The Hudson River rivalry between the Rangers and New Jersey Devils eventually evolved into a classic thanks to the classic thanks to the 1994 Eastern Conference Final, which was ultimately decided on Stephane Matteau’s double overtime goal in Game 7.

After moving from Colorado, the Devils won their first game against the Rangers 3-2 on Oct. 8, 1982 at the Meadowlands, when Merlin Malinowski scored the game-winner on a power play in the second period.

Along the way, the rivalries between the three local teams have produced countless notable moments and a few players who played at various points for each of the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

Related: John Vanbiesbrouck shares what makes Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault so special

These 11 played for Rangers, Islanders and Devils

Sergei Nemchinov, Rangers 1991-97; Islanders 1997-99; Devils, 1999-2002

Nemchinov is the only member of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning Rangers to play for all three area teams.

After a successful career in Russia, Nemchinov scored 30 goals in 1991-92 as a 27-year-old NHL rookie with the Rangers. That was the same season the Rangers signed Adam Graves, traded for Mark Messier, won the Presidents’ Trophy and let a 2-1 series lead slip away in a six-game second-round loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nemchinov memorably scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 5, 1991, which was Messier’s debut with the Rangers.

After scoring 23 goals in the Rangers’ disappointing 1992-93 season, Nemchinov scored 22 goals and notched 49 points to help them earn another President’s’ Trophy in 1993-94. He added two goals and five assists during the postseason and set up Glenn Anderson’s go-ahead goal in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vancouver Canucks.

Check Out: How to Watch the New Jersey Devils in 2024

Nemchinov’s production dipped to 17 goals in 1995-96 and six in 1996-97 before the Rangers traded him to Vancouver for forwards Russ Courtnall and Esa Tikkanen, who scored nine goals in the Rangers run to the Eastern Conference Final that spring.

The two-way center returned to the tri-state area when he signed a three-year contract with the Islanders before the 1997-98 season. Nemchinov played the better part of two seasons with the last-place Islanders before being traded to the Devils ahead of the 1999 deadline.

He played three full seasons with the Devils and scored 10 goals in 1999-2000 when they won the second of their three Stanley Cup championships. In the 2000 postseason, Nemchinov contributed three goals and set up a shorthanded goal by John Madden that gave the Devils the lead in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Nemchinov played 418 of his 761 games for the Rangers. He, Alexei Kovalev, Alexander Karpovtsev and Sergei Zubov were the first Russia-born players to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup. Like Zubov, who also won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars, Nemchinov retired a two-time champion in the NHL.

John Vanbiesbrouck, Rangers 1982-93; Islanders, 2000-01; Devils 2001-2002

Although Vanbiesbrouck made his NHL debut as a teenager in 1981 with the Rangers, the goalie did not fully establish himself as a starter until the 1984-85 season. He emerged as a star the following season when he won the Vezina Trophy as top goalie in the NHL and led the League with 31 wins. “Beezer” helped carry the Rangers to an unexpected run to the conference final that season before being bested by Patrick Roy and the Canadiens.

Vanbiesbrouck played nine full seasons with the Rangers, splitting the No. 1 duties with Mike Richter the final three. The Rangers traded Vanbiesbrouck to the Canucks ahead of the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the Florida Panthers. He’s currently fifth all-time in Rangers history with 200 wins and 449 games, and eighth with 16 shutouts.

WATCH: Exclusive 1-on-1 interview with John Vanbiesbrouck

The Panthers thrived with Vanbiesbrouck between the pipes. They made a thrilling run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1996 and a lost a memorable first-round playoff series to Richter and the Rangers in 1997.

Following a stop in Philadelphia with the Flyers, Vanbiesbrouck appeared in 44 games for the Islanders in 2000-01 and was traded to the Devils ahead of the deadline. After retiring in 2001, he came back for five games with the Devils in 2002 and formally ended his career.

Vanbiesbrouck is third among United States-born goalies with 374 career wins in the NHL. He trails only current Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick (393) and Ryan Miller (391).

Vladimir Malakhov, Islanders, 1992-95; Devils 1999-2000 & 2005-06; Rangers, 2000-04

Malakhov was among the first free-agent signings after the Rangers hired Glen Sather as general manger in 2000 but the move did not work out. A knee injury cut short the defenseman’s 2000-01 season after three games and though he had 28, 17, and 19 points the next three seasons, Malakhov’s production hardly matched his 52-point 1992-93 campaign as a rookie with the Islanders nor his 57-point campaign with them in 1993-94.

Malakhov wound up signing with the Rangers after helping the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 2000. He played 17 regular-season games and 23 in the postseason after the Devils acquired him from Montreal for Sheldon Souray in a pre-deadline trade.

When the Rangers began a rebuild by making numerous trades in 2004, Malakhov was sent to the Flyers and following the 2004-05 lockout, he signed with the Devils for a second stint. However, he only appeared in 29 games due to some controversial circumstances.

In Dec. 2005, Malakhov’s agent denied reports of the defenseman’s retirement and said it was a leave of absence. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello rejected the leave of absence and considered Malakhov to be retired.

Michael Grabner, Islanders 2010-15; Rangers, 2016-18; Devils 2018

Grabner’s association with the Rangers began in July 2016 when he signed a two-year, $3 million contract after establishing himself by collecting 89 goals and 143 points in 297 games for the Islanders and helping them win a postseason series in 2016 for the first time since 1993.

The speedy forward’s stint on Broadway coincided with the end of the Rangers’ run of 11 playoff appearances in 12 seasons. In his only full season with the Rangers, Grabner notched 27 goals in 76 games and four more in a playoff run that ended prematurely in the second round against the Ottawa Senators.

He scored 25 goals in his first 59 games of the 2017-18 season and was traded to the Devils after the infamous Letter was released announcing the Blueshirts complete rebuild. Grabner scored only two goals in 21 games with the Devils before spending his final two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes.

Related: Rangers complicated trade history with Devils

Mike Dunham, Devils 1996-98; Rangers, 2002-04; Islanders, 2007

When Richter was forced to retire in 2002 following a concussion, the Rangers acquired Dunham from the Nashville Predators in a package that cost them defenseman Marek Zidlicky and two others. By that point in his career, he was a seven-year NHL veteran, who played his first two seasons (41 games) with the Devils as Martin Brodeur’s backup..

