New York Rangers: Some trade proposals for the Canadiens

There have been lots of rumors about the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens talking trade. While we don’t know what exactly has been discussed, our team here at BlueLineStation.com have a few trade proposals in mind for the Habs.

Rumors have been running rampant lately about the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens being in trade talks. It is very clear that one of the Rangers’ weakest areas is at the center position. The Canadiens seem to have a couple solid centermen available, so the teams could be a good match.

Both teams have been struggling to start the season. A shakeup might be necessary for the both of them if they want to keep playoff hopes alive, even if it is still super early in the season.

Here at Blue Line Station, we are getting a bit antsy for a trade. After taking a few days to think over some trade ideas, a few of our writers have formed trade proposals to offer Montreal.

Brandon Cohen- Brendan Gallagher for Brendan Smith

Since everyone likely connects the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens on an Alex Galchenyuk trade, I’m taking a different approach here. I am banning myself from discussing Galchenyuk.

So, who else could the Rangers be interested in on the Canadiens? Andrew Shaw makes sense if the Rangers want a shot at Rasmus Dahlin, but I will look elsewhere. Max Pacioretty is bound to be a Ranger one day because he’s from the New York metro area and the Rangers seem to love him. However, I am not making him a Ranger yet.

Instead of the fan favorite, I’m picking the pesky pest. Brendan Gallagher comes to the Rangers in my trade. The logic? The Rangers want extra grit (I am not saying they need that, I am arguing they want that) and Gallagher has shown that in his battles against the Rangers. Perhaps the Canadiens want more skill instead of grit, seeing that their reliance on grit is not working out for them.

So, the two teams find a deal. The Canadiens could use help on defense, so the Rangers cut ties with Brendan Smith super early into their new deal, creating the framework of the trade. Other pieces end up involved, but Brendan Gallagher for Brendan Smith is the gist of it.

Hey, at least I’m being creative? And for the record, I do not want the Rangers to trade Brendan Smith.

John Williams- Marc Staal for Andrew Shaw

The Canadiens are looking to improve their defense and the Rangers are looking to add some grit and forward depth–especially at the center position. Montreal has shown their inability to properly evaluate talent in the past, which is why I believe that they might be interested in a veteran like Marc Staal.

The Canadiens have just under $8 million in cap space to work with, so they could absorb Staal’s albatross of a contract. In return, they’d be handing off the remainder of Shaw’s horrid contract that has five years remaining with a cap hit of $3.9 million each season.

The deal would free the Rangers of $1.8 million in cap space for the next four seasons. It would also create some space in the lineup for a younger player to be given a starting role–unless Alain Vigneault is still here. Then Steven Kampfer will have a permanent top-six role.

Would the Canadiens do this deal straight up? Probably not. The Rangers would have to add a mid-round draft pick or a mid-level prospect to sweeten the pot–and potentially even more– but it is definitely a plausible deal for both sides.

Daniel Carrozzi- Michael Grabner for Artturi Lehkonen

I think a reasonable trade between the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens would be trading Michael Grabner for Artturi Lehkonen.

While not a blockbuster, for two teams that are looking for a shakeup, any trade involving roster players could fit the bill.

Looking at the Canadiens side of the ledger first, Grabner would add another dimension to their struggling (albeit recently resurgent) offense. His speed changes the dynamic of play when he turns on the jets. The Canadiens have plenty of cap space to take Grabner’s minor cap hit.

Related story: Top trade targets on the Canadiens

For the Rangers, Grabner is a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He is prime trade bait for the trade deadline but for the right deal, I’d imagine they’d move him earlier. With Lehkonen on his entry-level contract, the Rangers would free up around $800k off their cap.

Lehkonen is only 22, in his second season in the league. His rookie season, he scored 18 goals and 38 points in 73 games, which seems repeatable given his reasonable 11.4% shooting percentage. He is a defensively responsible winger but has been playing on the Canadiens’ top line. However, until last game, Lehkonen had 0 goals through 11 games.

Ironically, although Grabner is deployed as a defensive forward, his possession numbers have not been pretty over the past few years. Lehkonen’s on the other hand (albeit through one season) have been very good, befitting his role.

I think that ideally, the Rangers could get some picks/prospects for Graber around the deadline. However, I don’t think the Rangers would make a trade this early in the season that doesn’t involve getting a roster player back in return. Lehkonen would augment the team’s bottom six and align with the team’s youth movement.

