New York Rangers roundtable: What will happen by the trade deadline?
The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching. Our Blue Line Station team got together to write about what we think the New York Rangers will do.
The upcoming trade deadline has the potential to be as exciting as the New York Rangers are currently dull. Early returns looks good, as Nick Holden was shipped to Boston for a 3rd-round-pick and some defensive depth in the form of 24-year-old Rob O’ Gara.
There are many other players on the Rangers’ roster who could be moved over the next few days. The Rangers told their fans they would blow their roster up and it certainly looks like that will come to fruition.
A few of our writers here at Blue Line Station wrote about what they think is going to happen at this trade deadline. Check out what they had to say!
*Editors note: Michael Grabner was traded to the Devils before after these posts were submitted and this post went live. Adjustments have been made to each writer’s blurb.
John Williams
Holden is gone. Grabner is gone. A second rounder and a third rounder were brought in along with 20-year-old defenseman Yegor Rykov and 24-year-old defenseman Rob O’ Gara have been brought in.
The rebuild has begun.
As far as what’s about to come for the Rangers, Rick Nash will be on the move very soon. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he is going to get traded to the San Jose Sharks. I think they want to make one more playoff run. Joe Thornton will be back soon and him and Nash have worked some magic together many times over on Team Canada. Would their 2018 first rounder, along with rookie Timo Meier get it done? Who knows?
I don’t think Ryan McDonagh or Mats Zuccarello get dealt but there are two others I expect to be traded. The first is upcoming UFA David Desharnais. He will probably go for a sixth or seventh rounder and that’s fine by me.
I obviously have no sources or inside information on this, but my gut tells me that J.T. Miller is traded, too. Just throwing that out there…
Garrett Gartino
I’m not going to lie, the trade deadline tends to be my favorite part of any NHL season. The shuffling of rosters and constantly changing rumor mill reinvigorates my attention around the league.
For the first time in my history as a fan, the New York Rangers will be on the selling end of that excitement.
Nick Holden is already out the door, and a few other lineup regulars should be soon to follow. Rick Nash and Michael Grabner are the two that are the most likely to have new teams by next week (Grabner already has his new team).
Nash’s landing spot very uncertain. Nashville and San Jose seem like good fits, but the asking price will remain high until the best offer is in hand.
Conversely, I do not believe team-favorites Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello will be moved. Despite possible contract demand worries for McDonagh, his value to this team for the next two seasons is far too valuable for teams to replicate via trade.
Zuccarello’s situation is similar. He is the heartbeat of this New York Rangers team. All in all, the Rangers are in great position to improve their roster and draft position this trade deadline. If Jeff Gorton plays his cards right, this team could be a playoff contender again in no time.
Daniel Carrozzi
The New York Rangers’ plan for the trade deadline is becoming clearer as the day approaches. Here is what I think will happen (which means none of this will happen).
I’m operating under the assumption that Michael Grabner will be the next player on his way out of New York (*editors note: correct).
As for Nash, instead of going to Nashville, I’m going to predict that he ends up with another team mentioned with regards to him, the Dallas Stars. In return, the Stars send back their 2018 first round pick and a top prospect like Riley Tufte. I can also see the Stars sending a lesser prospect such as Rhett Gardner and a package of later round draft picks instead of a top prospect.
One would expect David Desharnais to land somewhere, likely for a sixth or seventh round draft pick. I do not think Ryan McDonagh and/or Mats Zuccarello are traded at the deadline. They will instead be moved at or near the draft.
Karly Redpath
Right now, I think that Rick Nash and Michael Grabner (yup) will be moved at the trade deadline and no one else.
Since we are a mere four days from the 26th of February, I am not sure there is enough time for Jeff Gorton to get a deal with a proper return when it comes to moving McDonagh. The safer bet would be to start small and move the two players that have been talked about as trade assets for months now and take your chances with bigger pieces (i.e. McDonagh) in the offseason.
The worst thing the Rangers could do right now is try to do too much. Based on how their past decisions at the deadline have gone (great example: Eric Staal), I hope the Rangers play it safe.
With the way Nash and Grabner have been playing in the past few months, they’re bound to bring back a good return. Based on what has happened (with Nash and Grabner not skating in the game against Montreal) I think Gorton realizes that these are the two obvious choices. I trust him enough to not move McDonagh unless he gets him for a price he thinks is justified.
Keep it simple. Play it safe. Embrace the tank.
Jen Moglia
My deadline prediction is very simple. I think that Rick Nash and Michael Grabner (bingo) will be traded.
They have been two of the New York Rangers’ best players in an abysmal season thus far. Moving them could bring back a good return, like prospects and picks, which will help with the new “rebuilding” philosophy.
Grabner led the team in goals with 25. Nash is now the current team leader with 18. Nash is now fifth on the team in points.
Additionally, Grabner only needs two more goals to match his total from last year. It would be his second highest goal total since he scored 30+ with the Islanders early in his career.
Nash is also having a good year. Though not his best, 28 points (18 goals and 10 assists) in 60 games isn’t horrible.
Next: 5 steps NYR can take to make playoffs in 18-19
The final reason for my prediction is the fact that both of these players were benched for Thursday’s game in Montreal, and rumors of Grabner to the New Jersey Devils had already been swirling as I finished typing this piece. These are both surefire signs that something will be in the works before Monday’s cut-off.