New York Rangers: Five Golden Knights the Rangers should trade for
The newest NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, have been active in the trade market since the expansion draft. General manager George McPhee seems willing to part ways with any player, and the New York Rangers should take advantage of that.
The New York Rangers have a few holes throughout the roster that can only be filled through a trade. The Vegas Golden Knights just so happen to have both players in positions the Rangers could use and a fluid roster.
Vegas general manager George McPhee was active around the expansion draft and NHL draft. He wheeled and dealed, acquiring as many high draft picks as possible. He still seems to want to build primarily through the draft and trade market. Here are five players the Rangers should try to acquire:
James Neal
James Neal is a player the Rangers should be mildly familiar with. The ex-Pittsburgh Penguin played in black and gold for a full three seasons before being dealt to the Nashville Predators in 2014. He has played for the Predators for the past three seasons.
The 29-year-old forward would be nothing more than a rental for this Rangers team. He can play both wings and adds a balanced mix of edge and scoring prowess to any roster. Realistically, the Rangers’ Cup window with Henrik Lundqvist is dwindling away, and they could use a little extra depth.
The perennial 20 goal scorer currently has only a year remaining on his contract, carrying a $5 million cap hit. Following this season, he doesn’t seem primed to stay with the young Golden Knights, as the playoffs seem out of reach. Based on that line of thought, McPhee has a good reason to try and move him.
Erik Haula
Erik Haula has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Wild until he was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights. He was subsequently signed to a new three-year contract, coming in at $2.75 million against the cap. Haula fits into a hole that the Rangers need filled at a cheap cap hit.
The Rangers traded number one center Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes earlier this summer and have yet to find another top six center. Although Haula is nowhere near the quality of Derek Stepan, the addition of a solid center would certainly help to soften the blow. The Finnish lefty truly broke into his own as a two-way center the last few seasons.
Haula’s big breakout came in the 2015-2016 season where he scored 14 goals and 20 assists in 76 games. However, he regressed from that total this past season, scoring only 15 goals and 11 assists in 72 games. Although those totals don’t scream “top-six center”, Haula was relegated to a minor role in the forward group with the Wild. In the right situation, he has all the tools to post huge numbers.
Colin Miller
Although the Rangers have a bit of a logjam in the defense, adding another right-handed defenseman couldn’t hurt. Colin Miller, only 24, has only played part of two NHL seasons. Miller has only played with the Boston Bruins so far in his career.
In his short time in the NHL, Miller has shown a good two-way skill set. In his first taste of NHL action, a 42 game stint two seasons ago, he scored 3 goals and 13 assists. Last season, he faltered slightly, only posting 6 goals and 7 assists in 61 games.
As for the Rangers’ need of another defenseman, well, they don’t really need one. However, Miller would provide that extra depth that championship teams need. An extra right-handed defenseman with NHL experience would allow the Rangers to pick and choose which players need more development, like Neal Pionk, and which players win roster spots, currently a battle between newcomer Anthony DeAngelo and veterans Marc Staal and Nick Holden.
Jonathan Marchessault
Thinking of recent breakout players, none stood out as much as 26-year-old Jonathan Marchessault. He was signed on a cheap flier by the Florida Panthers last offseason. And he paid them back in dividends.
The right-handed center did two things he had never done before. For one, he finally stuck in the NHL for a full season, and the second is that he scored 30 goals. Yes, you read that right. The undrafted free agent who has only bounced around up until then scored more than most of the NHL.
While 30 goals is impressive, there are no signs pointing to a repeat next season. Marchessault now plays on a much weaker team in an arguably stronger division. However, he still has another season on a ridiculously team friendly contract, only $750k against the cap.
The Rangers are in need of centers after losing both Derek Stepan and Oscar Lindberg this offseason. Even if he doesn’t score 30 again, Marchessault could very well provide some depth to the forward corps.
William Karlsson
What if I said that the Rangers could acquire a cheaper, younger, just-as-good Oscar Lindberg? Anyone would jump at that opportunity, and the Rangers have that chance with the Golden Knights. William Karlsson is that player.
Last season, Oscar Lindberg solidified his role has the Rangers’ fourth line center. The depth of the Rangers’ forwards made him the odd man out. He was taken by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.
Instead of going after re-acquiring Lindberg, the Rangers should try for Karlsson. He is a year younger than Lindberg, he is on a shorter and cheaper contract, and he has the tools to record similar, if not better, offensive numbers.
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Simply put, the Rangers still need a fair few pieces to ice a championship team. The NHL trade market is tough to navigate, but the addition of the Golden Knights could create a good trade partner for the Rangers.