New York Rangers: Alex Galchenyuk could be a trade target

The Montreal Canadiens have reportedly been ‘actively shopping’ forward Alex Galchenyuk. The New York Rangers are one of the teams that look to be making a trade this summer.

Alex Galchenyuk has been one of the more exciting stories of the summer thus far. The Canadiens have reportedly said they are looking to move him, most likely before the NHL Draft.

The Canadiens forward seemingly came out of nowhere as far as trade rumors go; it even appeared that Galchenyuk had been dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Jonathan Drouin.

That was not the case, as Drouin was dealt for Mikhail Sergachev and draft picks instead. That deal has not slowed down the Galchenyuk talks whatsoever.

The Rangers have been reportedly been active in the trade business. If you’re Jeff Gorton, do you make an offer for Galchenyuk? Let’s take a closer look.

Fitting In

There is a lot to consider regarding whether or not Galchenyuk would make a good New York Ranger.

He certainly helps the team get younger. The Rangers have been looking to get younger over the past year or so. Galchenyuk will only be 23 next year.

It’s worth noting his age when you look at his statistics too. Galchenyuk has played five seasons already and has logged over 200 points. He has steadily produced 44 or more points in the last three seasons, with his peak coming at 56 last year.

Galchenyuk is not a two-way forward. He is a -3 on his career and it has only gotten worse in the last two years. The Rangers are in need of forwards, or anyone really, who can play defense. It’s promising to see Galchenyuk’s corsi over 50%, meaning over half the shots when he is on the ice are for his team.

What’s the Cost?

Acquiring Galchenyuk will not be an easy feat, considering they nearly dealt him for Jonathan Drouin.

Derek Stepan would be an interesting option. The Rangers would likely avoid that straight up, since Stepan is a better forward. The Canadiens could sweeten the deal a little a bit and then things could get interesting.

Rick Nash is another Ranger that Jeff Gorton is trying to rid from the team. However, it’s likely neither of the two parties would be interested in including Rick Nash in this deal.

The likely deal would include a player such as J.T. Miller or Kevin Hayes. They are in a similar age range and play a similar style. The swap could be what the Canadiens are looking for.

Should the Rangers Chase Him?

This deal doesn’t make much sense for the New York Rangers. They don’t need a player like Galchenyuk and the cost would be a little excessive for their needs.

A player like Galchenyuk certainly wouldn’t hurt, but this isn’t a fire sale. The Canadiens are seeking a serious return and are looking to make a legitimate hockey deal.

Next: Roundtable: Predicting the New York Rangers 2017-2018 Offense

There are other trade routes the Rangers can pursue that would suit them better. Alex Galchenyuk just is not the ideal route.

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