New York Rangers: Trade proposals for Erik Karlsson
Rumors have been sprouting up about Ottawa Senators’ captain Erik Karlsson and his availability on the trade market. Is this something the New York Rangers should look into? And at what cost? The Blue Line Station team pitches their best trade offers.
The New York Rangers have been known to scope out the big fish on the trade market. This has been their M.O. over the years. Well, it appears that there is another big fish out on the market. This fish is Swedish and his name is Erik Karlsson.
You know, Erik Karlsson, the guy who won the Norris Trophy in 2012 and 2015 as league’s best defender.
If he is on the trade market, what would the Blueshirts be willing to give up in a trade to Pierre Dorion and the Ottawa Senators? A few of our site’s writers have pitched their trade proposals for the superstar blueliner.
John Williams
Normally, if you asked me if I wanted the Rangers to trade for Erik Karlsson I’d react by saying, “hell yes!”
But honestly, I am torn.
Of course, Karlsson is one of the best defensemen in the game and any team would be better with him on their side. That’s not the issue for me. The issue is what it would take to get him.
Elite, Norris Trophy-winning defensemen don’t exactly grow on trees, so the Senators are going to demand a lot to compensate for the Swede’s departure if they do decide to deal him.
If the Rangers are gonna get Karlsson, that means they are in win-now mode. That means guys like Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei can’t be involved in the deal because it would negatively impact their chances. This means that the team, already deprived of future assets, would need to empty the cupboard.
Based on how the Rangers have been playing this season, I am not so sure that win-now is the direction they should be going in. I think the team should begin to trade off some of their own veteran pieces to rebuild their farm system, and trading for Karlsson goes against that philosophy.
If the team decides that a win-now approach is the way to go, shipping off pieces like Lias Andersson, J.T. Miller, Sean Day and a first round pick might be a start. In all likelihood, it would probably take more.
Nick Zararis
Teams always ask players with limited no trade clauses for the teams they’d be willing to accept a trade to. It’s just a means of being prepared in case the right offer comes along from a team on the list. The Senators, mired in seventh place in the Atlantic Division, asked Erik Karlsson for his list last week.
If I were in Jeff Gorton’s shoes, I’d throw the kitchen sink at the Senators for a player who is probably the best defenseman in hockey. I’d offer a package centered around Ryan McDonagh if
they wanted an immediate plugin. If they were more oriented towards a long-term plan, I’d center it around J.T Miller.
Bolstering the Rangers defense with an elite player is just what the team needs to get to that next step. Trading for Erik Karlsson would give the team a player that alters the direction of a franchise.
McDonagh, a first round pick and a conditional pick based on re-signing Karlsson is my offer if the Senators want an immediate return. The long-term offer for a rebuilding Senators team would be Miller, Grabner (need to make the salaries match) Sean Day and a first round pick.
George Ruggiero
Recently, there have been lots of rumors swirling around the Ottawa Senators and defenseman Erik Karlsson following comments regarding his future with the Canadian franchise.
A team like the Rangers with an aging great in Henrik Lundqvist would be more than happy to acquire a generational defenseman of Karlsson’s caliber, but at what cost? If the Rangers go for a trade, they should give up, at most, Ryan McDonagh, Jimmy Vesey, and two 2nd round draft picks.
While that seems like an attempt to get Karlsson for pennies on the dollar, for the Rangers’ current team, this is one of the only moves that makes sense. Captain Ryan McDonagh has been a top-tier NHL defenseman for years now, Jimmy Vesey is a youngster with high upside, and the draft picks sweeten the deal for a team starting a rebuild.
With that said, Karlsson’s best days may be behind him.
Karlsson has had his fair share of injuries throughout his career. Most recently he has been dealing with injured tendons in one of his ankles, and even after returning to the ice, his play has suffered. Karlsson is already 27 years old, the middle of his prime. Although Karlsson is a brilliant defenseman right now, the Rangers would be wise to avoid trading away their future for the all star.
Daniel Carrozzi
The New York Rangers could offer Brady Skjei, Ryan Graves, Morgan Barron and their 2018 first round draft pick for Erik Karlsson.
It is difficult to determine what an elite offensive defenseman is worth on the trade market. A few high-profile defensemen have been traded the past few seasons, but they were largely exchanged for similarly high caliber players.
Any trade discussion involving Erik Karlsson going to the Rangers will involve Brady Skjei, Ryan McDonagh or both. A first round draft pick, especially for the upcoming draft, would be a necessity as well.
In Graves, the Rangers are providing a new age defensive defenseman with a cannon of a shot. Graves is a good counterpart to Skjei, who is a more dynamic and offensively minded, two-way defenseman.
The rest of the package for Karlsson could be composed of many other pieces. This may mean additional draft picks and/or prospects.
For the sake of argument, we’re going to throw Morgan Barron into this deal. The Rangers’ most recent sixth round draft pick has risen swiftly among the team’s prospects. The Cornell University freshman has nine points in 12 games.
The Rangers may need to offer another prospect, such as Adam Huska or Tyler Wall, instead of or in addition to Barron. It would also not be surprising for the Rangers to have to include additional draft picks, a second rounder or two, or a collection of later round selections.
Regardless, if the Rangers have an opportunity to land one of the best defensemen in the league, they must do so. However, they must also not sacrifice their future to do so.
Garrett Gartino
Christmas time is around the corner and I think I know the perfect gift for the New York Rangers. If recent rumors hold any truth then the Ottawa Senators could be looking to move their captain. That’s right, the elite Erik Karlsson could find himself with a new jersey before his contract expires.
Of course, the price tag will be high which means that many teams will immediately be priced out of the conversation. However, Rangers management should do everything they can to put an offer on the table.
I think any package offered to Ottawa would include a first round pick if not two. The 2018 draft class is set to be a good one and could be enticing enough to get Senators GM Pierre Dorion’s attention.
Next, some replacements on the blue line would be in order. Sean Day and Tony DeAngelo are among the Rangers best defensive prospects that they could offer. Day seems to be finding his stride as a workhorse in the OHL and DeAngelo’s ceiling remains sky high.
Unfortunately, the hardest piece to give up will be the one that gets the deal done. J.T. Miller, a bonafide two-way NHL player, would be the final player I would offer. His commitment to improving every year has made him a key cog on the Rangers’ roster.
Next: Rangers should target Brassard in a trade
This combination of players and picks seems like a ton to give up. Amazingly, it may not even be enough in the eyes of Ottawa’s upper management. Nonetheless, if there is a deal to be made Jeff Gorton needs to put his best foot forward.