New York Rangers: Top five trade destinations for Nick Holden

Apr 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Nick Holden (22) passes the puck during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Nick Holden (22) passes the puck during the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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May 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Nick Holden (22) scores a goal past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) during the first period of game four of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Nick Holden (22) scores a goal past Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) during the first period of game four of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers had options and they decided to protect Holden from the expansion draft. The Rangers still need to improve on their defensive core and could move Holden to help that case…

Coming into this summer, the New York Rangers and their front office knew that they needed to address their defensive core. They started improving their defense when they signed a young 23-year-old KHL defenseman from Russia; Alexei Bereglazov.

The Rangers then bought out career-long Ranger, Dan Girardi. It started to seem like the Rangers were on the right path to improving the defense. The Rangers could’ve signed and protected unrestricted free agent, Brendan Smith but they didn’t. Instead they decided to protect Nick Holden.

There is a surplus of left-handed defensemen on the Rangers lineup and they could use improvement elsewhere. Moving Nick Holden could help those causes, this is a list of the top 5 destinations for Nick Holden…

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