto?

The Rangers signed Anthony Bitetto last offseason, and he played 14 games this season. In those 14 games, he had one goal and three assist for four points. That’s fine for a defenseman, but he doesn’t by any means stand out offensively. Defensively, he sometimes makes too many mistakes when in the lineup and he was a minus-8. He acted as a sort of placeholder this season as he was able to come in when someone was injured. Though Bitetto may be a good insurance policy, he’s certainly not a staple in the lineup. He may be taking a roster spot from a younger defenseman that the Rangers want to bring to New York. There’s no sense in him just sitting on the roster next season and not playing, especially considering there likely won’t be a taxi squad.

If the Rangers can find some way to trade him, that’s always an option. However, they may be forced to assign him to Hartford even though it seems a bit ridiculous considering his age and the stage he’s at in his career.

Tarmo Reunanen and Zac Jones should be competing for roster spots

Prior to joining the Rangers briefly this season, Tarmo Reunanen posted impressive numbers in 21 games in Hartford. He had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points, and only 4 penalty minutes. In the few chances he was given in the NHL, he showed encouraging flashes of skill and was mostly diligent in the defensive zone. Overall, he seems to definitely be more offense oriented. If he does make the team out of training camp next season, he will of course need time to adjust to the NHL like any other player.

Zac Jones will also be vying for a roster spot out of camp next season and got an opportunity to show what he can do late this season. Being that the Rangers have already gotten a look at him may factor into whether he makes it or not. Analysts have described him as Adam Fox-esque. Considering what Fox has been able to do in his first couple of years with the Rangers, hearing that about Jones is exciting. Size may be a bit of a concern as Jones is only 5’10” and 176 lbs. That could play a role in the time it takes him to adjust to the NHL.

If both are on this roster heading into next season they will be competing for roster spots. That is a big if considering the Rangers desire to add more proven young NHL talent at the expense of some of their younger assets.

When will we see Nils Lundkvist and Braden Schneider?

Assuming the Rangers can get Nils Lundkvist signed to his entry level contract, he will also be competing in training camp for a spot in the lineup. Since being drafted, Lundkvist has continued to play with Luleå in the SHL. This season, he had 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 52 games. According to the scouting report on eliteprospects.com, Lundkvist is a “mobile puck-moving defenseman who likes to make quick decisions and join the rush. Lundkvist displays confidence with the puck on his stick.” His quick decision making will be useful in the NHL where the game moves much faster.

He has been in the Rangers system since the 2018 draft, and it’s time to bring him to New York. He’s had time to play against men in the SHL, and it likely NHL ready. It will be interesting to see what he does at this year’s World Championships as well. It will be curious if the Rangers don’t get him signed this offseason.

The Rangers traded up to draft Braden Schneider nineteenth overall in the 2020 draft. Schneider brings a physical style of play and good size to aid him in that at 6’2″ and 187 lbs. He will continue to develop physically and get stronger to be even more of a presence. He certainly does not shy away from big hits. His physical style is an integral part of his defensive play. He has a leadership quality as he’s the captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL this season.

Schneider also has offensive upside, posting five goals and 22 assists for 27 points in 22 games this season. It may be useful for the Rangers to give him a year in Hartford to further develop his game instead of making a jump from juniors to the NHL. Schneider probably won’t spend next season with the Rangers. It would be more helpful for him to play meaningful minutes in Hartford instead of potentially being the sixth or seventh defenseman on the depth chart for the Rangers.

Note: all stats come from hockey-reference.com and eliteprospects.com

NHL Rumors

JD back in Columbus! Red Wings trade buzz and more here.

Adam Fox named Rangers MVP

Fox, just 23 years of age played in 55 of the team’s 56 games and he missed only one due to a brief stint on the COVID protocol list. On the season he recorded 47 points on the strength of 42 assists. He currently leads all defenseman in scoring. To go along with his offensive stats, Adam finished with a +19 rating and only 14 minutes while playing an average of 24:42 against some of the game’s best.

