New York Rangers: A sellers market hurts the rebuild

The New York Rangers’ front office is in the process of trying to sell of expiring assets, they’re not the only ones.

In the simple supply and demand concept, the more of something that’s available, the less it’s worth. With several NHL teams in various stages of coming to grips with their reality, the trade market is burgeoning with action. The New York Rangers are expected to try and trade away Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello as well as Adam McQuaid before the 25th of February deadline.

Unfortunately for Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton, he’s not the only executive with players on expiring contracts that are enticing as rental properties. The nature of the NHL now states that if a g.m. holds onto a player and allows them to hit unrestricted free agency without recuperating an asset, they’ve committed negligence.

With the Rangers far away from contending for postseason play, it’s logical that Gorton wants to acquire picks or prospects for his team. Yet, the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers all are rumored to be shopping assets of differing values.

Last year, New York had two of the most highly sought after assets at the deadline, Rick Nash and Ryan McDonagh. Now, the team’s front office is facing the very real possibility of getting less than stellar returns on its current expiring assets.

The flooded market

In addition to the Senators being nothing short of a dumpster fire, the team’s front office is facing the looming possibility of losing all three of Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel this summer in free agency. With the team in such dire straights, it’s desperately trying to extend all three of these forwards, yet there is significant traction to trade speculation.

This really hurts the Rangers because it depressed the trade value of its assets. Why would a team give up a first round pick and a high level prospect to trade for Hayes when it could make a slightly bigger offer to get Duchene from Ottawa?

Throw in the turmoil surrounding Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky in Columbus to add insult to injury. There is no exaggeration in saying that Panarin is one of the 15 best players in the entire league and would be a dramatic boost to any Stanley Cup contender.

Simply put, the Rangers’ assets just aren’t as good as what else is out there. While Hayes, Zuccarello and to a lesser extent McQuaid are all serviceable players for a team making a playoff run, they are not a seismic shift like Panarin or Duchene.

Adding Hayes to Winnipeg or Nashville is a nice touch that should sure up the team’s depth. However, putting Panarin on one of those juggernaut of a teams and it would alter the very complexion of the postseason. Game breaking talent like Panarin’s does not hit the trade market often and should court significant offers.

With the very real possibility of getting caught standing when the music stops, Gorton and company need to proceed with extreme caution over the next two weeks. They should not feel obligated to just accept a trade because the players are on expiring contracts.

All it will take is one move to set the market price for this deadline and depending who the player is, it could drastically alter the market. If Panarin ends up in Nashville, the Rangers would be lucky to get either a first or an A-level prospect for Hayes. It’s up to Gorton to work his phone and find a framework that works for him