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New York Rangers: Which core members are not expendable?

By LOGAN CLEMENTS

May 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) and New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrate after defeating the Ottawa Senators in game four of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) and New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrate after defeating the Ottawa Senators in game four of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) skates with the puck following a faceoff against Ottawa Senators center Derick Brassard (19) in the first period of game one in the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) skates with the puck following a faceoff against Ottawa Senators center Derick Brassard (19) in the first period of game one in the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Derek Stepan

Derek Stepan is a key piece to the Rangers. After this last season, Derek Stepan has found himself being included in trade rumors and many fans seem to want to trade him for a defenseman. Derek Stepan could likely return a top four defenseman for the Rangers if he were to be traded.

However, trading Stepan would be foolish. The Rangers have tremendous depth at the center position on their NHL roster. Moving him without getting a top line center back would cause this center depth to disappear.

Stepan is a top line center. He plays shut-down defense while also scoring 55 or more points every season. There isn’t a player on the Rangers’ roster who can replace what he brings.

Any trade for a defenseman will not make up for the gaping hole at center that the Rangers would have. It would just cause the Rangers to get significantly weaker up the middle. Center depth is important, just ask the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Next: New York Rangers Can’t Give Away First Rounder to Dump Girardi or Staal

The Rangers will likely have a busy offseason this year. The front office has their work cut out for them if they wish to win a cup during Lundqvist’s career.

If the Rangers’ front office is able to identify which core players they should be willing to dump due to poor play (Dan Girardi and Marc Staal), which they should be willing to trade for the right price (Rick Nash and Chris Kreider), and which they should not be willing to move (Zuccarello, McDonagh, Lundqvist, and Stepan), then the Rangers will be a fearsome team next season.

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