New York Rangers: Five Expansion Exposed Trade Targets
The New York Rangers will lose some players in the upcoming expansion draft. However, they may be able to recoup their losses by trading with other teams who are bound to lose players. These players could be traded to the Rangers and protected for the upcoming season.
When the Las Vegas Golden Knights join the NHL in under a month, they will be picking from a handful of unprotected players to build around. Vegas may be bribed to stay away from certain unprotected players. Others will be left to the mercy of the draft.
The New York Rangers could have a great expansion draft. As of the end of the season, the Rangers have multiple contracts to shed, and Vegas is the place to send them. However, before the draft even starts, the Rangers could make moves to modify their protected list.
The Rangers can make moves before the expansion draft in a couple of ways. First, they can buy out the dead weight. The Rangers will likely buy out either Dan Girardi or Marc Staal. This will open a spot for a defenseman to be protected. The Rangers will also likely shed the contract of Rick Nash or Derek Stepan through trade, which opens a spot for a forward to be protected.
With spots open to protect other players, the Rangers can expand their horizon to trades. There are multiple players who would fit with the Rangers are vulnerable to being exposed.
Vladislav Namestnikov
The New York Rangers are no doubt going to lose part of their bottom six in the expansion draft. Current models via CapFriendly predict that the Rangers will leave Michael Grabner, Jesper Fast, and Oscar Lindberg unprotected. Losing any would be a tough pill to swallow.
Enter Vladislav Namestnikov. The 24-year-old centerman has been playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning since 2013, posting 33 goals and 46 assists over that time. Namestnikov is a two-way center who plays a complete game.
Namestnikov is going to be left unprotected by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are protecting seven other high-class forwards including Steven Stamkos and former Ranger Ryan Callahan. This makes him a perfect target for a trade.
Namestnikov is a full upgrade on Lindberg for the fourth line center role. Lindberg is better on faceoffs, but Namestnikov is a year younger with more production.
Namestnikov’s contract isn’t too difficult to swallow, either. He clocks in just under $2 million per year, which is double what Lindberg was making on an entry level contract. He is a top of the line bottom six forward, and the Rangers should be jumping at the chance to trade for him.
Lee Stempniak
Lee Stempniak is basically already a Golden Knight. Stempniak, a career journeyman, has played for 10 NHL franchises, including a short stint with the Rangers. He has appeared in 872 career games, scoring 200 goals and notching 260 assists. The only issue is that he is approaching 35 and could be on a downswing.
Stempniak is going to be exposed by the Carolina Hurricanes who are trying to get younger and faster. Stempniak has plenty of speed, but it would not be a big loss for Carolina to see him go to Vegas. He’s replaceable.
The Rangers have signed their fair share of replaceable bottom six players over the last few years. Josh Jooris is the most recent. However, Stempniak is not just a replacement level bottom six forward, even if he seems it.
Stempniak fits back into Alain Vigneault’s fast Rangers system in the same way he fit in 2014. He’s small and mirrors a bottom six Mats Zuccarello type winger. He has a rocket of a shot and can play in the dirty areas of the ice.
If the Rangers acquire Stempniak only to expose him, even better. The Rangers can offer Stempniak to the Golden Knights for the Golden Knights picking Nick Holden or Kevin Klein in the expansion draft.
The Rangers should be considering acquiring Stempniak, even if it’s just to dangle for Vegas to acquire.
Cody Franson
Cody Franson has been linked to the Rangers since the trade deadline. Franson was a good fit then for the struggling defensive corps of the Rangers and he’s still a good fit now.
Franson has appeared in 527 NHL games for three teams, scoring 42 goals and 143 assists and he can man the power play unit and kill penalties. He’s a top 4 defenseman for most teams and would be especially for the Rangers.
Franson has been playing in Buffalo for the last two seasons and is nearing 30. He’s due for a contract renewal, if acquired, and the Rangers would have to move one of the Wonder Twins to protect him. Franson fetched north of $3 million per season with Buffalo, but he would have to take a pay cut to join the Rangers.
The Rangers already have one veteran defenseman to re-sign this offseason in Brendan Smith. Smith takes precedence over a player like Franson, but Franson could still be a nice addition to the blueline.
Tyson Barrie
The Colorado Avalanche were a tire fire last season. The fire sale is going to be immaculate, with Joe Sakic slinging former prospect prodigies for Monopoly money and gummy worms. One player that has been rumored to be available is Tyson Barrie.
The Avalanche have some expansion draft footwork to do. They have four defensemen worthy of protection, and more than four forwards to protect as well. The obvious solution is to ship a defenseman, and Tyson Barrie’s name has been thrown around often in the past.
Barrie is only 25-years-old, with 338 NHL games under his belt. In those games, Barrie has scored 47 goals and 144 assists and also plays big minutes for Colorado, averaging over 20 minutes per night. He has proven himself to be one of the better young defensemen in the league.
For the Rangers to get Barrie, there are hoops to go through. The Rangers were in on calls last summer when Barrie was up for grabs, but no deal was ever made. Barrie resigned with the Avalanche for $22 million over four years. The Rangers would have to dump a couple of big contracts to be able to afford Barrie and the rest of their big offseason plans.
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr is not going to be protected by the Florida Panthers, and it’s the perfect time for a reunion with the Rangers. Jagr, who formerly captained the Rangers, holds Rangers records for points and goals in a single season (2005-2006).
Jagr has been playing in the NHL longer than a couple of teams. Drafted in 1990 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jagr joined the league and instantly rose to stardom, producing at the highest level and winning Stanley Cups. He has played for eight teams in the NHL, appearing in 1711 games. He is second in overall points to only Wayne Gretzky with 1914. Jagr is one of the most impressive players alive today.
With his long list of achievements, Jagr himself is a draw to games. It’d be an added bonus for the Rangers to be able to reunite with their former captain, who can still produce. Jagr played all 82 games for the Florida Panthers in 2016-2017, scoring 16 goals and adding 30 assists. He consistently performs, even nearing 45. Jagr slots well into the bottom six, which will be suffering for the Rangers after the expansion draft.
Next: Rangers' bubble candidates for expansion protection
Jagr’s price tag is the main concern. He’s coming off a season where he was paid $4 million, which is too expensive for the Rangers to spend on a bottom six forward. His best days are obviously behind him, but Jagr’s name alone asks for a hefty price. The Rangers don’t have the money to make it work.