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New York Rangers: Five potential trades involving Kevin Hayes

By John Williams

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 03: New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes (13) skates during the second period of the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on April 3, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 03: New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes (13) skates during the second period of the National Hockey League Game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on April 3, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 21: Justin Faulk #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2014 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 1-0. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 21: Justin Faulk #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck against Dan Girardi #5 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on December 21, 2014 in New York City. The New York Rangers won 1-0. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Carolina Hurricanes

The offer: Kevin Hayes for Justin Faulk

In a classic one-for-one “hockey trade,” the Rangers may be able to pry Faulk out of the Hurricanes’ hands.

New general manager Don Waddell has proven to be pretty ballsy so far in his new position, adding Dougie Hamilton and highly touted prospect Adam Fox in a deal with Calgary for Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin. The team also went out and signed one of the best UFA defenders on the market in Calvin de Hann, as well.

The fact of the matter is, the ‘Canes have four defensemen locked up for the next three seasons or more. When Justin Faulk is a free agent after the 2019-20 season, they likely won’t re-up him, choosing to spend that money on a different position.

Carolina certainly needs center depth right now as Jordan Staal and Victor Rask are the only pivots on the active roster, according to Cap Friendly.

Even though the Rangers are looking to add younger players, at the very least, the Rangers can see how their timeline progresses this season and if they think Faulk is best served as a trade asset, then they could deal him at the deadline in 2019-20 and get a haul for him. Goal-scoring right-handed defensemen don’t grow on trees.

The Rangers may need to throw in a sweetener here, perhaps a Brandon Crawley or Chris Bigras, to acquire Faulk in this scenario. Regardless, it would be worth the while of both teams involved.

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