Per the team’s press release:

The Most Valuable Player Award was voted on by members of the New York Rangers media and has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1941-42 season. Fox has won the award for the first time in his career. He is the first Ranger who has won the award in one of his first two seasons in the NHL since Henrik Lundqvist in 2006-07, and the first Rangers skater who has done so since Brian Leetch in 1988-89. Fox, who also won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award in 2020-21, became the seventh Ranger to be named the Team’s MVP (as chosen by the media) and to receive the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award (as chosen by the fans) since 1987-88, which was the first year the Steven McDonald Extra Award was presented. He joins Adam Graves (1992-93 and 1993-94), Mark Messier (1994-95 and 1995-96), Leetch (1996-97), Wayne Gretzky (1997-98), Lundqvist (2017-18), and Mika Zibanejad (2018-19) as the only players to win both awards in the same season.

Ryan Lindgren wins the Players’ Player Award

While Fox was named MVP, his defense partner Ryan Lindgren was voted the Players’ Player. The 23 year-old blue-liner’s face hasn’t met a puck or stick he doesn’t like yet! With his propensity for suffering a facial cut almost every game, his teammates recognized his will and desire to battle through anything.

Lindgren was unfortunately hurt late in the season and finished with just 51 games played. He scored only one goal but added 15 assists on the year. He finished with a +20 rating and yeoman’s 35 penalty minutes. He as well played against some of the best in the game and is a mainstay in the team’s top four.

Per the team’s press release:

The Players’ Player Award has been given annually since the conclusion of the 1958-59 season and recognizes the Ranger who, as selected by his teammates, “best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.” Lindgren has won the award for the first time in his career. He is the fourth different defenseman who has the award over the last 30 seasons (since 1990-91), joining Brian Leetch (four consecutive seasons from 2000-01 – 2003-04), Jason Strudwick (2007-08 – co-winner with Colton Orr), and Ryan McDonagh (2013-14).

Brendan Smith wins the Good Guy Award

This could very well be his final season in NY as he’s a pending UFA. However, he was recognized by the media for his cooperation throughout the season.

Per the team’s press release:

The John Halligan Good Guy Award recognizes a player for their cooperation with the media throughout the season. The award has been presented annually since the 1974-75 season and was renamed in 2009-10 to honor the team’s late public relations director. The award recipient is chosen by members of the media who cover the Rangers throughout the season.

Smith skated in 48 games with the Rangers this season, registering five goals and five assists for 10 points, along with a plus-three rating and 73 penalty minutes. He established a career-high in penalties drawn (25) and tied his career-high in goals this season, and he leads NHL defensemen in penalties drawn in 2020-21. The Rangers posted a 25-19-4 record in the 48 games which Smith played this season. 

Ryan Strome also received votes from media members for the John Halligan Good Guy Award this season. Mika Zibanejad (2018-19) and Chris Kreider (2019-20) are current Rangers who previously received the award.

Rangers in the market for a veteran defenseman this offseason

The New York Rangers realize they have a young and talented group of players, the youngest in the NHL in fact. They also realize having an entire blue-line of kids may not be the fastest way to playoff success. Larry Brooks touched on this in a recent column, but Forever Blueshirts has learned that the plan is to indeed add a veteran defenseman to the top six.

How the Rangers go about adding this player isn’t yet decided, but I believe it will be the free agent route. And no, they aren’t going to bring in another Jack Johnson type. Matter of fact, if Zdeno Chara wants to play past this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make another run for him.

The Blueshirts may want to take a bigger swing in the UFA market for a blue-liner. This crop of free agents has some potential names that would drastically improve the defense and make them harder to play against. Someone maybe with Stanley Cup winning history.

Those players don’t come cheap. A player like Alec Martinez out in Vegas won’t sign for one year and under one million dollars, so Jeff Gorton needs to think this through.

Why not re-sign Brendan Smith

When Jacob Trouba went down, Brendan Smith stepped up. Since Trouba’s injury, Smith has scored two goals and tallied three points in five games. The 32 year-old lefty can play both sides of the ice without issue, and is a mentor to the younger guys. On the season, he’s tied with Adam Fox for the team lead with goals by a defender at five. He currently has 10 points in 43 contests. Simply put, he’s a solid player.