Dunham was 19-17-5 with an excellent 2.29 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 2002-03, when the Rangers made a late failed run to try to snag a postseason spot. But his numbers fell off the following season.  After a 1.82 goals-against average in his first seven games in 2003-04, Dunham finished with a dismal 16-30-6 mark and a 3.03 GAA in 57 games.

Before Dunham’s career in the NHL, he split goaltending duties with Garth Snow at the University of Maine and on the 1994 U.S. Olympic Hockey team in Lillehammer. That relationship came in handy when Snow was GM of the Islanders and signed Dunham for the 2006-07 season.

In his final NHL season, Dunham played 19 games for the Islanders, posting a 3.74 GAA and .889 save percentage as Rick DiPietro’s backup.

Joel Bouchard, Devils, 2002; Rangers 2002-04,;Islanders 2006

You would be forgiven if you didn’t remember Bouchard’s two stints with the Rangers or his stints with the Devils and Islanders. With the Rangers, he scored five goals and finished with 12 points in 2002-03 before moving to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a late-season trade that brought Alex Kovalev back to Broadway. After being claimed in the preseason waiver draft by the Rangers the following season, he played another 28 games, this time with eight points (goal, seven assists).

Bouchard played one game in the 2001-02 season for the Devils and his final 25 in the NHL with the Islanders in 2005-06 to wind up a career that also had stops with the Calgary Flames, Predators, Dallas Stars, Coyotes and Penguins.

Kevin Weekes: Islanders 2000; Rangers, 2005-07; Devils, 2007-09

Before being known as a leading NHL TV analyst, Weekes played 11 NHL seasons for seven teams, including each of the three locals.

Weekes played two seasons with the Rangers and famously was the No. 1 goalie to begin the 2005-06 season, that is until Henrik Lundqvist took over the role. Weekes started three of the first four games that season but a knee injury opened the door for Lundqvist. The rest they say is history.

Instead of being the No. 1 goalie, Weekes served as a capable backup and mentor in the early days of Lundqvist’s career after signing as a free agent in Aug. 2004. He played 46 games over two seasons with the Blueshirts.

Six years before being Lundqvist’s backup, Weekes played 36 games for the Islanders in 1999-2000. They acquired him from the Canucks in deal for Felix Potvin during the season but traded him the next offseason to the Tampa Bay Lightning for three draft picks, including a first-rounder.

Weekes closed out his NHL career as Brodeur’s backup with the Devils for two seasons from 2007 to 2009.

Arron Asham, Islanders 2003-2007; Devils 2008; Rangers 2013-14

After 300 games with the Islanders and 77 more with the Devils, Asham eventually found his way to the Rangers following stops in the Metropolitan Division with the Flyers and Penguins.

Asham was at the end of his career when the forward signed a two-year deal in 2012 with the Rangers. Although his offense was limited on Broadway during that lockout-shortened first season, he scored the series-clinching goal in Game 7 of the first-round playoff series in 2013 to eliminate the Washington Capitals.

After his first season on Broadway, Asham appeared in six games in 2013-14 and later retired.

Pat Conacher, Rangers 1980-83; Devils 1986-92; Islanders 1996

Conacher entered the NHL after being a fourth-round pick in the 1979 draft by the Rangers. But the forward did not score in 22 games on Broadway before he signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers before the 1983-84 season, winning the only Stanley Cup championship of his career that season.

Conacher’s time away from the area was short as he returned to the Devils as a free agent the following season and his signing coincided with the Devils starting to improve. In their 1987-88 run to the Wales Conference Final, he appeared in 17 games. Overall he played 193 games for the Devils.

After contributing to the Kings run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, Conacher played the final 13 games of is career with the Islanders in 1996 after being acquired from the Calgary Flames.

P.A. Parenteau Rangers, 2009-10; Islanders 2010-12; Devils 2016-17

Parenteau’s time in the area is best known for his productive stint on Long Island, where he scored 38 goals in 161 games in the 2010-2011 and 2011-12 seasons with the Islanders. He scored 20 goals in 2010-11 and had 63 points the following season there.

In 2009-10, before signing with the Islanders, Parenteau had eight points (three goals, five assists) in 22 games with the Rangers.

After modestly productive stints with the Colorado Avalanche, Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, Parenteau was claimed off waivers by the Devils right before the 2016-17 season. With the Devils, he scored 13 goals in 59 games but when New Jersey fell out of contention, Parenteau was traded to the Nashville Predators.

Mike Mottau, Rangers 2000-02, Devils 2008-2010, Islanders, 2011-2012

Mottau was the Rangers’ seventh-round pick out of Boston College in 1997, but unlike fellow BC alum Chris Kreider, he was nowhere near as successful with the Rangers.

He had three assists in 19 games from 2000-02 with the Rangers. Although Motteau showed promise with Hartford in the American Hockey League, he was unable to replicate his success with the Rangers, who traded him to the Flames in 2003.

After bouncing around the AHL for a few years, Mottau resurfaced in 2007-08 with the Devils and wound up being a regular on their defense corps for three seasons. He scored seven goals and collected 43 assists in 235 games for the Devils through the 2009-10 season.

Motteau then played 42 games over the following two seasons with the Islanders before finishing up his NHL career with short stints with the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

Over the past four decades, these two franchises have given hockey fans some memorable moments in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs. Because of their animosity on the ice and proximity to one another, it wouldn’t surprise anyone that they do not conduct business together. Since 1982, the two franchises have conducted a single trade, in 2018. But before the Devils came into existence, the Rangers were more willing to work with the Rockies.

Related: Rangers brief history of trades with rival Islanders

Rangers have made 1 trade with Devils in 42 years

Here’s a breakdown of trades the Rangers have made with the Devils franchise since their inception in 1974.

Feb. 22, 2018: Rangers acquire Yegor Rykov and 2018 second-round pick for Michael Grabner

Michael Grabner came to the Rangers as a free agent in July 2016. Initially a Vancouver Canucks draft pick, the fleet forward played one season in Western Canada before finding a home with New York Islanders, where he played five seasons from 2010 to 2015, scoring an NHL career-high 34 goals in 2010-11.

