With the New York Rangers are still desperate for depth up the middle. They could look to target an old friend in a trade.
The New York Rangers have the best record in the NHL since Halloween with a 13-4-1 record in that span. While they still have lots of improvements to make, they look a whole lot better than they did in October.
Since the NHL draft, every Rangers’ writer has noted that the team is weak up the middle. This weakness has been amplified by the Mika Zibanejad injury.
While the team is currently looking for a middle-six center, it appears one team north of the border may be willing to make such an accommodation.
The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch has reported that the Ottawa Senators appear ready for a firesale. After trading a boatload of assets for a minor center upgrade in Matt Duchene, the team has reportedly asked roughly 10 players for a “No Trade” list.
Garrioch notes that the list of players includes Erik Karlsson, Bobby Ryan, Nate Thompson, Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard, Alex Burrows, Zack Smith, Nate Thompson, Dion Phaneuf, and Johnny Oduya.
Wait… did you say, Derick Brassard?
The former New York Ranger would be a perfect fit in the Rangers’ middle-six. He has one year remaining on his contract after this season. His insertion to the lineup would allow youngsters Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil one more year to develop.
If Ottawa is serious about a firesale, the Rangers could approach them about eating up to half of his $5 million cap hit. Even if the Senators were to say no so they could get all of his money off the books, the Rangers could fit him under their salary cap if the Senators took back David Desharnais in the deal, or the Rangers just rid themselves of his contract some other way.
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And as for next season’s cap situation when J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, Jimmy Vesey, and Brady Skjei are all restricted free agents and Rick Nash, Michael Grabner, and Nick Holden are unrestricted free agents; the league’s salary cap is expected to rise anywhere from $3-7 million from this season’s $75 million cap. Brassard’s contract would almost certainly be able to fit under New York’s cap.
Through 29 games, Brassard has seven goals and 11 assists on the season. He only has one goal and seven assists since October 21st which is obviously not great, but the Senators as a team have been awful too. The team holds a 5-12-4 record since October 21st and are 1-10-2 in their last 13.
It is uncertain whether the Rangers will be on Brassard’s 10-team No Trade list. One would imagine, though, that he’d be thrilled to come back.
Brassard spent four seasons with the Rangers. In 254 games with the team, he tallied 69 goals and 105 assists for 174 points. He’s had many playoff runs in the Big Apple to look back upon and his best friend in hockey, Mats Zuccarello, is still on the roster.
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With a roster loaded with depth up the middle, this is a deal that could benefit both parties. If the Senators go the route of a rebuild, Brassard doesn’t really do much for them. With one year left on his deal, it benefits the Senators to deal him now. The ball is in the Rangers’ court. Jeff Gorton’s phone is about to get busy.