If you’ve been listening to the way David Quinn talks about him, you’d have to believe Jeff Gorton is strongly considering a contract extension. “It’s meant a lot and Smitty has meant a lot to us for a long time,” he said when asked about Smith’s leadership. “I thought it was his best game of the year (last night). He means so much to us on and off the ice. He’s a personality – he’s a leader.”

“It’s a fun group to play with,” Smith said after his big game. “I love playing for these guys…I really enjoy it because the level of effort people put forth – the dynamic of our team we have very young guys a couple of older guys and we’re all buying in.”

Sounds like a veteran that not only fits in but wants to stay. If the Rangers can’t find what they’re looking for it makes sense to give Smith consideration. Maybe it should just be him anyway.

Pre-Order this LIMITED EDITION Panarin collectible

Only a limited amount will be produced and here’s the best way to get it! Simply click the BUY NOW affiliate link and secure yours today!

BUY NOW!

Trade Deadline passes with no moves for Rangers

While the Rangers have played some great hockey going 9-4-3 in their last 16 games; they were not going to sacrifice youth or draft picks for rentals. That was made absolutely crystal clear to me on Saturday after speaking to a knowledgable source.

I also walked away from the conversation that they wouldn’t be trading away their only full time roster pending UFA in Brendan Smith. The veteran has done a great job of being a steady presence for young Libor Hajek on the the third defense pairing. Now with Zac Jones expected to come in, Smith can help the prized prospect settle in as well.

As far as the plan, the Rangers have been clear they won’t take any shortcuts. Their plans were made clear to me back in February. I’ve written about it several times already, but a well placed sources pointed me to the very fact all these prospects they’ve amassed won’t play here. Coupled with the tremendous amount of cap space they will have next season, a blockbuster trade becomes a real possibility.

There are plenty of other options for the Rangers to bring in a top center should Jack Eichel not be available. As I mentioned before, Evgeni Malkin could be a nice upgrade and not cost what Eichel would. Malkin has one more year left on his contract that comes with a $9.5 million AAV. There’s been plenty of talk about his future with the Penguins lately, and he could be had a reasonable price in the offseason.

When you look at other top centers that could be on the market due to cap issues, the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos is another. The 31 year-old has 3 years remaining on his deal with an $8.5 million AAV. This is a case where the package decreases the less Tampa’s willing to retain in salary.

Other options could be Aleksander Barkov, Evgeni Kuznetsov, and maybe Sidney Crosby.

Jeff Gorton: “We made a number of calls, took a number of calls, went through a number of scenarios, and it’s clear we have a plan in place. Nothing that came along was going to add to what we wanted to do and was something we felt was going to help us, short term or long term.”

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 12, 2021

Tony DeAngelo going to be bought out

Jeff Gorton was asked about Tony DeAngelo to which he said, “Yeah I’ve had some conversations with some teams about Tony, but nothing really every materialized, and nothing lately. So that will be a summer issue we’ll deal with.”

#NYR Jeff Gorton on if there was interest in Tony DeAngelo:

"Yeah I've had some conversations with some teams about Tony, but nothing really every materialized, and nothing lately. So that will be a summer issue we'll deal with."

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) April 12, 2021

There was some thought that a team may trade for DeAngelo in order to expose him and protect other players to Seattle. Earlier today Renaud Lavoie noted that DeAngelo would not be traded and will be bought out this summer.

New York will expose him to Seattle and then buy him out for a nominal amount. DeAngelo makes $4.5 million this season and next but would be a 1/3 buyout because he’s 25 years-old. That would only be a cap charge of $383,333 in 2021-22 and $833,333 in 2022-23.

Other notes:

• Gorton expects to call up Morgan Barron this season.
• Nils Lundqvist expected to sign ELC for next season.
• Won’t discuss Zac Jones until “he signs.

Jeff Gorton on Morgan Barron: “Morgan’s played extremely well, and we have four recalls, so we’d be hopeful to give him an opportunity, or anyone [in Hartford] who deserves it.”

