As we continue to look at the Expansion Draft and how it impacts the New York Rangers, one important part to recognize is the Rangers’ abundance of forwards. Someone will have to be moved before the Draft, and due to additional context, that someone will likely be Rick Nash or Derek Stepan. Let’s examine why.
Rick Nash and Derek Stepan have scored the most goals of any New York Rangers since 2010. Come June, expect one of them to be off New York’s roster.
There are many factors that will come into play for the Rangers when it comes to Nash and Stepan, but two stick out the most. Restricted Free Agents and the Expansion Draft.
Related Story: Read: J.T. Miller Makes Derek Stepan Expendable
Restricted Free Agents-
Mika Zibanejad is due for a new contract this off-season. While the Rangers can sign him to a one year bridge contract, that would be an incredibly misguided decision. New York must lock up their new centerman for the long term, and they must have the financial ability to do so.
Additionally, Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller will require new contracts in the near future. Hayes, Miller, and Zibanejad are the future of the Rangers’ offense, while Nash and Stepan are the present and past.
Let’s not under-appreciate what Nash and Stepan bring to the table. The two are reliable two-way players that consistently put up first line numbers. Stepan has been a star in the playoffs, and is a sentimental favorite due to coming up in New York’s system.
Yet the Rangers must understand that youth comes first, and losing a sub-25 year old like Hayes, Miller, or Zibanejad hurts much more than losing a player on the wrong side of 25. Especially when the youth is nearing the talent level of the pair of veterans.
New York Rangers
Expansion Draft-
As we have covered before, the Rangers will be forced to leave one of Michael Grabner, Hayes, Chris Kreider, Miller, Stepan, Zibanejad, or Mats Zuccarello unprotected in the Expansion Draft.
Rick Nash must be protected, but he can be traded before the Draft.
Michael Grabner’s fantastic season has only added to the likelihood one of Nash or Stepan are due to be moved out of the organization.
Losing Grabner for nothing would be foolish, and protecting Grabner would allow the Rangers to keep scoring depth at a low cost.
New York cannot afford to lose Kreider or Zuccarello due to their talent and team-friendly contracts.
That leaves New York with letting Grabner go for nothing, or trading one of Hayes, Miller, Nash, Stepan, or Zibanejad.
Considering the money the Rangers need to spread around for the present and future (Ryan McDonagh’s contract will expire soon as well) it would be wise for the Rangers to move a big money contract. Nash and Stepan are playing under those contracts.
Finally, the Rangers need a defenseman. Plenty of teams have too many defensemen for their own liking. Rather than losing one of those defensemen for nothing, teams will be open to make a defenseman for a forward swap. Again, here’s where Nash and Stepan come in.
The ideal course of action for the Rangers includes moving Nash or Stepan for a defenseman, protecting the rest of the mentioned forwards, buying out Dan Girardi, and voila. The protecting is done.
Next: New York Rangers Definitive Deadline Plan
With that, the unfortunate truth is that one of Rick Nash or Derek Stepan is playing their final games as a New York Ranger. Be it at the Trade Deadline or the Expansion Draft, New York will have to make a sacrifice for the greater good of the organization.