After a disappointing nine-goal season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015-16, Grabner returned to New York — but this time with the Rangers. He played two seasons on Broadway, scoring 27 goals in 2016-17. He had 25 goals in 59 games the following season, but was traded away prior to the 2018 deadline as part of The Letter aftermath, when Rangers management announced a rebuild.

Grabner’s trade to the Devils was the first transaction between the franchises since the Rockies relocated to East Rutherford in 1982.

In exchange for Grabner, who finished the season with 27 goals for the second straight year, New York received Yegor Rykov, who never played in the NHL. However, the defenseman dressed with the Hartford Wolf Pack for 27 games in 2019-20, scoring 11 points. As of 2023-24, he’s still playing professionally in Russia in the KHL.

The Rangers packaged the second-round pick from the Devils to acquire the No. 22 overall pick in the first round from the Ottawa Senators. With that pick, the Rangers selected K’Andre Miller, who is currently a staple on their defense corps.

Rangers wheel and deal with Colorado Rockies

Before the Devils existed, the franchise played in Colorado and Kansas City. Although the Rangers made no deals with the Kansas City Scouts (1974 to 1976), they were busy making deals with the Rockies, conducting four trades within a calendar year, including one of the biggest in franchise history.

Nov. 1, 1978: Rangers acquire cash for rights to Don Awrey

Don Awrey was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Boston Bruins, winning in 1970 and 1972. The defenseman spent 10 seasons in Boston before trades sent him all over the League. First, he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues, then to the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins.

As a free agent in 1977, Awrey signed with the Rangers and dressed for 78 games, finishing with two goals and 10 points. On Nov. 1, 1978, the Rangers traded him to the Rockies for an undisclosed amount of cash. He finished his 16-year NHL career in Denver, playing 54 games and totaling five points.

May 12, 1979: Rangers acquire Dennis Owchar and Larry Skinner for future considerations (Bobby Sheehan)

Larry Skinner was a Rockies sixth-round pick (92nd overall) in 1976. He played 47 games for them from 1976 to 1980, tallying 10 goals and 22 points in the NHL. The forward mainly skated in the AHL for seven seasons, scoring 313 points in 285 games with seven minor league franchises. Skinner never played for New York and finished his career in France in 1988.

Dennis Owchar never played for the Rangers either, though the defenseman previously skated with the Penguins and Rockies. After the 1980-81 season, he left pro hockey and only returned for a single run in 1986-87 with the Thunder Bay Twins in the Ontario Hockey Association Sr. League. Owchar scored 30 goals and 115 points in six NHL seasons and 288 games.

The Rangers traded away Stanley Cup Playoffs hero Bobby Sheehan in the deal with Colorado. Sheehan never played a regular-season game for the Rangers, but was called up from the minors during the 1979 postseason and helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens. The speedy forward scored four goals and had seven points in 15 playoff games that spring, and then was traded away.

Sheehan played two seasons with the Rockies. He bounced between the NHL and World Hockey Association (WHA) in his 12-season career. In the NHL, he scored 48 goals and 111 points in 310 games and helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup in 1971. He had 185 points in 241 WHA games.

July 2, 1979: Rangers acquire Bill Lochead in exchange for rights to Hardy Åström

Bill Lochead was a former No. 9 overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1974 draft. The forward played five years and 296 games in the Motor City, netting 65 goals and 125 points before the Rockies claimed him on waivers in February 1979. A few months later, he was traded to the Rangers in exchange for the rights to goalie Hardy Åström. Lochead played only seven games with the Rangers before moving to Germany in 1980-81 to play the final seven years of his professional career.

Åström, who played only four games (2-2-0) with New York before the trade, relocated to Denver and played 79 games over the next two seasons, compiling a 15-42-13 record with a 3.77 GAA and .870 save percentage. Unable to continue his career in North America, he returned to Sweden to play in Elitserian, now the SHL.

Nov. 2, 1979: New York acquires Barry Beck for Lucien DeBlois, Pat Hickey, Mike McEwen, Dean Turner, and future considerations (Bob Crawford)

Barry Beck was the No. 2 overall pick by the Rockies in the 1978 NHL Draft and scored 108 points in 148 games with Colorado before this blockbuster trade sent him to the Big Apple. It was a controversial trade because the Rangers gave up three young players who had helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1979. And even though Beck had several big seasons with the Rangers, he was never fully embraced and didn’t quite live up to his hype because of injuries.

Over seven seasons with the Rangers, Beck scored 66 goals and had 239 points in 415 games. In 1981-82, he finished sixth in Hart Trophy voting as NHL MVP and twice was a top-10 candidate for the Norris Trophy as top NHL defenseman. He was Rangers captain from 1981 to 1986, before he was sidelined for three years with a shoulder issue.

His time on Broadway ended in a September 1989 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round draft pick.

In exchange for Beck, the Rangers gave up forward Lucien DeBlois, who had 62 points in 139 games with New York before winning the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1986. Shortly after toasting his championship, he returned as a free agent, collecting another 74 points in 187 games with the Rangers before leaving again in 1989.

Pat Hickey also played twice with the Rangers; the first stint lasted from 1975 to 1979, ending with the Beck trade. In 317 games, the forward scored 228 points, not missing a single game in his final three seasons. He skated in Colorado and Toronto before a trade brought him back to Broadway. During his second stint, he had 29 points in 53 games before finishing his career with stops in Quebec and St. Louis.

Mike McEwen began his career with the Rangers, scoring 40 goals and totaling 127 points in 226 games before moving to Denver. His stay in the West was short-lived, since the defenseman returned to New York to play with the Islanders, where he won three Stanley Cup titles in 1981, 1982, and 1983. After those championship years, he bounced around skating with the Kings, Washington Capitals, and Red Wings before returning for 16 games with the Rangers in 1985-86. McEwen finished his career with the Hartford Whalers.

Dean Turner played 35 games (one with the Rangers) and scored a single goal in the NHL. His best season came in 1979-80 when the defenseman appeared in 27 games. Still, after just four more games the following campaign, he signed a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres, who traded him to the Kings in 1982, when he played three games and departed the League, skating 66 games in the AHL before retiring.

Eventually, the Rangers sent Bob Crawford, who had the shortest NHL career out of any player involved in his trade, to Denver on Jan. 15, 1980, to finalize the deal. Initially signed as a free agent, he never played with New York and dressed for 15 games with the Rockies, scoring four points in 1980-81. As a free agent in 1982, he moved to the Red Wings, where he played one game before going to Europe to finish his pro career in 1992.

