New York Rangers top 5 replacements for Rick Nash if he is traded
There have been rumors swirling that Rick Nash will be leaving the New York Rangers this offseason. If he is to leave, the Rangers have a handful of options to replace him. It’s all about finding the perfect match.
Rick Nash’s time with the New York Rangers may be limited. The freshly 33-year-old right winger is entering the final season of his eight-year, $62.4 million deal and has been underperforming, to say the least.
When Nash was acquired by the Rangers, he was a premier goal scorer and point producer in the league. Only in his rookie season did he post less than 50 points for the Blue Jackets. That hasn’t been the case with the Rangers. Since the Rangers traded for Nash before the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 season, Nash has only had one season of 50+ points.
Nash also has a tendency to go dark in the playoffs. In 77 career playoff games, Nash only has 41 points, which is far below what should be expected of a player carrying an almost $8 million cap hit. In 12 playoff games in the 2016-2017 season, Nash scored 3 goals and added 2 assists for a dismal 5 points.
Still, though, Nash has been one of the Ranger’s most important pieces. He provides veteran leadership to the locker room of young players, much like Dan Girardi had. Nash also contributes on the power play, with 6 power play goals and 3 assists last season.
It’s possible for the Rangers to replace Nash if they chose to deal him. There are a number of options for the Rangers to pick from.
Evander Kane
Let’s get the worst out of the way first.
Evander Kane, much like anyone else with the last name Kane in the NHL, is a public relations nightmare for his team. The soon to be 26-year-old winger has been involved in a myriad of off-ice incidents.
After having multiple minor incidents with the Winnipeg Jets organization, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres as a way to rid themselves of the pest. The Sabres have had their fair share of trying to keep Kane in line as well. Most recently, Kane was arrested for an incident at a Buffalo bar in 2016. This is why Kane’s name has floated in trade rumors all season long.
Aside from his office shenanigans, Evander Kane fits Rick Nash’s role to a tee. While he isn’t nearly as big and doesn’t show as much scoring prowess, Kane is a fast winger with a good shot. Kane can play on the power play, and provide at even strength as well.
Comparing their two 2016-2017 campaigns is almost identical. Kane scored 28 goals and 15 assists for 43 points, while Nash scored 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points. Kane played just three more games than Nash did.
If the Rangers can get past Kane’s off-ice issues, he could make a great addition to the Rangers. He is not only younger than Nash, but he is producing at the same level as Nash and costs less.
Thomas Vanek
Thomas Vanek has outperformed Rick Nash for years. Even at 33-years-old, Vanek has shown he has plenty left in the tank to help out competing teams. Last season, Vanek scored 17 goals and added 31 assists with the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers. That’s good for 48 points on the season, 10 more than Nash.
Vanek is demonstrably better than Nash is at this point in his career. Originally hidden in Buffalo, Vanek has recently been a journeyman across the league, filling holes in rosters. However, Vanek definitely has what it takes to join and solidify a competitor.
Vanek, like Nash, has size and can work the power play. He has 129 power play goals and 113 power play assists in his career, including five goals and eight assists last season.
The best part about Vanek is the cost. He’s coming off a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Detroit Red Wings in which he was traded to a non-contender, and he likely won’t re-sign with Florida. His journeyman status will likely continue, and his price will keep dropping. The Rangers can add Vanek for a little more than they added Michael Grabner for last season, even if they don’t move Nash.
Thomas Vanek is an all-around impact player and would be an incredible addition to the New York Rangers. Even if Rick Nash isn’t moved, Vanek is someone the Rangers should be keeping their eye on.
James Neal
James Neal just might be what the New York Rangers need if they get rid of Rick Nash. All the grit, toughness, and dirty plays the Rangers could ever need could be acquired in Neal, and likely for cheaper than Nash.
Neal, who is currently under contract with the Nashville Predators, is another huge winger with a monster shot. His numbers are also strikingly similar to Rick Nash’s. In 2016-2017, Neal scored 23 goals and added 18 assists for 41 points, only three more than Nash. Oddly enough, Neal is only three years younger than Nash.
In the playoffs, Neal is as much of a ghost as Nash is. In 80 career playoff games, Neal has only 44 points and 80 penalty minutes. Of those 44 points, 25 are goals and 19 are assists. Neal has never posted more than 10 points in a single playoff in his career. His production has increased since arriving in Nashville, where he has 22 playoff points in the last three seasons.
While Neal’s playoff performances are less than ideal, he is still a veteran leader for the locker room and a big, strong right wing that the Rangers will need if they move Nash. James Neal fits with the Rangers, almost identical to the way that Rick Nash does.
Radim Vrbata
Saying Radim Vrbata is a good replacement for Rick Nash might sound crazy, but let’s take a second to think about it. In the last three season, Vrbata has scored 64 goals and added 81 assists. Nash over the same period of time has scored 80 goals and added 63 assists. Nash had his best season with the Rangers during these three years and still just barely finished with fewer points than Vrbata.
Vrbata, while having just turned 36-years-old, can still produce at the same level as Nash. He’s a cheap threat with very little risk involved. Granted, Vrbata did post 55 points in his 35-year-old season after a measly 27 with the Canucks. It may not all be peaches and gravy, but it could work out well.
Vrbata is also three inches shorter and about 25 pounds lighter. This size difference could prove important if the Rangers need someone to get to the gritty areas of the ice. Vrbata can’t use his body as a tool in the same way that Nash can, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Rangers have been relying on speed rather than size in recent years. While Vrbata’s size may be seen as a detraction from his value, it could be a major plus for the Rangers.
If the Rangers do decide to get older with their roster after parting with Nash for whatever reason, Radim Vrbata is the guy to turn to. He’s a cheap, veteran solution at right wing for the Rangers.
Jordan Eberle
Wouldn’t it be awesome if the Rangers were to trade Rick Nash and land Jordan Eberle in the same summer? Eberle is a perfect fit for the Rangers already, especially if Nash is moved.
Since joining the league in 2010, Eberle has scored 165 goals and added 217 points for 382 points total. Last season in particular, Eberle played in a career high 82 games, posting 20 goals and 31 assists for 51 points, including 4 power play goals and 10 power play assists. This is oddly enough a disappointing season for Eberle, who has three 60+ point campaigns in 6 full seasons of play. Still, Eberle is a burgeoning star on a team that has one too few spots for stars.
Eberle is much smaller than Nash is at the right wing. Eberle stands at 5’11”. This is a full five inches shorter than Nash, not to mention the 40-pound gap between the two. Eberle may not be able to reciprocate what Nash does with his body, but he makes up for it with high shot volume.
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If Jordan Eberle is really available, and Rick Nash is truly on the move, look no further. Adding a high caliber, young star like Eberle is the perfect way to send off an aging star such as Nash.