New York Rangers: Trade proposals for Erik Karlsson

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.