Let’s take a look.

Related: Top 10 games in Rangers vs. Islanders history

Top 10 players who played for both Rangers, Islanders

#10. Michael Grabner (432 games combined)

Michael Grabner came to the Islanders in October 2010 when they selected him off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Over five seasons, the speedy forward scored 90 goals and 144 points on Long Island before a trade sent him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015.

After a brief stint in Canada, Grabner became a free agent in 2016 and, on July 1, joined the Rangers. He had two productive seasons on Broadway, with 52 goals and 71 points in 135 games. Interestingly, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in February 2018 to complete the New York area NHL trifecta.

Check Out: How to Watch the New York Islanders Without Cable in 2024

#9. Brian Mullen (388 games)

Brian Mullen debuted with the Winnipeg Jets during the 1982-83 season and scored 20 or more goals in four of his first five seasons. At 25 years old, the forward was traded to the Rangers in June 1987, and in four seasons, the New York native scored 100 goals in 307 games, hitting the 20-goal mark three straight seasons.

In May 1991, Mullen was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he played one season before another trade brought him to the Islanders. He finished his NHL career on Long Island in 1992-93 after he registered 18 goals in 81 games.

#8. Ray Ferraro (381 games)

Ray Ferrero began his 1,258-game NHL career with the Hartford Whalers in 1984. Six seasons later, he was traded to the Islanders, where he spent five productive seasons. The center skated in 316 games and had 238 points with the Islanders, including an NHL career-best 80 points in 1991-92.

As a free agent in the summer of 1995, Ferrero agreed to a deal with the Rangers, switching jerseys for the third time in his career. However, his time with the Blueshirts was limited to just 65 games, where he registered 54 points, before a March 1996 trade sent him to the Los Angeles Kings.

Related: Rangers react to ‘heartbreaking’ Blake Wheeler injury ahead of Stadium Series

#7. John Vanbiesbrouck (493 games)

John Vanbiesbiebrouck was a Vezina Trophy winner as a 22-year-old with the Rangers in 1985-86. “Breezer” was the Rangers goalie for 11 seasons and he compiled a 200-177-47 record.

After leading the Florida Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final and also playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, Vanbiesbrouck came to the Islanders in June 2000. He made 44 appearances with them, earning a 10-25-5 record with a very young and bad team. Vanbiesbrouck didn’t finish the year on Long Island. The Islanders traded him to the Devils in March 2001, and he retired after the season.

#6. Sergei Nemchinov (559 games)

Sergei Nemchinov was a Rangers 12th-round draft pick who debuted during the 1991-92 season and won the Stanley Cup with them in 1994. Despite being productive during his six seasons wearing the Blueshirt, with 225 points in 418 games, the two-way center was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in March 1997.

"When we won the whole city was celebrating! It was unbelievable!"

Sergei Nemchinov shares memories and photos in his 1994 scrapbook.

On Friday night we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the #NYR Championship Team presented by @Chase! pic.twitter.com/Tw3p6sFKAw

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 5, 2019

Nemchinov returned to the New York area when the Islanders signed him as a free agent in June 1997. In 196 games with his second New York team, he scored 70 points in 196 games before moving on to New Jersey, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2000, becoming the only skater to win a title with the Rangers and Devils.

#5. Ryan Strome (493 games)

Ryan Strome was an Islanders prospect selected as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. During four seasons with the Islanders, the center had 126 points in 258 games before a trade sent him to the Edmonton Oilers in 2017. Over a year later, he was dealt back to New York, this time joining the Rangers in November 2018.

While skating with the Blueshirts, he had his most productive seasons, reaching the 20-goal plateau once and collecting a career-best 59 points in 2019-20. Strome would depart the Rangers in 2022 as a free agent, but 75.3 percent of his career points (321) have come while wearing an Islanders or Rangers uniform.

#4. Patrick Flatley (780 games)

Patrick Flatley played his entire NHL career with the Islanders and Rangers, spending 13 seasons on Long Island and 68 games on Broadway. Although the forward just missed the dynasty years, making his debut in 1983-84, he ended up being Islanders captain from 1991 to 1996.

Flaetley’s 328 assists rank eighth in Islanders history, and he is 14th with them in points (488). Even though his time with the Rangers wasn’t as memorable, with just 22 points in 66 games, Flatley will always be a member of a select group of players who dressed for both franchises.

#3. Don Maloney (744 games)

Don Maloney is another player who spent his entire career on the East Coast, joining the Rangers as a second-round draft pick in 1978. After 11 seasons in the Big Apple, where he scored 502 points in 653 games and helped the Rangers to the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, the forward was traded to the Whalers in December 1988.

The four-time 20-goal scorer only skated in Connecticut for 21 games before returning to the Empire State as a free agent in 1989, opting to sign with the Islanders. Over the final two seasons of his NHL career, he skated in 91 games with 48 points. Maloney went on to become Islanders general manager and was the assistant GM for the Rangers.

#2. Greg Gilbert (501 games)

Greg Gilbert began his NHL career with the Islanders in 1981, right in the middle of their dynasty, capturing two Stanley Cup titles in his first two seasons. After scoring 231 points in 425 games, Gilbert was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played five seasons before becoming a free agent in 1993.

Little did he know that when he agreed to a contract with the Blueshirts, he would become the only skater in NHL history to win a title with the Islanders and Rangers, helping end a 54-year championship drought on Broadway in 1994. In just one season with the Rangers, he collected 15 points in 76 games.

#1. Pat LaFontaine (597 games)

Pat LaFontaine played his entire Hall of Fame career in one state, never having to change his driver’s license. As another rookie who missed out on the Islanders’ dynasty, he debuted in 1983-84. The center was famous for ending the “Easter Epic” on April 18, 1987, with a Game 7 four-OT goal, sending the Islanders to the second round that season.

In one of the most significant transactions in franchise history, LaFontaine, a one-time 50-goal scorer and six-time 30-goal scorer, was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in October 1991. During the 1992-93 season, he collected an NHL career-best 148 points and almost won the scoring title. However, after that year, injuries, including concussions, derailed his career.