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 12, 2021

The New York Rangers are not going to take any shortcuts. This has been repeated over and over by President John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton. While the Rangers have played some great hockey going 9-4-2 in their last 15 games; they will not sacrifice youth or draft picks for rentals. That was made absolutely crystal clear to me after doing some further digging on the Blueshirts approach to the deadline.

Rangers will approach NHL Trade Deadline looking for hockey deals

When it comes to how the Rangers are looking at this deadline, I was informed that if they make any deals at all it will be for a player that helps the team beyond just this season. That means looking to add a pending UFA is not in the cards. The Rangers won’t be trading any young roster players, prospects, or draft picks unless the deal is going to have ramifications into the future.

“I think we’re in a little bit of a different position this year is my guess. You just never know. Obviously, [general manager Jeff Gorton] and I talk quite a bit. But there are things that can happen unexpectedly. You just never know what can happen this time of year. I’m sure the players start talking about it a lot more over the next five, six days. Obviously, the Islanders make that big trade, so people start talking more about the trade deadline once one domino falls.”

David Quinn via NY POST

The sense I’m also getting is that trading away their only full time roster pending UFA in Brendan Smith is likely not in the cards. Currently, Smith has done a solid job of being a steady presence for young Libor Hajek on the the third defense pairing. With the Rangers fighting for a playoff spot they are not going to trade Smith for some late draft pick. While it would be nice to have as many picks as possible in what should be a very active offseason for trades; moving Smith for nothing sends a message to the team that the playoffs don’t mean much. That’s not the case here.

If you’ve been paying close enough attention and listening to the words MSG Analyst Steve Valiquette relays every broadcast, these games matter. The fight for the playoffs; whether they make it or not will have long lasting implications well beyond this season. For David Quinn and Rangers management this year is about developing the kids and establishing a winning culture. Right now, it’s working.

TSN still classifies the Rangers as “Neutral”

When you look at the NHL landscape, and that includes the reality of a flat cap to go along with the players rumored available, there just isn’t anything there for the Rangers. Unless of course Jack Eichel is made available and that doesn’t seem likely by tomorrow.

Frank Seravalli provided his latest update on the NHL Trade Deadline and to his famous TSN Trade Bait list. He lists the New York Rangers as a “neutral” deadline team along with the Arizona Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks.

When it comes to his latest trade list; Tony DeAngelo continues to be the last name listed every time it expands from 20, 25, 30, 35 and now 40. DeAngelo was debuted on March 1st at #3 overall.

Teams interested in Alexandar Georgiev

The Rangers 25 year-old net minder is having his struggles this season but that isn’t stopping some teams from checking in on his availability.

As some teams explore the goaltender market ahead of Monday’s 3pm ET trade deadline, some clubs are believed to have inquired about New York Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev. While a trade is not considered imminent at this stage, multiple sources have told TFP some teams have discussed Georgiev, at least internally, and others have poked around on his availability, something that occurred last off-season.

The Fourth Period

This is an interesting development as it was believed he would’ve been traded at the last deadline as a pending RFA. Instead the Blueshirts opted to buyout Henrik Lundqvist instead. NY has gotten good backup goaltending out of Keith Kinkaid this season when Igor Shesterkin went down with injury. He was the intended goalie to be exposed to Seattle at the expansion draft as Shesterkin is exempt.

After his most recent performance I believe the Rangers will retain Georgiev and expose Kinkaid as planned for this summer.

Moving Brendan Smith?

NBC has published a new article detailing one move every NHL team should make at the deadline. Here’s what they said for the Blueshirts:

NY Rangers: Trade Brendan Smith: The Rangers aren’t out of it for sure and don’t need to have a fire sale, but the best result is probably to add for the future. Brendan Smith might be their easiest player to move, especially to a team that loses out on Mattias Ekholm.

NBC

Brendan Smith has been a real strong contributor for the team and although there isn’t a lot of noise surrounding him at the deadline the Rangers need to move him. Good asset management suggest that getting a 4th or 5th round pick for a veteran pending UFA is the right move.

While Anthony Bitteto or Tarmo Reunanen could easily take his place the rest of the way, I believe the organization feels that would send the wrong message to the veterans on the team as they hunt for the playoffs.

