On the New York Rangers …
Justin Tasch: Rangers GM Jeff Gorton needs to decide whether to take another serious run at the Cup, or do they hold on to their first round pick and top end assets, look to make depth deal or to stand pat?
It may be tempting for them to look to acquire right-handed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, someone they could definitely use. If the Blues would want one of their young forwards or defenseman Brady Skjei, then Gorton shouldn’t make the deal. Especially if the Rangers would have to include their first round pick.
There is also no guarantee that they could re-sign him. There is some talk that they might be able to get him to take a bit of discount, but that isn’t always the case.
The Rangers could look for help on the blueline somewhere else, then see if they can sign him this offseason. Would retain more assets this way.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie was on NBCSN talking about Kevin Shattenkirk and Patrik Berglund and if they’ll remain with the St. Louis Blues past the trade deadline.
“So I think it’s more likely than less likely that Shattenkirk will be dealt at the deadline. It really depends on the prices. But I’ve got to believe that somebody is going to ante up something that Doug Armstrong is going to look at and say, ‘Yeah, that makes sense to help us in the rebuilding of this team and the reloading of this team down the future.’
“So yeah, I would put Shattenkirk in that category of more likely to be traded. Maybe Patrik Bergund, who’s in a similar situation as another rental, they might hold onto because they feel like they need him more because they don’t have the same depth at that position as they do at the blueline.”