George Ruggiero- DeAngelo and a 3rd-round pick for Galchenyuk

Although it’s early in the season, trade rumors are swirling around the NHL. It never fails that the Rangers are right in the mix of it all. The Rangers have been linked to few different NHL clubs, but one of the most interesting is another struggling Eastern Conference team: the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens have had trouble with young prospects on the backend, while the Rangers have trouble with their depth at center. That makes these two teams almost perfect trade partners. A trade that makes sense to me is Anthony DeAngelo and a third-round draft pick for Alex Galchenyuk.

Both of these players seem to have fallen out of favor with their respective teams and could use a change of scenery.

Just after being moved to New York, DeAngelo is already stuck playing in Hartford for the Wolfpack. Galchenyuk, a talented 23-year-old center, has remained on Montreal’s fourth line this season. Galchenyuk would immediately slot into the Rangers top six and DeAngelo would add some offense to a currently stagnant Montreal defense. It is a match made in heaven for both squads.

Brandon Sapienza- Miller and DeAngelo for Galchenyuk and a 3rd rounder

I think the ideal trade for the Rangers would involve J.T. Miller.

Now, I am a fan of Miller, but the fact of the matter is that the Rangers do not possess the assets they need to make a trade without giving up a significant piece. Because of this, I believe an ideal deal for the Rangers would be sending Miller and Anthony DeAngelo over to Montreal in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk and a 3rd round pick.

Miller and DeAngelo are players who have shown exceptional upside in their time with the Rangers organization. However, Miller has had a hard time adjusting to the center position. As a result, acquiring a center like Galchenyuk would substantially increase the depth the Rangers carry down the middle.

As I said before, it would be difficult to trade Miller. DeAngelo is a different story because he hasn’t been with the organization long enough to make a mark as Miller has. Also, the Rangers are carrying an exceedingly high amount of defenseman in the system in Hartford.

Trades sometimes hurt, but if this trade were to be made, it would be for the better for both clubs.

Nick Zararis- Sean Day and a first round pick for Alex Galchenyuk

The Rangers have struggled dramatically through 13 games this season. To avoid wasting a season by finishing in the middle of the pack the team should swing a trade for a center.

The Derek Stepan trade was a gamble this past summer. The move anticipated that either Filip Chytil or Lias Andersson would be ready to start in the opening night lineup. With neither currently on the NHL roster, there is a clear dearth of talent. The rarely used seven defenseman and 11 forward lineup was preferable to the alternatives the Rangers had.

Must read: How an entire team struggles at once

The Montreal Canadiens have also gotten off to a slow start and are in a similar position. The Rangers could solve their center issue by making a trade for frequent trade bait Alex Galchenyuk. Galchenyuk has played center in the past but has been deployed on the wing this season.

The Rangers cap situation makes trading difficult. According to cap friendly, the Rangers have 2.4 million of space at the moment to make a roster move. Galchenyuk is on the books for 4.9 million until 2020, his age 27 season.

The Canadiens are in dire need of a defenseman, losing both Andrei Markov and Alexi Emelin has hamstrung the team. The Rangers have several prospects that could be the center of a trade. Any of Ryan Graves, Sean Day or Neal Pionk would be a solid starting point. To make a trade though, the Rangers would need to find a veteran salary to move.

My offer would be Sean Day and a first round pick for Alex Galchenyuk, assuming that they are able to trade Nick Holden’s contract in the meantime.

One of the biggest current trade targets in the NHL is Alex Galchenyuk. The Rangers basically have as good of a chance as anyone at landing him. Of course, in order to acquire a great player, teams must give up someone just as great.

While it might not be the best idea, considering that the famous “KZB Line” (Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich) is one of the best things about the struggling Rangers right now, floating Chris Kreider’s name could get the job done.

Kreider and Galchenyuk have similar numbers, with both of them close to 200 career points over five seasons each. Both players have improved over the past few years, moving from point totals in the 30s to the 40s and 50s.

Plus, both sides could benefit from this trade. Galchenyuk is a left wing who can also perform well at center, and the Rangers are in somewhat desperate need of a true number one center. Kreider is a left wing who could potentially fill a Galchenyuk-sized hole in the Canadiens roster.

Additionally, the Rangers could benefit from having more of a “star” player on their roster, as their most well-known player for the past 12 seasons has been Henrik Lundqvist. With Lundqvist turning into a veteran on a decline, the team could use some star power right now.

Next: Five overreactions to begin the season

Finally, any trade could help the Rangers at this point. They’ve been stuck in a rut for the first few games of the season. A new, talented face could be just what they need to hit their stride. While it would cost them one of their best players, the New York Rangers would benefit greatly from a Chris Kreider-Alex Galchenyuk swap.