LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Brian Boyle #22 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal past goaltender Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings during Game Five of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center on June 13, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Former Ranger Brian Boyle was trade to the Nashville Predators by the New Jersey Devils. The deal helps provide a look into the potential return for several New York Rangers rumored to be on the market.
Brian Boyle was set to become an unrestricted free agent, so his trade is no surprise. New Jersey gets a second round pick in the June NHL Entry Draft. The trade was first announced by Bob McKenzie via Twitter.
NSH and NJ working to finalize a trade to send Brian Boyle from the Devils to the Predators.
With the Rangers rebuilding, this deadline is to be another selling year, similar to last season. This trade shows what possible returns the Rangers could get for a few specific players and how it can affect the team as a whole.
Kevin Hayes
Hayes is one of the several potential players that the Rangers could be trading at this year’s deadline. Brian Boyle is a center like Hayes, but does not have the same offensive upside. If a fourth line center was worth a second round pick then what is Hayes worth?
With the market value set by the Boyle trade, it is a lock that Hayes is worth a first round pick at a minimum. Hayes, is having a phenomenal year so far, so he gives the Rangers the chance to get a nice return for him. If Hayes only gets the Rangers a first round pick fans should be disappointed.
A piece that teams typically add to trades are prospects. In a potential Hayes trade, besides a first round pick, the Rangers should be able to get a grade A prospect. An example of a grade A prospect that is currently with the Rangers is Brett Howden, who was included in the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a first round pick, Vladislav Namestnikov, Howden and a conditional second round pick.
Mats Zuccarello
Mats Zuccarello is another player that may be traded come the deadline, based on his expiring contract. This season started off rough for Zuccarello, in his first 30 games he only had 15 points. Although, recently he has heated it up with 14 points in eight games.
The Boyle trade impacts Zuccarello’s trade value significantly. Boyle has 13 goals and 19 points in 47 games. Zucarello has nine goals and 29 points in only 28 games. Based on the Boyle deal, Zuccarello, could potentially be worth a first round pick and a low level prospect. At the minimum, Zuccarello should be worth a second round pick and decent prospect.
Some examples of low level prospects are players typically drafted in later round of the draft or are not drafted. A few players that are similar to this are some players on the Hartford Wolf Pack, Rangers AHL affiliate team, like Steven Fogarty who was drafted in the 3rd round in 2011 or Rob O’Gara who was acquired from the Boston Bruins last season at the deadline in the Nick Holden deal.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – JANUARY 31: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers kneels on the ice during a play stoppage during the third period against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on January 31, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 4-3.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
Chris Kreider
A name that has not come up very often in trade talks is Chris Kreider. The Boyle trade impacts Kreider if the Rangers decide to trade him. Kreider who has another year left on his contract is very valuable to the Rangers.
If Boyle was worth a second rounder, Kreider’s value should be much higher. Kreider is in the midst of a career year posting 40 points in 52 games and is on pace to score 37 goals.
With a year left on a cap-freindly $4.6 million salary, the bare minimum should be a first round pick and a prospect, but considering Boyle trade the Rangers should ask for much more.
A Kreider trade could include multiple draft picks and a few prospects, similar to the deadline of Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins. The return for Nash, who was a short term rental, included a first round draft pick, Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey and a 2019 seventh round pick.
The Rangers should aim for prospects that are on the verge of breaking into the NHL, similar to Lias Andersson, who is close to playing full time in the NHL, but is not quite there yet. Also, they should be looking for prospects that are of value and have a solid chance of making the NHL.
New York Rangers
The Boyle trade effects the Rangers as whole in many ways. It takes the Predators out of the buyer market, but makes teams looking for a center a bit more desperate. With a better idea of the trade value for their players, the Rangers can focus their trade talks with the teams that have a need for the players the Blueshirts are willing to deal. There are other future UFA’s on the market, like Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, Wayne Simmonds so the market will get much smaller very quickly as deals are made.
Next. The team just can't lose every single game. dark
In conclusion, the Dan Boyle trade helped shape the upcoming trade market for the NHL. It will allow the Rangers to have a basis for what certain players are worth. It also shows, what teams may have to give up in order to obtain certain players at the deadline.
