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Who has better trade deadline assets than the New York Rangers?

By Steve Paulus

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 6: Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers prepares for a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on October 6, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 6: Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers prepares for a face-off against the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game on October 6, 2018 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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OTTAWA, ON – NOVEMBER 29: Colin White #36 of the New York Rangers gets into a scrum with Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers after a whistle at Canadian Tire Centre on November 29, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON – NOVEMBER 29: Colin White #36 of the New York Rangers gets into a scrum with Kevin Hayes #13 of the New York Rangers after a whistle at Canadian Tire Centre on November 29, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Top ten forwards

  1. Matt Duchene,  Ottawa Senators –  The Ottawa star looks to be the marquee deadline acquisition and the top center.  He’s only 27 years old and he is scoring at a career high pace  (1.17 PPG).   As he already fled Colorado when they were a basement dweller, he will have no desire to be part of a rebuild in Ottawa.
  2. Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators – Ottawa has another impending UFA who could be very attractive in 26 year old right wing Mark Stone. Over a full campaign, his stats project to a 39 goal, 89 point season.
  3. Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers – The 30 year old right wing has been a consistent scorer, averaging 29 goals over the last five seasons.  He was the MVP of the NHL All-Star game last season.
  4. Kevin Hayes, New York Rangers 
  5. Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers
  6. Ryan Dzingel, Ottawa Senators – Dzingel is another Ottawa forward who is an impending free agent and could be a solid deadline pick up. The 26 year old center has 11 goals and 20 points in 27 games.
  7. Carl Hagelin, Los Angeles Kings – Any playoff team looking for a speedy player with two Stanley Cup rings would be interested in Hagelin.
  8. Chris Kunitz, Chicago Blackhawks  – Chris Kunitz is a 39 year old left wing in his 15th NHL season.  He is the playoff good luck charm,  having missed the playoffs only once, in his rookie season.  He is showing his age this season so the market for him may be limited.
  9. Brian Boyle, New Jersey Devils –  The 33 year old Boyle is no stranger to deadline deals.  In 2017 he was dealt by Tampa to Toronto and he could find himself a trade target again.  A solid fourth line center, he can win faceoffs and is playoff battle-tested.
  10. Jordan Weal, Philadelphia Flyers –  Weal came to the Flyers in the Luke Schenn deal with the Kings and hasn’t lived up to expectations.  This season, he’s been benched a few times and has three goals and four assists. He is a good faceoff man and could be a solid depth player.

Other notables

There are some other forwards worth mentioning.  They include Troy Brouwer of Florida, Marcus Johansson and Drew Stafford of New Jersey, Richard Panik of Arizona, Patrick Maroon and Jordan Nolan of St. Louis, Jori Lehtera and Michael Raffl of Philadelphia and two more forwards from Ottawa, Magnus Paarjavi and Tom Pyatt.   And don’t forget Cody McLeod.

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