From 1993 to 1997, he played in only 127 games, which led to his trade to the Rangers in September 1997. The Hockey Hall of Famer scored 62 points in 67 games with the Rangers in 1997-98. Even though he left Long Island over 30 years ago, he remains the Islanders eighth-leading scorer with 566 points.

Coyotes will be buyers

The great website for trade rumors Spector’s Hockey writes that they believe the Arizona Coyotes will be buyers at the deadline. One player that could be on the move is Michael Grabner.

In a recent mailbag segment, Craig Morgan (ATHLETIC) was asked if the Arizona Coyotes might add some muscle at their defense and forward positions before the trade deadline. He felt that adding a “thumper with mobility for the third pair and a net-front guy for the power play would be nice additions.” Asked which players the Coyotes could move, Morgan cited Michael Grabner as a trade candidate. The winger hasn’t played much and is signed through 2020-21 with an affordable $3.35-million AAV. Vinnie Hinostroza could be another.

Spector’s Hockey

Kreider and Torts Reunion?

Larry Brooks yesterday wrote about a possible trade that would see Chris Kreider reunite with John Tortorella for Josh Anderson.

One of the scouts in the building Sunday was Rick Nash, who is special assistant to Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen. The Jackets could sure use Kreider on the left side of the first line. They could use him on the power play. They could use a reunion between Kreider and his first pro coach, John Tortorella. Let’s just say there’d be no adjustment period. And Columbus has more to offer than just the typical pick-and-prospect package. Indeed, the Jackets have Josh Anderson, the 25-year-old power winger who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since Dec. 14 and who is a pending RFA a year away from unrestricted free agency.

NY POST

While Josh Anderson is intriguing he really isn’t that impressive considering he’s never scored more than 47 points in a season. Plus he’s a right wing and the Rangers already have Kaapo Kakko, Pavel Buchnevich, Jesper Fast on that side with Vitali Kravtsov coming up. And has Brooks forgotten that Kreider and Torts had a tumultuous relationship and Kreider has a no trade clause. I just don’t see it.

Sellers Market?

Avs and Bruins were in on Coleman

Apparently before the Lightning acquired Coleman, both the Avalanche and Bruins were in on him. Those same teams are noted as top contenders for Chris Kreider also. Does that mean Kreider’s price is too high, or is he off the table? What about Tyler Toffoli who just notched a hat trick? Like I said before, an interesting week ahead.

The year 2015 wasn’t too long ago, but it seems like eons given how active Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has been in the trade market. From minor trades to major blockbusters, the Rangers have cycled through a plethora of players over the past several years.

While a select few still believe Gorton is not anything special, it is hard to find a Rangers fan who disapproves of all the work that Rangers GM has done of late.

Of course, Gorton’s activity spiked up when the Rangers announced a rebuild a year and a half ago, and that’s when things really started to get interesting. Let’s take a look at what I believe to be Gorton’s five greatest trades since taking over four years ago.

5. Trade for Yegor Rykov

At the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline, the Rangers traded forward Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Yegor Rykov and a second-round draft pick.

This trade was a good one for a variety of reasons. Rykov is an excellent young prospect who has a good chance of being in the Rangers lineup on opening night. He is a solid two-way defender who could easily have a lengthy career as a dependable top-six defenseman in the NHL.

Despite Rykov’s favorable scouting report, he is not what made this trade a good one in the end. The Rangers were able to use the second-round pick, along with another pick, to move up in the draft and select defenseman K’Andre Miller. Miller is one of the NHL’s top blue line prospects.

4. Rick Nash Trade

In 2018, the Rangers traded Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first-rounder, and a 2019 seventh-rounder.

This trade helped the Rangers a ton. First off, Lindgren is a solid defensive prospect who could compete in the Rangers system the next few seasons. I expect him to potentially be the Rangers’ seventh defenseman.

The first-round draft pick was used in conjunction with the second-rounder received from the Devils to move up and select Miller. That was the biggest part of that trade with Boston, as Miller is expected to be a Blueshirt for years to come.

And then Ryan Spooner was flipped to the Edmonton Oilers this past season in exchange for Ryan Strome. Spooner continued moving teams after that, while Strome put up solid bottom-six stats for New York. The trade that sent Nash to Boston worked well for the Rangers on a variety of levels.

3. Ryan McDonagh/JT Miller Trade

This was the biggest trade to immediately follow the Rangers rebuild announcement.

The Rangers traded captain Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Vladislav Namestnikov and Brett Howden, defenseman Libor Hajek, a 2018 first-rounder, and a 2019 second-rounder.

JT Miller did not work out for the Lightning, who shipped him off to the Vancouver Canucks this offseason. Namestnikov has been average in New York, but he’s not part of the excitement surrounding this trade.

The Rangers used the first-round pick to select defenseman Nils Lundkvist in the 2018 draft. Lundkvist, along with Miller, is expected to be a key piece of the Rangers defense over the next decade.

In addition, Libor Hajek is a promising prospect who will likely be competing with Rykov for a spot in the opening night lineup in October. He is a stay-at-home defender who pairs well with offensive defensemen.

Lastly, the Rangers also got Howden. A good, young centerman, Howden is an excellent play-maker who has second-line potential. He will likely fill the role of third or fourth-line center in years to come.

2. Acquiring Jacob Trouba

Just a few short weeks ago, the Rangers acquired star defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for defenseman Neal Pionk and a first-round draft pick.

This was highway robbery and one of Gorton’s best trades by far. Neal Pionk has some upside, but he clearly has a long way to go before he is a complete defenseman. I’m not saying the Jets don’t watch game tape, but maybe they took too many bathroom breaks while doing so. Pionk is going to really disappoint some people over there.

What’s even better about this trade is that the draft pick wasn’t even owned by Rangers. They had received it when they traded Kevin Hayes to the Jets. So the Rangers basically returned Winnipeg’s own draft pick and tacked on an average young player for one of the best young defensemen in the league.

1. Rangers Acquire Mika Zibanejad

You should’ve known this was coming. Jeff Gorton executed one of the most one-sided trades to occur in the NHL in recent years when he acquired Zibanejad and a second-round pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick.

Brassard went into decline in Ottawa. In the few years following this trade, he has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, then to the Florida Panthers, and then finally to the Colorado Avalanche. Brassard isn’t a bad player, but he is nowhere close to the player he was in New York.

