New York Rangers trade proposals prior to preseason

Lou Venditti: A first round pick and Boo Nieves for Bryan Little

The best trade target left for the Rangers this offseason is Bryan Little. The 29-year-old center has played his entire career with the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers organization, posting 184 goals and 248 assists for 432 points in 672 games.

Little can slot into the Rangers’ top six quite easily, and his $4.5m contract is somewhat reasonable. The cost for a center on the free agent market is high, though. It’s become a sellers market with all of the centers flying around, and it’s hard to think that the Jets would give up Little for anything less than a high draft pick and a prospect or player.

The Jets don’t seem to be going anywhere soon, so a first round pick and tacking on a prospect like Boo Nieves or Ryan Graves could get the deal done.

If the Rangers are able to land Bryan Little, it adds a desperately needed top six center to the mix, and strengthens the Rangers’ Stanley Cup hopes.