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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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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 27: Sean Coutrier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers takes a slapshot against the Washington Capitals on February 27, 2013 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 27: Sean Coutrier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers takes a slapshot against the Washington Capitals on February 27, 2013 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers are back to relevance and could surprise some people as one of the most improved teams of 2018-19. Last season saw the Rangers trade with a huge rival in the New Jersey Devils. Maybe this year it’s the Rangers and Flyers turn.

The Broad Street Bullies have one of the most exciting young defense corps in the game, along with a top goalie prospect awaiting his debut date and some top flight forwards in their top-six. What they don’t have is bottom six depth.

While Giroux and Couturier are cemented on the top two lines (although they sometimes play on a line together) another center for their middle-six would be huge. The Rangers have a few of those guys and their names as Namestnikov and Spooner.

The Flyers have all their draft picks going forward, as well as an additional third and seventh round pick in 2019. This bodes well for what the Rangers would ask for their two trade chips.

The other interesting layer to this is the contract of Jori Lehtera, the man who was supposed to be the team’s third line center when they acquired him from the Blues in the Brayden Shenn trade. In 62 games last season, Lehtera tallied just three goals and five assists and has another year of his $4.7 million contract on the books.

While the team has $10 million in cap space to work with, if they want to make additional big moves at the deadline if they’re in contention for the Metropolitan Division crown, dealing Lehtera to the Rangers could help, which would bring back an additional asset to New York.

Next to the Jets, these two teams make the most sense when scouting for trade partners.

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