Trade Colin Blackwell now or lose him to expansion?

The Blueshirts also have other intriguing dilemma in Colin Blackwell. The low-key offseason signing has surprised many with his 12 goals in 31 games this season. Larry Brooks’ latest column speculated what the Rangers would do if they got a call for him tomorrow.

You know what, if a contender comes after Blackwell and has a No. 3 in mind to exchange, as much as the Rangers probably wouldn’t want to do it, they’d have to, right? But our best information is that no such interest has been expressed. That does not mean it won’t be before Monday’s 3 p.m. deadline bell rings.

NY POST

Jeff Gorton knows no matter what he does he is going to lose good player to the Seattle Kraken. It’s better to keep Blackwell and continue to go for a playoff spot than traded him away for a mere mid to late round pick.

Tony DeAngelo continues to fall on the trade list

TSN’s latest trade bait board continues to drop DeAngelo to the bottom. Simply put there’s been next to no buzz out there on him. Some recent chatter about the Panthers, but that was more Larry Brooks and Dan Rosen wondering if he was a fit there.

Over at the Daily Goal Horn, I noted that the Hurricanes are in the market for a right-handed defenseman with David Savard as a top target. However; you have to wonder if they can’t land Savard would they take a risk and go for Rangers exiled defenseman Tony DeAngelo. If Carolina feels there’s a possibility they won’t be able to retain Dougie Hamilton before he becomes a UFA this summer it could be worth some consideration.

It really looks like DeAngelo is heading for exposure to Seattle and then a buyout.

Latest NHL Rumors and Predictions

Taylor Hall back in Edmonton? Ryan Getzlaf a Penguin? Read it all here.

Rangers will approach NHL Trade Deadline with an eye on today and tomorrow

When it comes to how the Rangers are looking at this deadline, I was informed that if they make any deals at all it will be for a player that helps the team beyond just this season. That means looking to add a pending UFA is not in the cards. The Rangers won’t be trading any young roster players, prospects, or draft picks unless the deal is going to have ramifications into the future.

The sense I’m also getting is that trading away their only full time roster pending UFA in Brendan Smith is likely not in the cards. Currently, Smith has done a solid job of being a steady presence for young Libor Hajek on the the third defense pairing. With the Rangers fighting for a playoff spot they are not going to trade Smith for some late draft pick. While it would be nice to have as many picks as possible in what should be a very active offseason for trades; moving Smith for nothing sends a message to the team that the playoffs don’t mean much. That’s not the case here.

If you’ve been paying close enough attention and listening to the words MSG Analyst Steve Valiquette relays every broadcast, these games matter. The fight for the playoffs; whether they make it or not will have long lasting implications well beyond this season. For David Quinn and Rangers management this year is about developing the kids and establishing a winning culture. Right now, it’s working.

Are there any deals out there that fit the criteria?

When you look at the NHL landscape, and that includes the reality of a flat cap to go along with the players rumored available, there just isn’t anything there for the Rangers.

“I think we’re in a little bit of a different position this year is my guess. You just never know. Obviously, [general manager Jeff Gorton] and I talk quite a bit. But there are things that can happen unexpectedly. You just never know what can happen this time of year. I’m sure the players start talking about it a lot more over the next five, six days. Obviously, the Islanders make that big trade, so people start talking more about the trade deadline once one domino falls.”

David Quinn via NY POST

The Rangers are looking for a specific need – another elite center to take them over the top into contention. The prospect pool on defense is deep so being a player for someone like Vince Dunn in St. Louis also doesn’t seem likely. However to emphasize coach Quinn’s own words, “you just never know what can happen this time of year.”

One player not really considered as a trade deadline candidate was Jack Eichel. He’s out of the lineup dealing with an injury. The prevailing thought was if dealt it would be in the offseason. Now let me take you back to something Elliotte Friedman noted just this week that could change that.

The person to watch is Kevyn Adams. He’s the juggler, going through multiple scenarios both big and small. There’s a big difference between “considering” and “doing,” but I think he’s considering almost everything. And I do believe he’s listening to Jack Eichel pitches. At the very least, Adams is getting the lay of the land.

