The NHL Trade Deadline passed, and the New York Rangers made only one significant move. Still, New York also made a couple of minor moves worth nothing. Let’s break down each move made by the Rangers.
The New York Rangers did not do much at the Trade Deadline, but some moves were still made. We’ll have further analysis and thoughts in the coming days, so make sure you keep an eye out for that. For now, here’s what the Rangers did and breakdowns of the deals.
Rangers Acquire Brendan Smith for two Draft Picks
The first deal around Trade Deadline time for the Rangers was acquiring Brendan Smith from the Detroit Red Wings for a pair of draft picks. The deal came right after the Washington Capitals acquired Kevin Shattenkirk from the St. Louis Blues, so some wondered if it was a reactionary transaction.
While we cannot say for certain whether or not it was reactionary, the hope at the time was the Rangers would make further transactions to expand upon it. That never happened, leaving us with plenty of question marks.
Smith is a definite improvement for the Rangers’ defense, and placing him on the top pair with Ryan McDonagh will do wonders for McDonagh’s game. While that remains true, the Rangers still have plenty of problems on their defense, and Smith cannot solve them all.
The price of a 2nd round and 3rd round pick is hefty, but if Smith re-signs in the off-season, it’s worth it. With the Smith deal comes mainly question marks. Can the Rangers re-sign him? Will Alain Vigneault play him like he’s meant to be played? Will Alain Vigneault play Adam Clendening over Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein to make the defense the best it can be?
Those answers will go a long way towards determining the success of the acquisition.
Related Story: Rangers Acquire Brendan Smith, Fix Nothing
Rangers Trade Mat Bodie For Daniel Catenacci
Ah, the blockbuster deal of the century. When the Rangers one day hoist the Stanley Cup again, we will think back to this deal as the turning point.
Maybe not.
The Bodie for Catenacci deal is simply a change of scenery move for both players. Bodie could end up as a third pair defenseman in the NHL if all goes well, but the Rangers have eight defensemen ahead of him. In Buffalo, Bodie could find his way onto the NHL roster.
Catenacci is a gritty winger who does not belong in the NHL, nor does he bring much to the AHL roster. The Hartford Wolfpack are in the midst of a horrendous season, Bodie is the captain, and the Rangers likely wanted a little bit of a shake up.
The guess here is the Rangers picked a name out of a hat filled with Sabres’ non-prospects and ended up with Catenacci. This deal is the definition of the shrug emoji.
Related Story: Rangers Acquire Daniel Catenacci
Rangers Acquire Taylor Beck for Justin Fontaine
Taylor Beck has 13 goals and 37 assists in the AHL this season. He could work his way onto the NHL roster as a fourth liner/scratch candidate if a series of players go down with injuries. However, that’s the best chance Beck has at playing for the Rangers.
While Beck is having a fine season, the Rangers have far too much forward depth to make room for him. This appears to be another deal to shake up the AHL roster, and perhaps give Justin Fontaine a chance to reach the NHL again.
New York certainly won’t miss Fontaine, nor will Buffalo miss Beck.
One positive to the Beck deal: the guy knows where to find a cheap set of sunglasses.
Rayban Sunglasses $23.99. https://t.co/Na2oki6zw0
— Taylor Beck (@taybeckone9) January 13, 2017
Can Justin Fontaine point us in the direction of cheap sunglasses? We don’t know. Win for the Rangers.
Next: Jesper Fast Out Indefinitely--Now What?
Stay tuned for more Trade Deadline coverage in the coming days here at Blue Line Station!