New York Rangers: Five teams who can aid the Rangers’ center depth
These are some teams that have centers to spare as GM Jeff Gorton and his team continues their quest to build a Stanley Cup-caliber roster.
The New York Rangers depth at the center position is a clear weakness. Derek Stepan is departed, and Mika Zibanejad figures to usher in a new era as the team’s top pivot. However, outside Zibanejad, the Rangers’ need for stability down the middle is glaring.
Around the league, there are several teams that carry extra baggage at center. It would behoove GM Jeff Gorton and his team to continue their good work this offseason. Gorton must find an insurance policy behind Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes.
Let’s take a look at some of the top options for Jeff Gorton to try to deal with in order to get a top six center for the present and future of the New York Rangers.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a team in an advantageous position. At the forefront of their center depth is budding all-star Johnny Gaudreau. Gaudreau has solidified his role as the Flames’ top center with three straight seasons of 61 points or more.
Behind him, they have another young stud in Sean Monahan. Monahan inked a seven-year extension last year, proving the Flames were committed to his development as a key pivot. However, there is serious competition for Calgary’s final two spots on the center depth chart.
Sam Bennett, a former first-round pick, is the most attractive name of the bunch. He is currently undergoing the strenuous process of his receiving his second NHL contract. There were rumors his rights could be moved at the draft, but nothing ever came to fruition.
Mikael Backlund is another former first-rounder and is among the oldest Flames centers at 28 years old. Matt Stajan, however, occupies that role at 33 years old. Rounding out their centers are Curtis Lazar and Freddie Hamilton.
With so many players and only four slots to fill, the Flames could look to move a player before the season begins.
Vancouver Canucks
The team that the Rangers defeated in the 1994 Stanley Cup could be the perfect trade match. The Vancouver Canucks have taken the long road towards rebuilding, and have accumulated a wealth of centers along the way.
Among the obvious mainstays in Vancouver is Henrik Sedin, the center half of the lethal twin duo. He is followed by the reliable, yet boring Brandon Sutter. Sutter and Sedin figure to play a large role in the Canucks’ opening night lineup.
Offsetting the otherwise stable top two, the Canucks’ final two center spots will be filled with more uncertainty. Sam Gagner was brought in after a resurgent season with the Blue Jackets but is no guarantee to repeat his production. Furthermore, Bo Horvat is a former first round pick that has gotten better in each of his three seasons at the NHL level.
However, as mentioned before, Vancouver has built a strong farm of centers over the last few seasons. Alexander Burmistrov, a former Atlanta Thrasher and Winnipeg Jet, and Brendan Gaunce both are young and carry the pedigree of former first-round picks.
Following their 2017 first round selection of Elias Petterson, their future at the pivot position is strong. This could pave the way for a potential move of one of their young, cost-controlled centers.
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have had eyes on them all offseason. The narrative began to increase as the expansion and entry-level draft drew nearer. As a team seemingly always in transition, the Avalanche were rumored to be shopping two elite names at the center position.
Those two names, of course, were former first-round picks, Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene. Duchene and MacKinnon have solidified themselves as members of the upper-echelon at their position over the last few seasons. What is most impressive is how they have done so at such a young age.
MacKinnon was drafted first overall in the 2013 draft, while Duchene was drafted third overall in 2009. Since then, the duo has been among the best in the league at creating scoring opportunities for the Avalanche. So much so, that each was awarded hefty extensions of $6.3-million and $6-million, respectively.
This offseason, the Avalanche continued to solidify their center depth by signing ex-Nashville Predator Colin Wilson. Factor in the return of Carl Soderberg for another season, and the inclusion of youngster Tyson Jost, something has got to give.
It will not be surprising to see the rumors resurface as the 2017-18 season’s trade deadline grows nearer. The price will be steep for a player of Duchene or MacKinnon’s caliber, but that is the price you pay for a building block center.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams generating the most buzz this offseason. Whether that buzz is warranted or not is yet to be seen.
As everybody knows, the Maple Leafs have transformed from a bottom of the barrel team to one that possesses some of the most intriguing talent league-wide. Rising stars Auston Mathews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner all come to mind.
As those three players continue to take shape and further cement themselves as the next big thing at the NHL level, Toronto’s front-office will have to adjust. The center position is beginning to form a competitive market, one that will likely force one of these players off of the Leafs’ roster.
One of the more immediate solutions lies with the veteran centers on the Toronto roster. Newcomers Patrick Marleau and Dominic Moore were brought in to supplement with their veteran presences. However, returners Leo Komarov, Nazem Kadri, and Tyler Bozak remain on the roster.
Bozak has created a considerable amount of buzz around the rumor mill this offseason. This is mostly due to the $4.2-million cap-hit associated with his services. Should the Rangers find a way to clear more cap-space in the coming days, Bozak could become an option for them down the middle.
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are another team that boasts a wealth of young depth at the center position. In fact, the Panthers have three players with 20+ goal seasons underneath their belts before their age-25 season. Those three players are Vincent Trochek, Aleksander Barkov, and Nick Bjugstad.
The Panthers took an aggressive approach towards retaining each of these three players. All of them have received lengthy extensions over the last few offseasons. However, Florida’s farm system is full of intriguing prospects that are itching to make their mark at the professional level.
Jared McCann and Denis Malgin have each gotten their first taste of the NHL with the Panthers. Meanwhile, Henrik Borgstrom has continued his stellar play against lesser competition. He will hold down a spot on the University of Denver hockey team for another season until the Panthers call upon his services.
With other veterans in the mix on the pro roster, some pieces will have to be moved to accommodate for these young studs. Names such as Colton Sceviour and captain Derek MacKenzie are less inspiring but still hold value.
Next: New York Rangers: Top 5 defensemen since Brian Leetch
The Panthers’ situation will be an interesting one to follow this season.