Meanwhile, Zibanejad has become the Rangers first line centerman and has begun to develop into a potentially elite force in the NHL. Still only in his mid-20’s, Zibanejad is not even close to being fully developed. The Rangers won this trade by the widest margin imaginable, and it is paying off gloriously.

Side Note:

Many of you could be wondering how I didn’t include the trade that brought over Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in 2017. While this has the potential to be a great trade, it hasn’t show it yet. That pick was used on Lias Andersson, who is an excellent prospect. But he has not shown enough in my opinion to warrant the trade being a success. DeAngelo is a good player but likely won’t be a Ranger a few seasons down the line. The jury is still out on this one, in my opinion.

The trade deadline is less than three weeks away, and with players already being shipped off across the league, Mats Zuccarello is heating up at the perfect time.

Zuccarello, who is currently riding a nine-game point streak, has recorded 15 points over that span. Zuccarello has been a part of the Rangers’ red-hot top line, which is centered by Mika Zibanejad and has Chris Kreider on the opposite wing.

Zuccarello had some worried early on in the season, sitting out a handful of games with an injury and not providing any points while in the lineup playing through his issues. The fan favorite now seems to be an absolute goner before the February 25 deadline, for multiple reasons.

Aside from doing his part on the ice and producing for the Rangers, the strong need for many teams across the league for a veteran winger is at an all-time high. The Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins are two teams that seemingly are guaranteed a playoff spot this year and would pay up for Zuccarello.

Taking a look around the league at a trade that has just taken place, the New Jersey Devils got a return of a second-round pick from the Nashville Predators for veteran forward Brian Boyle. That trade took the surprise of many, as the 34-year-old has just 19 points through 47 games this season. Although the trade for Boyle seems to fill other areas of need rather than just point scoring – like penalty killing and bottom-six depth – a second-round pick is a high cost. So that raised the question, can the Rangers actually get a first-round pick for Mats Zuccarello?

In my eyes, there is no reason the Rangers can’t get a first-round pick, or, at a minimum, a second and a decent prospect for Zuccarello now that this trade has taken place. Zuccarello has more playoff experience than all of the players currently on the trade block, can come into a team as a top-six winger, and plays in all situations. Zuccarello simply checks off all of the boxes when teams consider trading for a rental winger. 

“Hayes and Zuccarello, I think it’s notable to note that today Brian Boyle went for a second-round pick from New Jersey to Nashville. He’s a depth player, but he’s sort of a high-end depth player. I think the New York Rangers believe if they can get a first-round pick and something for Kevin Hayes, that would be fantastic. If they can get a first-round pick or a top prospect – not both, but one of those – for Zuccarello, that would be great too.”

Bob McKenzie via Nichols on Hockey

Looking back at a few trades the Rangers made last year at the deadline, it seems clearer and clearer why the asking price for Zuccarello must be high. The Rangers traded Michael Grabner for a second-round pick and solid defensive prospect Yegor Rykov; a huge return for a rental winger who isn’t at Zuccarello’s caliber.

Another would be the Rick Nash trade. When Rick Nash was traded to the Boston Bruins, had had 28 points over 60 games, and was set to be a free agent come season’s end. Zuccarello currently stands at 30 points over 39 games this season and is also set to become a free agent. Now, I’m not saying the Rangers should only accept the haul they got for Rick Nash, but that is a comparison that Jeff Gorton needs to keep in the back of his mind. The Rangers got a first-round pick, defensive prospect Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner (since traded), and Matt Beleskey. 

There is going to be a bidding war for Mats Zuccarello, that’s for sure. After seeing the Rangers pull off some nice trades over the past year or so, and seeing the asking price for other players, I really do believe Mats Zuccarello can bring back a first-round pick. If that is the case, and Kevin Hayes is also shipped off, the Rangers can wake up on February 26 with an extremely hopeful future and a successful trade deadline. 

NHL free agency has arrived, and with that comes difficult multi-million dollar decisions. The New York Rangers face an abundance of players that will be put up for auction for the league to bid on. One of those players is fourth-year center, Kevin Hayes.

Hayes, who is coming off of a career high in goals and also faceoff winning percentage, is an RFA. For me, I believe he should be part of the rebuilding Rangers. But, if that doesn’t happen and Hayes is moved after July 1st, how will the Rangers replace him? Could younger players move up to take his spot? Will a new face emerge from free agency to take Hayes’ spot?

Familiar Faces

Hayes is a second–line center who also spent time as a winger. What this means is that under Zibanejad at 1C, the lines can be mixed and matched depending on the handedness of the center for the bottom-nine.

This team is in full rebuild mode and it is apparent by their activity since July 1 that all eyes aren’t on next season being “The Year.” Vladislav Namestnikov is returning for two years at $4 million AAV, and the signing of stay-at-home defenseman Fredrik Claesson shows the status of the team.

With Namestnikov returning, the absence of Hayes moves him back to his normal role of center. For all intents and purposes, Vlad was dynamite with Tampa Bay, playing alongside Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, but was a dud once he became a Blueshirt. 

Lias Andersson, Flip Chytil, and Vinni Lettieri could command the fourth line as the youth movement marches on to MSG.  

Best of the Rest

The Rangers could also look to dabble with their approximately $25 million of cap space on some older free agents. Losing Hayes opens a spot for the RW on the third or fourth lines. Zuccarello, Fast and possibly Ty Ronning would make up the entire right side of the Rangers forward core.

The wildfire of the first two days of free agency have come and gone and a plethora of potentials have gone to other teams in the league. Ryan Reaves and Michael Grabner were two names that grabbed a lot of traction but to no avail. Tobias Rieder and even Rick Nash was a possibility for the Blueshirts. But as I said they came and went and the Rangers stood idly by, and for good reason.

Hey Hey Hayes!

In all seriousness, I believe that Kevin Hayes should be involved in this upcoming rebuild. He has improved his scoring each season and seems to be improving as a valuable centerman. Varying between the wing and center is something that can’t be continued. Gaining back Namestnikov and pushing him back to his role as a center will make bringing back Hayes a lot easier. 

