In recent weeks, the New York Rangers have frequently surfaced in the NHL trade-rumor mill.
Though they’re holding the last wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference, the Rangers (53 points) enter this week with just four victories in their last ten games.
Over the weekend, the Philadelphia Flyers moved one point ahead of the Rangers. The Pittsburgh Penguins (53 points), New York Islanders (53 points), and the Carolina Hurricanes (50) are close behind.
The Rangers position appears precarious. That’s generating speculation over potential moves by general manager Jeff Gorton leading up to the Feb. 26 trade deadline.
Until recently, most of the media trade chatter centered on Rick Nash, who’s due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Some pundits, such as the New York Post‘s Larry Brooks, believe Gorton should test the trade market to determine the 33-year-old winger’s value.
On Jan. 13, however, the Rangers’ rumor mill shifted into high gear. Following their humiliating 7-2 loss to the arch-rival New York Islanders, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman speculated they could be willing to entertain offers. Not just for pending UFAs such as Nash, but also perhaps core veterans such as defenseman Ryan McDonagh and winger Mats Zuccarello.
Friedman added there’s no guarantee those key players could be dealt. Still, the notion of the Rangers moving McDonagh or Zuccarello provided some buzz to the rumor mill.
As with most trade speculation, however, it’s worthwhile to slow down, take a breath and examine all the factors.
The Rangers could listen to offers for some of their noteworthy veterans. However, that depends upon where they are in the standings in a month’s time as the trade deadline approaches.
Should the Rangers tumble in the standings, Gorton could become a seller. Nash and fellow UFAs such as Michael Grabner, David Desharnais, and Nick Holden could hit the trade block.
Gorton could also be tempted by offers for McDonagh and Zuccarello, who are due to become UFAs on July 1, 2019. However, the best time to move them could be late-June, preferably around the NHL draft weekend.
While those two would attract attention from rival clubs leading up to the trade deadline, many interested parties will be hampered by salary-cap constraints. That means fewer potential trade partners and potentially limited returns.
In June, however, the salary cap could rise from the current ceiling of $75 million to around $80 million. As a result, there will be more teams at the draft weekend flush with extra cap dollars, perhaps willing to entertain deals for notable players such as McDonagh and Zuccarello.
However, if the Rangers retain their hold a playoff spot or at least remain in contention, Gorton won’t be selling. Indeed, he could become a buyer in hopes of landing an affordable rental player who can boost his club’s performance.
In that scenario, Gorton could pursue short-term replacements for winger Chris Kreider or defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Kreider recently underwent rib surgery related to blood clots and could be out for the season. Shattenkirk, meanwhile, will miss several weeks recovering from knee surgery.
It can be argued that Gorton should consider retooling his roster even if they’re still jockeying for a wild-card position. After all, why retain players who are within a year from UFA status when the club faces long odds reaching the Stanley Cup this season? Best to move them now for assets that can benefit the Rangers in the long term.
Sounds good in theory, but in reality, it’s not an easy decision.
In today’s NHL where parity is king, even a wild-card team has a shot at a lengthy playoff run. Last season’s Nashville Predators are a notable example. The opportunity to rake in playoff revenue can be too enticing to pass up.
Sure, that creates the risk of losing most of their pending UFAs to free agency for nothing in July. But if those players are dealt at the deadline, they’ll likely fetch at most second- and third-round draft picks. Those type of returns won’t help the Rangers’ current playoff hopes.
As long as the Rangers have a shot at the postseason, they’re more likely to be buyers by Feb. 26.