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New York Rangers: 4 teams that may want to add center by trade deadline

By John Williams

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the New York Rangers carries the puck amid pressure from Dennis Seidenberg #4 of the New York Islanders during the second period at Barclays Center on April 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Vladislav Namestnikov #90 of the New York Rangers carries the puck amid pressure from Dennis Seidenberg #4 of the New York Islanders during the second period at Barclays Center on April 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 1: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets follows the play up the ice during first period action against the Nashville Predators in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 1, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Preds 7-4 and lead the series 2-1. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB – MAY 1: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets follows the play up the ice during first period action against the Nashville Predators in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on May 1, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Preds 7-4 and lead the series 2-1. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Winnipeg Jets

I wrote about the Jets and how they could effect the Rangers a few days ago but I’ll try to reiterate those points here as well.

The Jets had an amazing breakout season in 2017-18 that led them all the way to the Western Conference Finals. One of the big reasons they got their was their ballsy trade deadline acquisition of Paul Stastny. Stastny left the team for the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1, and Winnipeg really didn’t do anything to negate that loss.

While they have enough center depth to get by at least for the start of the season, the team will definitely want to add a middle-six center by the end of the season.

That’s where the Rangers come in.

If the team feels that Kevin Hayes won’t re-sign with them after the season ends, Winnipeg would definitely be a team with interest. He’d probably slot right into their third line, right where Stastny was, to be their shutdown center on an extremely deep offense.

The Jets have few remaining B-level or greater prospects waiting outside the NHL since a majority of their prospect pool have graduated and are already on the big club. One intriguing prospects is for Buffalo Sabres second round pick Brendan Lemieux. The Jets also have all of their first and second round picks going forward so they are kind of the ideal trade partner for the Rangers right now.

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