Nevertheless, Hayes staying as a center leaves Zibanejad, Hayes, Namestnikov, and Chytil as the four men down the middle. Zucc and Fast remain on the right wing from last year’s team, with a possibility of Ty Ronning and Vinni Lettieri emerging out of training camp. The left side is considerably set with Kreider, Buchnevich, and Andersson filling three of the four lines.

Jimmy Vesey is another question mark as he too is an RFA. Vesey’s performance in his first two seasons of professional hockey has been a bit on the lackluster side. He held a Corsi for of around 45% in both years and was on the ice for a considerable amount of goals against with a plus/minus of -31. Again, the Rangers have a lot of cap space this offseason, so being able to bring back Vesey is entirely possible on a short-term deal like two-years and $1.5 million AAV.  

It will come at a price, however, with former Ranger JT Miller signing an impressive 5x$5.25 million deal with Tampa Bay. Miller shined in his final 19 games with the Lightning, scoring eight goals and contributing on ten others. In comparison to Miller, Hayes performed less, except for scoring the puck. I would value Hayes at five-years, $4.75 million AAV, and for that, he may sign. 

Whether or not Hayes is a Ranger or not come October is impossible to predict. This is the hardest decision the Rangers must make in terms of all free-agent signings this offseason.

Throughout the course of the Rangers rebuild, General Manager Jeff Gorton and his crew have made it a point to load up on defensemen in the hope of creating a potentially rock-solid unit. The Rangers acquired multiple exciting prospects from their trade deadline sale, in addition to over the course of the past year.

Of all the prospects in the system, there’s a set few who will not make the team. Nils Lundkvist, who the Rangers selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, will likely be returning to Sweden to continue his growth. He will not be part of the Rangers defensive corps going into October. Six picks prior to Lundkvist, the Rangers selected K’Andre Miller. Miller is an extremely intriguing prospect for the Rangers and has the potential to be a top-four defenseman. But with that said, he has already committed to play next year for the University of Wisconsin. Rangers fans will have to wait because he’s not joining the team just yet.

Acquired from the Devils in exchange for Michael Grabner, next on the list is Yegor Rykov. Rykov is a talented player who may compete for a spot at some point, but with the number of prospects higher on the list, it’s reasonable to conclude that he most likely won’t make the opening night roster. Lastly, acquired from Boston around the trade deadline was Rob O’Gara. O’Gara is a big-bodied defenseman who plays a lock-down style. But given the amount of talent in the Rangers system, he will probably get booted out of the mix. He saw a fair amount of playing time last year when Kevin Shattenkirk and Steven Kampfer were injured, but the other young guys have a step on him.

Neal Pionk

Neal Pionk was one of the top performers for the Rangers during their epic collapse in the second half of the season. He was called into action following the trade deadline and performed well above expectations. Despite not being known for his offense, he put up 14 points in 28 games played. At that rate, he would’ve notched 41 points over 82 games, impressive numbers for such an inexperienced prospect. Pionk making the opening night roster, barring any injuries, is just about set in stone.

John Gilmour

Gilmour was another young defenseman who arrived with Pionk to fill the newly punched holes in the Rangers defense. Gilmour is a gifted skater who can overpower just about anyone with his speed. He didn’t produce offensively like Pionk but was very quick to enter offensive plays and create scoring opportunities. He made some solid defensive plays throughout the spring, but there were multiple indications that he needs to work a little more on that side of his game. A seventh-round pick by the Flames in 2013, the question is how high his ceiling is; and that could be what pushes him out of the starting lineup.

Tony DeAngelo

DeAngelo was brought over from Arizona, along with the pick that eventually landed Lias Andersson, in exchange for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta. He has had behavior issues in the past but is a tremendous skater with a high level of offensive ability. He showed flashes of his skating and offensive prowess last season but didn’t break out. DeAngelo has a chance to be a great offensive-defenseman, which could land him on the opening night roster.

Libor Hajek

Libor Hajek is one of the most exciting of the Rangers defensive prospects. He was one of the main pieces to come over from Tampa at the trade deadline. He is an extremely solid two-way defender with potentially the most upside out of any defensemen in the system. Once he acclimates to the NHL, he will be a top-four defenseman and maybe even see time on a top pairing.

Ryan Lindgren

Lastly, we have Ryan Lindgren, who the Rangers acquired from Boston in exchange for Rick Nash. Lindgren has very high upside and was a top performer in the NCAA. He has a tremendous amount of determination to make the team, but he may not be ready for the pros just yet. Lindgren will have to put up quite the fight to make it to opening night, but he has the ability.

Frederik Claesson

Claesson was just signed on Sunday at the start of the free agency period. Claesson was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and was a solid piece of their defensive corps. At only 25, he still has some developing to undergo, but he is a great young defenseman to play alongside the Rangers inexperienced group. He has a very good chance of making the opening night lineup.

Prediction:

Here are the latest rumblings around Rangerstown.

Vladislav Namestnikov

The Rangers didn’t make a lot of noise on the first day of NHL free agency, but they did re-sign C/W Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year deal.

The Rangers are hoping that Namestnikov can regain the level of play he had while in Tampa. Granted that he was playing on the same line as Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, but he does have the talent to last in the NHL.

Fredrik Claesson

The Rangers made one UFA acquisition yesterday, signing former Senators defenseman Fredrik Claesson to a one-year deal. Claesson is a stay at home blue-liner that saw time playing alongside all-star defenseman Erik Karlsson.

This is a low-risk move by Gorton with the Rangers blue-line uncertain coming into training camp. Aside from Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, and Marc Staal, the opening night defense corps is up in the air. Will Neal Pionk, Tony DeAngelo, or John Gilmour be able to extend their stay on Broadway? Will Brendan Smith have a good camp and get back to MSG? Time will tell, but bringing Claesson aboard gives the Rangers another NHL-level defenseman.

Rangers Alumni On The Move

There was plenty of action yesterday involving former Rangers heading to a new club for the 2018-19 season.

Michael Grabner, who the Rangers traded to the Devils at the deadline, signed a three-year contract with the Coyotes. Former Rangers teammate, and now current teammate, Derek Stepan welcomed Grabner in the most hockey way possible; by chirping him.

https://twitter.com/DerekStepan21/status/1013510871409184768

Former Rangers blue-liner John Moore signed a five-year contract with the Boston Bruins. A mobile defenseman, Moore will give the Bruins another great skating defenseman who knows how and when to jump into the play.