31 Thoughts

There’s a number of teams said to be interested in Eichel. My current tally as of now has Boston, Calgary, New Jersey, and Chicago as landing spots. Of course, there is only one team that actually put an offer on the table for him. If the Sabres are entertaining trading Eichel now it’s safe to assume that offer is there again.

“The team with the best combination of the want and ability to do it is the Rangers, but is Buffalo going to be comfortable sending him there,” Friedman revealed on a Buffalo radio show. “Last year they talked – there was an offer on the table I don’t think it included the #1 pick and I’m sure Buffalo asked. There was an offer on the table I understand was pretty reasonable.”

This trade is just too big to happen by Monday in my estimation. Without a doubt it has a real possibility this coming offseason. Regardless, even if Eichel isn’t available there are a number of centers that could be. Big names from Evgeni Malkin, to possibly Evgeny Kuznetsov or Aleksander Barkov are rumored to be available this summer. That’s when the Rangers will be all in and ready to move their bountiful collection of young players and prospects for that final piece.

Latest NHL Rumors

Taylor Hall back in Edmonton? Read it here.

Here’s the most recent buzz regarding the team out there.

Teams interested in Alexandar Georgiev

The Rangers 25 year-old net minder is having his struggles this season but that isn’t stopping some teams from checking in on his availability.

As some teams explore the goaltender market ahead of Monday’s 3pm ET trade deadline, some clubs are believed to have inquired about New York Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev. While a trade is not considered imminent at this stage, multiple sources have told TFP some teams have discussed Georgiev, at least internally, and others have poked around on his availability, something that occurred last off-season.

The Fourth Period

This is an interesting development as it was believed he would’ve been traded at the last deadline as a pending RFA. Instead the Blueshirts opted to buyout Henrik Lundqvist instead. NY has gotten good backup goaltending out of Keith Kinkaid this season when Igor Shesterkin went down with injury. He was the intended goalie to be exposed to Seattle at the expansion draft as Shesterkin is exempt.

TSN still classifies the Rangers as “Neutral”

Frank Seravalli provided his latest update on the NHL Trade Deadline and to his famous TSN Trade Bait list. He lists the New York Rangers as a “neutral” deadline team along with the Arizona Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks.

When it comes to his latest trade list; Tony DeAngelo continues to be the last name listed every time it expands from 20, 25, 30, 35 and now 40. DeAngelo was debuted on March 1st at #3 overall.

NBC say Rangers should trade Brendan Smith

NBC has published a new article detailing one move every NHL team should make at the deadline. Here’s what they said for the Blueshirts:

NY Rangers: Trade Brendan Smith: The Rangers aren’t out of it for sure and don’t need to have a fire sale, but the best result is probably to add for the future. Brendan Smith might be their easiest player to move, especially to a team that loses out on Mattias Ekholm.

NBC

Brendan Smith has been a real strong contributor for the team and although there isn’t a lot of noise surrounding him at the deadline the Rangers need to move him. Good asset management suggest that getting a 4th or 5th round pick for a veteran pending UFA is the right move.

There’s a lot of bigger names on the trade market like Mattias Ekholm and David Savard, but it would be wise for Jeff Gorton to start calling up some teams and ask them if they be interested in Smith with 50% salary retention for a pick.

Anthony Bitteto or Tarmo Reunanen could easily take his place the rest of the way.

Tony DeAngelo continues to fall on the trade list

TSN’s latest trade bait board just expanded their list to 40 players and once again moved DeAngelo to the bottom. Simply put there’s been next to no buzz out there on him. Some recent chatter about the Panthers, but that was more Larry Brooks and Dan Rosen wondering if he was a fit there.

Over at the Daily Goal Horn, I noted that the Hurricanes are in the market for a right-handed defenseman with David Savard as a top target. However; you have to wonder if they can’t land Savard would they take a risk and go for Rangers exiled defenseman Tony DeAngelo. If Carolina feels there’s a possibility they won’t be able to retain Dougie Hamilton before he becomes a UFA this summer it could be worth some consideration.