New York Rangers Thoughts: Klein, Shattenkirk and More…

There is still one major change the New York Rangers need to make before they are definite cup contenders again, and that is acquiring a steady puck moving defenseman.

It took New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton a while to make a lineup shaking trade, but it finally happened when the trigger was pulled to bring 23-year-old old Mika Zibanejad and a 2nd round pick to New York.

In the deal, the New York Rangers lose a fan favorite and a big game, playoff performer in Derick Brassard, but those two aspects are really the only two losses I can find in the deal. The Rangers got a player who is about 5 and half years younger (Brassard at age 28), saved some cap space, were able to acquire a 2nd round draft choice in 2018 and acquired an experienced penalty killer. This is a trade i wish the Rangers would make more often than they do. It’s a win for the Rangers in many areas including a trade for the present and the future.

Unlike in the past, the Rangers now have plenty of cap space to work with, which may suggest another move is around the corner. If not, then this is a rebuilding year for the Rangers, whether Gorton wants to believe it or not.

Which then leads to the next best tradeable piece the Rangers have: Kevin Klein. Like Brassard and his 14.8 percent shooting percentage , Klein and his even more ridiculous 12.4 percent shooting percentage as a defenseman over his past 134 games. It is unsustainable and quite laughable. In fact, no other NHL defensemen playing a minimum of 100 games has shot higher than 9.5 percent, Klein’s shooting is not continuing for much longer.

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However Don’t get me wrong, Klein came off one of his best seasons of his career, his trade value right now will never be higher then what it is now. Of course, the preference is to trade one of the wonder twins (Marc Staal or Dan Girardi) to upgrade the blue line, but the Rangers may have no choice but to seek an upgrade there, for now.

As of right now, it’s unclear how high Klein’s trade value is at 31 years old, but could the Rangers fool a team into thinking Klein is a steady top 4 defensemen like his numbers suggested last year? Now would be the time and the name that comes to mind to replace Klein is Kevin Shattenkirk, who would be an enormous upgrade over Klein. Shattenkirk is an elite puck moving defensemen, that would be the ideal replacement after losing Keith Yandle. It’s rumored that after Zibenejad was acquired, the Rangers have kicked the tires on Shattenkirk.

It’s believed that the Rangers may be the only suitors Shattenkirk will be willing to talk an extension with. Elliotte Freidman of Sportsnet reported that Shattenkirk would not agree to sign an extension with the Oilers who may have had a deal in place after the 2016 NHL entry draft . It’s pretty clear that several sources have indicated that Shattenkirk wants to play for the Rangers. If this is the case then the Rangers have some leverage and could get Shattenkirk for less than his actual value.

Understandably the St Louis Blues have every right to ask for the maximum value on Shattenkirk, but Blues general manager, Doug Armstrong may have his hands tied. Armstrong may have to accept a deal he doesn’t 100% love but can live with. I suppose as well, the longer Armstrong waits, the less value he gets for Shattenkirk. Though Shattenkirk may not sign an extension from anyone but the Rangers, there’s always the trade deadline. Assuming Shattenkirk is still in St Louis by then why trade him? When keeping him may be the best chance at attempting another cup run. The trade deadline will be hard to predict, but many teams are usually willing to overextend during that period. I mean look at the return Kris Russell fetched at last year’s trade deadline, but selling at the deadline when there’s another chance to compete for the Stanley cup is tough for gm’s to pass up.

Though Shattenkirk may not sign an extension from anyone but the Rangers, there’s always the trade deadline. Assuming Shattenkirk is still in St Louis by then why trade him? When keeping him may be the best chance at attempting another cup run. The trade deadline will be hard to predict, but many teams are usually willing to overextend during that period. I mean look at the return Kris Russell fetched at last year’s trade deadline, but selling at the deadline when there’s another chance to compete for the Stanley cup is tough for gm’s to pass up.

Trading Shattenkirk before the regular season starts would give the Blues time to access their team and figure out where they stand after they play a handful of regular season games. So what would it take for the Rangers to pry Shattenkirk off St Louis’s hands? It’s certainly going to take more than just 31-year-old Klein, so perhaps the Rangers add a goaltending prospect to the deal, where they have surpluses in that department. The names that sick for the Rangers are top goaltending prospects Igor Shestyorkin and Brandon Halverson. The Blues, who dealt Brian Eliot at the draft are now left with 25-year-old Jake Allen who has shown inconsistent play at times. Allen still has room to grow as he is coming off a 47 game season, a .920 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. At the NHL level, Allen came off his best season, but now he will be asked to carry the majority of starts along with a starting job. Halverson could be a good insurance plan for the Blues if Allen isn’t able to impress them.

The Blues, who dealt Brian Eliot at the draft are now left with 25-year-old Jake Allen who has shown inconsistent play at times. Allen still has room to grow as he is coming off a 47 game season, a .920 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. At the NHL level, Allen came off his best season, but now he will be asked to carry the majority of starts along with a starting job. Halverson could be a good insurance plan for the Blues if Allen isn’t able to impress them.

The issue with packaging Shestyorkin for the Rangers is he has a whole lot of upside and has performed at a high level pretty much everywhere he has played. Shestyorkin is just as good if not better than New York Islanders goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin. Both Shestyorkin and Sorokin are currently under contract in the KHL, the only difference is Shestyorkin is not a guaranteed starting goaltender in Saint Petersberg due to higher competition. The only risk with Shestyorkin is the “Russian factor” and the fear that they choose to stay in the KHL and not transition to North America, nothing about this for Shestyorkin is clear.

Trading Halverson makes more sense for the Rangers, who will probably spend the season in the AHL next year. But even adding Klein to the deal along with Halverson, it still isn’t a deal breaker, and yet another first round pick may have to go out the door. Jeff Gorton is looking to retool the Rangers and get them back into contention immediately, so he might force his hand with Shattenkirk. In all likelihood, the Rangers can sign Shattenkirk as a free agent next year and give up nothing, but i don’t think Gorton wants to give up on the season next year even though that may be the best case scenario for the future of his team.

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Does Shattenkirk get the Rangers back in contention if that’s the case? As it stands the Rangers are a mediocre team at best with an elite goaltender, a 1-year rebuild may be the route to go. But will Jeff Gorton pull the trigger on Shattenkirk? Or try his luck with the roster he has that is awfully similar to the atrocity that occurred during the 2015-2016 season?