3. Entertain offers for McDonagh and Zuccarello
This step could wind up being a very important one. These are two players who are integral to the Rangers, but who could also wind up bringing back a lot in a trade.
Ryan McDonagh
Ryan McDonagh isn’t only the captain of the Rangers, he’s also their best defenseman and one of their best players. But, McDonagh is going to be 29 years old and his extremely team friendly contract expires at the end of the 2019 season. He is most likely going to want a big contract, which is deserved, somewhere in the seven-year, $7 million average annual value range.
While McDonagh is a very good player, giving an almost 30-year-old a seven-year deal is how you wind up with a Dan Girardi-type situation, and the Rangers would be wise to not tie themselves up in that situation again. So, the Rangers should examine trading him. Contending teams would most likely be willing to pay a huge haul for the Rangers’ captain.
At the very least, the Rangers should be asking for a blue-chip young player and a 1st round pick. Or, they could ask for a first rounder and two top prospects. Maybe something like William Nylander and a 1st rounder from Toronto or Erik Brannstrom, Nick Suzuki, and a 1st round pick from Vegas.
Mats Zuccarello
Aside from Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Zuccarello is the heart and soul of the Rangers. He is a fan favorite and would be a logical choice to be captain if the Rangers moved McDonagh. But, he’s 30 years old and his contract also expires at the end of the 2019 season. The Rangers would be wise to examine what they could get for him.
But, Zuccarello also shouldn’t be traded just to be traded. The Rangers should be looking to get either a blue-chip young player or a 1st round pick and a good prospect.
If Gorton feels he isn’t getting proper value for either of them, he should keep them for the rest of the season and revisit the idea at the draft.
But, if teams jump at the chance at acquiring them (which they should), and they offer the right deal, Gorton should absolutely take it. It’ll simultaneously signal a clear rebuild, and add an infusion of young talent for the long run.