Adam Clendening, who spent 31 games on the ice for the Blueshirts, was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Clendening’s roster spot won’t be guaranteed for John Tortorella’s club, but he could crack the opening night lineup as the team’s sixth defenseman.

Paul Carey was signed by the Senators after spending last season with the Rangers. Carey was a solid fourth-liner last-year and will bring hard work and consistency to Ottawa, even if they thought he was a defenseman.

The Penguins are bringing back Matt Cullen who, once upon a time, spent a season with the Rangers.

Aside from signing John Tavares, the Maple Leafs signed two former Rangers in Josh Jooris and Adam Cracknell. Neither player spent much time with the Blueshirts, but as they say: “once a Ranger, always a Ranger.”

Finally, the Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Nick Holden to a two-year deal. Holden started off well with the Rangers back in 2016, but his play declined significantly and he became an asset that needed to be moved. Vegas also brought back Brandon Pirri on a one-year deal.

In non-NHL signings, David Desharnais has signed with KHL club Lokomotiv. There had been rumors that Desharnais was heading over to the KHL when the Rangers season ended, and now it is official.

Rumor season is in full swing as teams start to talk to free agents and inquire about trades. For weeks now, it has been rumored that Kevin Hayes may end up being on the move with the Rangers having an excess of centers. But with that has come the rumblings that perhaps Mika Zibanejad would be a better piece to trade away. Despite their respective production over the course of the past few years, the Rangers must be extremely careful not to trade away their most valuable forward. That would be Mika Zibanejad.

From a numbers standpoint, Mika Zibanejad edges out Kevin Hayes. He has 235 points in 409 games played. Using that proportion, we can calculate that Hayes would need to have 178 points in his 310 games played to remain on track with Zibanejad. He has 174.

But even more telling when taking into account their numbers is that Hayes is older and was drafted a year before Zibanejad, yet has played over a full season less than him. That also includes the multiple long periods of time in which Zibanejad has been injured. Furthermore, Mika Zibanejad has been the most important piece of the Rangers powerplay, a job often undertaken by a team’s first-line center. Hayes has had the opportunity to play on the powerplay but wasn’t as dominant as Zibanejad. He has only notched 26 career powerplay points, compared with Zibanejad’s 70. And sure, one may believe that this is only a result of Hayes’ lack of man-advantage time-on-ice. This is absolutely the case, but at the same time, it is because of the lackluster play that has prevented him from receiving said powerplay opportunities.

The biggest issue that has plagued Hayes throughout his career, and puts him second to Zibanejad in my eyes, is his severe lack of consistency. Zibanejad has experienced some periods of inconsistency but never on the same level as Hayes. Let’s take a look at Hayes 2017-18 season.

As we can see, Hayes only came on strong at the very end of the season when the Rangers were already down and out. Had his .75 points per game during that stretch, but had he been consistent throughout the whole season, it would’ve given him his career high in points. But his wildly inconsistent play once again reared its ugly head, as he managed a mere 20 points over half a season of play. At that rate, he would’ve only notched 37 points over the entire season. Hardly the numbers of a first-line center. On the contrary, not only was Zibanejad more consistent than Hayes, but he managed to score three more points in four fewer games played. That puts Hayes at .57 points per game, compared to Zibanejad’s .65 points per game. 

And this is all from just last season. The season prior, in which Zibanejad broke his leg, he notched 37 points in 56 games. Had he been healthy the whole year, he would’ve been on pace for 54 points, which would’ve eclipsed his previous career high of 51 points. Kevin Hayes has never scored over 50 points.

But, as always, numbers aren’t everything. The differences in style of play between the two centermen are huge. Zibanejad uses a speedy finesse style to carry the puck and set up in the offensive zone, whereas Hayes is more of a puck mover and power forward. That’s not to say that Hayes isn’t fast, but nowhere near as speedy as Zibanejad. With that in mind, Zibanejad’s style of play is much more suited for the modern NHL. We’ve seen over the past decade that the league has transformed into more of a speed and quickness based style of play. Teams place more emphasis on pure skaters who can move with the puck and open up the offense. And when you open up the ice, you become a more efficient passer. Take a look at this pass.

Now we’ll take a look at the trade market. Zibanejad has more trade value than Hayes for several reasons. For one, he is younger with more experience and is still developing as a player. Kevin Hayes has shown little signs of further development and seems to be nearing his ceiling. So, then why don’t we trade Zibanejad you may ask? Because he is better, hence the reason he has a higher trade value! But the Rangers NEED Zibanejad because of that skill. A prime suitor for Kevin Hayes would be the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jackets have a surplus of third-line and low-level second-line centers. They lack a playmaking center who can put up more than 40 points, and that is where Hayes comes in. The Rangers, who have been rumored to be interested in Artemi Panarin, can package Hayes and a couple of picks/prospects to bring Panarin to the Big Apple. It may not be a good idea to send away some of the prospects we’ve been accruing, but it’s a strong possibility. The Jackets have a much more dispersed point distribution, which would allow Hayes to come in and still make a difference.

But that kind of point distribution is something that the Rangers lack. Therefore, if Jeff Gorton were to trade away one of his greatest offensive weapons in Zibanejad, the offense would suffer a major collapse. The Rangers in the past have managed to survive without Zibanejad, but one must remember that they still had JT Miller, Rick Nash, and Michael Grabner among others.

With such a young team and many centers in the ranks, Zibanejad is the perfect player to have around. He is young but experienced, knows how to be a first-line center, and most of all knows how to be a lethal presence on the ice. These attributes, along with his leadership can be instrumental in helping to develop some of the Rangers of the future.

The case for trading Hayes makes much more sense. Zibanejad has been more effective and is still rapidly developing as a player. He opens up the ice, weaponizes the powerplay, and plays with intensity and finesse. These are all traits crucial to succeeding in the new NHL; and with so many young center prospects, it is clear that we have a surplus. Hayes is a second-line center. Nothing less, nothing more. If we expect Filip Chytil, Lias Andersson, and perhaps even Brett Howden to rise in the ranks, then we must take advantage of our opportunities. Trade Hayes, and keep developing Zibanejad’s first-line skill set.  

Editor’s Note: In November, Michael Kaplan wrote an article arguing that Kevin Hayes is the team’s first-line center. To read the piece, click here.